Mental Health Clinician

Are you passionate about supporting individuals living with addiction and helping them navigate complex mental, physical, and social needs? At The Alex, we envision a healthy and caring community where everyone is valued and can thrive. Our mission is to improve quality of life through accessible and integrated health, housing, and social services. If this speaks to you, we’d love to hear from you, apply now!

What We Do 

Since 1973, The Alex has been a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing integrated primary health care, community support services, and housing-focused programs to individuals and families who experience barriers to accessing traditional health, housing, and social service systems. Services are grounded in principles of health equity, low-barrier access, trauma-informed practice, cultural safety, harm reduction, and person-centered care.

Pathways to Housing (Pathways or P2H) operates as an evidence based Assertive Community Treatment team, adhering to the ACT Fidelity framework and guided by recovery and recovery-oriented supportive housing principles. Through team-based outreach, onsite programming, and access to subsidized housing, the program provides integrated primary care, psychiatric care, mental health services, and social support to participants who have been chronically unhoused and are living with psychotic illness.

Reporting to the clinical Team Lead, Mental Health Clinicians (MHCs) can be found across the Alex in Housing, Youth Health Clinic, Community Health Clinic, RAAM clinics and Mobile Clinics. The MHC offers evidence-based therapies to individuals and groups, facilitates skills and process to groups, and works closely with an interdisciplinary health and social team. While carrying a case load and completing required assessments, evaluation instruments, and other documentation, MHCs seek to resolve clients’ issues and support their move to independence or to other community support where appropriate. 

This is a full-time, contract position until July 2, 2027.

What You Will Do: 

• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to provide services consistent with both the Assertive Community Treatment and Intensive Case Management models.
• Provide single session solution focused counselling with option for short term caseloads.
• Offer culturally sensitive services.
• Complete required documentation with excellence, in accordance with agency policy and procedures, and respective of professional college requirements.
• Conduct assessments as appropriate and contribute to individualized service plans.
• Use evidence-based treatments in the areas of mental health and substance abuse to address participant needs (e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectal behaviour therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing (MI), solution-focused therapy (SFT), etc.).
• Work from a harm reduction, trauma informed, and recovery-based approaches, grounded on a client’s readiness for change.
• Work collaboratively with clients, families, and community partners to assist clients in achieving treatment and recovery goals.
• Facilitate group programming for clients, using principles of psychoeducation, CBT, and other evidence-based models, when appropriate.
• Provide access to clients with same-day therapy, when required, appropriate, and applicable to The Alex program.
• Uphold the principles of Harm Reduction and Housing First.
• Assist in data collection, and entry, as directed.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

What You Bring: 

• Master’s degree in psychology, Social Work, or a related field
• An active registration with a professional discipline in Alberta.
• Social Workers must be authorized to perform restricted psychosocial activities or be willing to qualify for this practice enhancement.
• Minimum two years of experience As a Mental Health Clinician.
• Awareness of FOIP, HIA, and HIPA and doctrines such as the Mature Minor.
• Knowledge around working with suicidal individuals and how to handle such situations appropriately while considering confidentiality and client safety.
• Specialized training in evidenced-based therapies is an asset (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectal behavior therapy, solution focused therapy, etc.).
• Experience in single session therapy is an asset.
• Ability to set goals and work with clients within appropriate timelines and refer to other agencies/programs if needed.
• Awareness of the importance of evidence-based treatments and flexibility to practice from different perspectives.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations with significant mental health and substance use issues.
• Awareness of increased complexities in providing therapy virtually.
• Understanding of harm reduction and trauma informed care.
• Exceptional communication, organization, advocacy, teaching, and rapport-building skills.
• Commitment to contributing positively to team culture.
• Ability to work in high-stress situations with clear and open communication.
• Openness to a wide scope of practice with commitment to innovation and flexibility.
• Strong initiative in times of limited supervision.
• Awareness of the value that research and evaluation bring to therapy.
• First Aid (Basic or Intermediate) – Level C CPR & AED within 30 days of hire date; certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire.
• Minimum of 21 years of age and three (3) years of driving experience is required to drive an Alex fleet vehicle.
• A class 5 driver’s license, a personal vehicle for business use, and a clean 3-year drivers abstract are required.
• A satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action is preferred.

Work Environment and Hours: 

• Predominantly outreach role; most work will be done in the communities and school sites.
• 1.0 FTE (37.5 hrs/week)
• Standard hours 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Friday; some on-call duties may be required.
• Continuous extended periods of sitting, with some standing and walking (sometimes up or down stairwells).
• Occasional physical action requires the ability to bend/crouch, reach above shoulder height, kneel/crawl, and carry objects (up to 20 lbs.).
• Occasional driving for work-related duties is required.
• Occasional time outside in all weather conditions.

Driving on behalf of The Alex: 

This position requires the use of a personal vehicle for work-related purposes (and driving an Alex fleet vehicle). Candidates must show proof of a class 5 driver's license, a personal vehicle, and a clean 3-year drivers abstract. Candidates must consent to the possibility of an annual driver's abstract review to meet our insurance provider’s requirements. When driving clients is required, candidates must also agree to maintain $2 million liability insurance on their personal vehicle. Mileage will be reimbursed in alignment with the CRA guidelines. Driving a fleet vehicle at The Alex also requires that staff are at least 21 years of age with a minimum of three (3) years’ driving experience.

How To Apply

If you are as passionate as we are about making a difference in people’s lives, please visit our career centre: Jobs at The Alex | The Alex. 

This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We will make every effort to accommodate candidate’s schedules and needs in all parts of the hiring process.

The Alex is committed to embedding the principles of equity, inclusion, and diversity across the organization. We are committed to removing barriers to employment that are faced by equity-seeking groups and encourage (but not require) members of these groups to self-identify as such in their cover letters. 

In accordance with our strategic priorities, we particularly encourage applications from individuals who self-identify as racialized* or Indigenous (First Nation, Metis, or Inuit).

*The term “racialized” is used here instead of the more outdated and inaccurate terms “racial minority, “visible minority”, “person of colour”, or “non-White”.

For further information about The Alex and its programs, we encourage you to visit our website at www.thealex.ca