Intake Counsellor, Addictions and Mental Health
Why Work for SOAR Community Services
About SOAR Community Services
SOAR Community Services (formerly St. Leonard's Community Services) has been an established part of the community for more than 55 years, and is accredited for our excellence in serving children, youth, adults, and families.
Our Purpose
We support people to achieve new heights.
We do this by:
- Delivering quality services
- Coordinating care
- Partnering with others
- Supporting staff success
- Continuously improving our services
Our Principles
- Empowered Client Voices
- Clarity with Compassion
- Unified by Teamwork
- Integrity Through Consistency
- Inclusion in Action
- Leadership Through Empowerment
- Community Connected Care
- Adaptation and Innovation
- Governance in Partnership
Primarily Monday -Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with the flexibility for program needs
Duties
This position is cross-appointed within our Addictions and Mental Health department, including within our community-based Concurrent Disorders office and bed-based Withdrawal Management and Treatment Services settings.
As the Intake Counsellor, you will:
- Create a warm, welcoming, and safe intake experience
- Work as part of a team to deliver quality client care
- Review treatment applications, liaise with external partners to ensure appropriate client match
- Support clients in programming (i.e. transition planning, crisis intervention, needs assessments, referrals, etc.)
- Facilitate client transition and community connection post-treatment
- Administer standardized, comprehensive, evidence-based assessment tools when required, to support linkage to appropriate treatment
- Provide support while waiting for residential treatment and facilitates client transition and community connection post residential stay
- Advocate on behalf of clients to ensure they have access to the right community support
- Ensure safe and effective functioning of the program
Qualifications
- Have a college diploma in Social Services; a university degree in Social Sciences is preferred
- Have a minimum of 2 years’ experience working with individuals who use substances, those with mental health issues, and other vulnerable populations
- Have demonstrated ability to establish client rapport, assess need, develop support plans, mitigate crisis, and navigate health and social service systems to facilitate client connection
- Demonstrate skill in working collaboratively with service delivery partners
- Have access to reliable transportation
- Be able to manage frequent exposure to vicarious trauma and occasional exposure to direct trauma
Eligibility
Authorized to work in Canada.
Start date: as soon possible
End date: May 14, 2027 (12-month contract)
Vacant Position
Benefits
- An Employee Assistance Plan for all staff and their families
- 60 Hours of Personal Leave Time per year for Full Time staff (pro-rated first year)
- 15 hours of Wellness Time per year for Full Time staff (pro-rated first year)
- Fun events for all staff
How to Apply
Email: dawn.slawter@soarcs.ca and zoe.wickson@soarcs.ca
Apply by: May 26, 2026
Reference: TFT Intake Counsellor
Our Commitment to Job Seekers
SOAR Community Services is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wyandot, the Haudenosaunee, and some of the Ojibwa Nation. The territory is mutually covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this community, on this territory. We also acknowledge that the settler population has been able to benefit from this beautiful land. We are all treaty members and will strive to act in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and center their voices.
The Agency values the diverse and intersectional identities of its clients and staff. The Agency regards equity and diversity as an integral part of excellent community service and is committed to accessibility for all staff. The Agency seeks applicants who embrace our values and beliefs around respect for the dignity and diversity of our clients, staff, and community. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
The Agency encourages applications from all qualified individuals. If you are an applicant with disabilities and require accommodations, please let us know at the time of our contact so that we may arrange for their provision.
Personal information submitted will only be used for the purposes of the competition in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.