Community Mental Health Relief Worker Training Project

Community Mental Health Relief Worker Training Project*

Are you an Internationally Educated Professional (IEP)
* with prior experience in the social services sector in your home country?
* interested in working in field of the community mental health in the Greater Toronto Area or in Hamilton?

If so, you can apply for a training program that will prepare IEPs for a career in community mental health, beginning as relief workers in a community-based adult mental health agency that promotes wellness.

The course will be offered in Toronto, during October - December 2009 over 8 consecutive Saturdays.
There is no fee for the fall 2009 session of this course.

The course will give you a good understanding of the mental health system in Ontario, legal issues, theoretical perspectives, practice approaches, terminology, values and attitudes that are important in the field and employer expectations. This will enhance your ability to compete successfully for relief worker positions. (Relief workers make up a pool of trained staff who are called upon to cover shifts for staff who are absent due to illness, vacation or educational leave.)

We are seeking applicants who are internationally educated professionals with:

· Post-secondary education (diploma or degree in the fields of social sciences, humanities, health or social work)
· Prior experience in social services, health care, community work; working or lived experience in the field of mental health is an asset
· Knowledge about the causes and symptoms of mental illness and the impact of mental illness and addictions on individuals, families and communities
· Proficiency in oral and written English: (LINC level 8 or equivalent is preferred
http://www.ymcatoronto.org/en/newcomers/you-arrived/newcomer-services/linc.html
· Fluency in additional languages is an asset
· Computer literacy (Word, email, internet)
· Ontario residency and able to work legally in Canada

To apply:

· Prepare a resume that clearly outlines your education and your paid and volunteer experience. Please include positions in the social service sector as well as other jobs you have held.
· Write a one-page letter that outlines why you want to take this course and why you think you are a suitable candidate for this training and for employment in the community mental health field.
· Email your letter and resume (in one document) to iesw@ryerson.ca, with "Mental Health Training" in the subject line. Submit application by July 31, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.

Only those selected for an interview and a written test will be contacted. Interviews will take place in August.

For more information, please contact iesw@ryerson.ca

This project is jointly managed by the Gerstein Crisis Centre and the Internationally Educated Social Work Professionals (IESW) Bridging Program at Ryerson University. A very active Advisory Committee includes IEPs, consumer survivors and representatives from several community mental health agencies in the GTA and Hamilton which are committed to hiring qualified IEPs from diverse communities.

Funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario