The Social Worker, in Adult Mental Health Outpatient Services provides evidence-based individual and group psychotherapy to adults experiencing moderate to severe mental health concerns across all outpatient services within the program.
This role supports adults with complex psychiatric presentations and elevated clinical acuity, delivering time-limited, goal-focused therapeutic interventions within a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and patient-centred model of care. The Social Worker works as a core member of a dynamic interdisciplinary team and collaborates closely with psychiatry, nursing, and allied health professionals to ensure coordinated, high-quality outpatient mental health care.
Contribute to safe, quality care by:
- Provide individual psychotherapy to adults with moderate to severe mental illness within an outpatient hospital setting.
- Facilitate and co-facilitate structured group therapy (in-person and virtual) across outpatient services.
- Deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions, including:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp)
- Complete comprehensive psychosocial and mental health assessments to inform treatment planning.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized treatment plans aligned with patient goals and recovery principles.
- Conduct advanced suicide and risk assessments for patients with acute psychiatric presentations.
- Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and stabilization within the outpatient setting.
- Collaborate with psychiatry and nursing to escalate care when required, including emergency pathways.
- Monitor changes in risk and clinical acuity and adjust interventions accordingly.
- Work collaboratively as part of a dynamic interdisciplinary team including psychiatrists, nurses, and allied health professionals.
- Participate in case conferences, care planning discussions, and clinical consultation.
- Support continuity of care and coordinated transitions between outpatient services and community supports.
- Contribute to the development, evaluation, and refinement of group therapy programming and clinical pathways
- Maintain accurate, timely clinical documentation within the electronic health record.
- Practice in alignment with recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and evidence-based standards.
- Demonstrate accountability to professional, ethical, and legislative requirements.
- Engage in ongoing professional development and reflective practice.
What must you have?
- Master’s degree in social work from an accredited University
- Member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
- Adult Mental Health experience
- Minimum of 3 years of experience providing psychotherapy to adults with mental health conditions.
What else do you bring?
- Demonstrated expertise in individual psychotherapy within adult mental health.
- Strong group therapy facilitation skills (in-person and virtual).
- Experience working with adults presenting with primary psychiatric diagnoses and moderate to severe acuity.
- Advanced skills in suicide risk assessment, safety planning, and crisis intervention.
- Strong clinical judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Well-developed psychosocial assessment skills
- Demonstrated knowledge of the application of social work values and ethics, theory and established practices of clinical social work in the Outpatient Mental Health setting
- Knowledge and ability to practice CBT and DBT, MI, and solution focused modalities
- Demonstrated knowledge of the classification of psychiatric illnesses, and competency in the treatment of anxiety and affective disorders, OCD, Personality Disorders, and depression
- Working knowledge of available community resources
- Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work independently and participate as a member of the interprofessional team
- Effective prioritization and organization skills
- Demonstrated conflict resolution skills
- Advanced interpersonal skills
- Excellent decision making, problem recognition and problem-solving skills
- Demonstrated commitment to continuing professional development
- Computer literacy in word processing and database management
- A strong desire and capacity to promote professional practice and excellence in evidence-based, patient centered care.
- Understanding of consent and capacity legislation.
- Proven ability to work in a computerized healthcare environment
- Proven attendance record.
- Demonstrates understanding and complies with patient and staff safety policies and procedures that foster a safe and inclusive environment for all.
- Ability to perform the essential duties of the job.
- Effectively uses empathy in interactions with others and demonstrates behaviours consistent with Mackenzie Health’s Commitment to Caring.
- Models behaviour that is aligned with the values of Mackenzie Health – Excellence, Leadership and Empathy.
- Commitment to providing an exceptional experience for staff and clients within a challenging and exciting health care environment.
Preferably, your profile also includes:
- Experience delivering CBTp or working with individuals experiencing psychosis.
- Experience in hospital-based or outpatient mental health settings.
- Familiarity with virtual care platforms and digital group delivery.
*You may be required to work at any site of Mackenzie Health.
