2026-122 Registered Social Worker

Title: Registered Social Worker

Division: Integrated Indigenous Health and Specialized Community Services

Affiliation: Public Service of Alliance Canada

Location: Attawapiskat, ON

Reports to: Manager of Clinical Health, Mental Health & Addictions

Status: Permanent Full-time

The Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA) is looking for an experienced professional to fill the key role of Registered Social Worker.

Life at WAHA

A beacon of healing, wellness, and innovation, WAHA connects remote communities with the care they deserve. With spellbinding views surrounding each site, team members bask in the tranquility of the land, juxtaposed against a bustling workplace busy addressing the complex needs of the region. Here, we work with purpose, knowing each action matters. Patients are neighbours, family, and colleagues. Each day brings a challenge- the good kind that stretches you, helps you grow, and makes you feel vital. These hurdles birth opportunities to problem solve, develop new skills, and explore new roles. Here, we step into a version of ourselves once forgotten, overshadowed by the daily grind, and rediscover a deep connection with ourselves, the land, and each other. Here, we experience work with wonder. #WeAreWAHA

What We Do

There has never been a more exciting time to be at WAHA. We are an integrated health system providing the full continuum of care to the six communities of the western James Bay coast with over 500 employees, physicians, and partners in care. As a health authority, you will work in a unique setting where you have the opportunity to care for patients in all phases of their life journey, in all areas of their health experience. From Primary, Acute, and Mental Health, Dental, Specialty Clinics, Population Health and the WAHA Paramedic Service, the opportunities for growth are boundless. We provide community-based programming in all six of our communities, have six paramedic bases, three hospitals, four emergency departments, one community health centre and a total of 72 beds. Our guiding goal is to be a centre of excellence in Indigenous and remote healthcare. To make this goal a reality, we have formed partnerships with other centres of excellence to remove barriers and eliminate the inequity of health services access that have long impacted the patients that we serve.

At WAHA, we are leading the way in health transformation. Come and immerse yourself in the local Cree culture, work with dedicated and passionate colleagues, and live in beautiful northern communities with amazing community members. Our mission is to provide optimum healthcare as close to home as possible. You can be part of this rewarding experience. Come and find your adventure in the north.

Who You Are

• Comprehensive knowledge of the Mental Health Act and related legislation, mental health assessments, psychopharmacology, general counselling principles and interview techniques, crisis intervention, concurrent disorders, abnormal psychology, de-escalation techniques, seclusion and restraints practices and community resources and utilization of social services
• Advanced knowledge and practice skills concerning crisis intervention, risk management and psychiatric assessment. Knowledge and skills in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Effective communication with and work effectively with co-workers, physicians and other health care staff, patients/family, and staff of outside agencies.
• Demonstrates leadership, problem solving, organizational and decision-making skills

What You’ll Do

• Complete Mental Status Exams and other relevant assessments (risk assessment, suicide risk assessment, violence risk assessment, etc.) to help inform ER physicians/Nurse Practitioners (NP) in formulating a patient’s status and capacity for treatment decisions according to the Mental Health Act, as well as to inform treatment plans for discharge
• Perform comprehensive psychosocial assessments for patients presenting with psychiatric symptoms that include suicidal ideation, psychosis, bizarre behaviour, confusion including where substance abuse/dependence is a precipitant or compounding factor
• Provides crisis intervention service for patients experiencing situational crises related to problems coping with chronic and serious mental illness, chemical dependency, primary support group, social environment, housing, finance and legal problems
• Develops care plans with recommendations for final disposition authorized by Emergency Physicians, NPs and Psychiatrists
• Collaborate with Emergency Department staff, In-patient Department staff, CMH&A workers and other emergency service providers of WAHA and Nursing Stations to coordinate the direct care of patients while in the Emergency Department
• Provide guidance to Emergency Room and Inpatient department Nurses involved in direct care of psychiatric patients and provide leadership for team members actively involved in violence de-escalation and seclusion, and restraint practices.
• Provide collegial sharing of information on mental health/chemical dependency issues to Weeneebayko Area Health Authority Nursing Stations, Hospitals, health providers, schools, and community partners.
• Complete, maintain and update patient/family records by collecting and documenting information including health information, online/telemedicine psychiatric assessments, nursing observations, telephone communication interventions, teaching and care evaluations and completed discharge summaries in Practice Solutions Suite and Medi-Tech within 48 hours of the completion of a session.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a related field required
• Master of Social Work or equivalent preferred
• Registration in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
• One year of recent related experience in a crisis or emergency psychiatry setting or three years of recent related experience in acute psychiatry, outpatient psychiatry or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Willingness to travel as required by your employer
• Ability to communicate in the local native Cree language is an asset
• Valid G license

Why Choose Us

• Defined benefit pension plan (HOOPP)
• Group health, welfare, and Employee and Family Assistance Program Benefits
• Relocation paid by the organization
• Housing provided by the organization
• Annual retention bonus, a northern living allowance, and vacation travel bonus (all pensionable earnings)
• Be part of an organization leading health transformation in the remote north
• Ability to work with a purpose, connected to an amazing community and culture, with opportunities to learn and grow

Salary: $92,800.50 - $102,355.50

Competition #: 2026-122

This job posting is for a new vacancy.

Deadline: This position will remain open till filled.

As part of our recruiting process, AI tools may assist in the screening of applications. Final hiring decisions are made by our recruitment team and hiring managers.

Weeneebayko Area Health Authority is an inclusive employer. Accommodations are available in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights code and Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005