Mental Health Nurse

Mental Health Nurse

Organization: Ministry of the Solicitor General

Division: Thunder Bay Jail

City: Thunder Bay

Language of Position(s): English

Job Term: 1 Permanent

Job Code: C50040 – Mental Health Nurse (COR)

Salary: $1,684.03 – $2,418.51 Per week*
*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

Understanding the job ad – definitions

Posting Status: Open

Job ID: 229118

 Apply Online

Consider Your Next Career with the Ministry of the Solicitor General, Ontario Public Service!

The Ontario Public Service is one of the largest employers in the province, with a wide range of exciting career opportunities. We believe in the core values of trust, fairness, diversity, excellence, creativity, collaboration, efficiency and responsiveness. We invite you to join our teams!

The Ministry of the Solicitor General is embarking on a large-scale initiative to modernize Ontario’s correctional system, with a focus on enhancing safety and security, infrastructure and services in institutions across the province. Consider a rewarding career in correctional services and join us in making a difference in the lives of individuals in custody and in keeping our communities safe.

We are seeking caring and compassionate Mental Health Nurses to join our health care team at the Thunder Bay Jail. As a Mental Health Nurse, you will use your specialized knowledge and skills to provide patient-centered mental health care to offenders.

About the job

In this role, you will:

• Conduct mental health assessments for the purposes of triage and on-going care
• Plan and implement treatment plans
• Monitor adherence and response to treatment plans and health care interventions
• Liaise with community care providers to obtain mental health histories and facilitate transitional care at discharge
• Lead case management by initiating patient-specific plans of care
• Coordinate care with other members of the health care team, such as primary care, psychiatry, social work and psychology
• Utilize your sound knowledge of crisis prevention and intervention
• Contribute to mental health program development within the institution
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with other staff members and external stakeholders
• Share your knowledge and expertise with other staff members
• Practise in accordance with College of Nurses of Ontario Practice Standards and Ministry expectations
• Practise in accordance with the security requirements of the institution

What you bring to the team

Mandatory requirements

• You must be registered as a Registered Nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario and be in good standing
• The successful candidate will be required to be registered for a mental health nurse certification program upon job offer and complete certification requirements within a specified period of time
• The ministry will accept the following certification or proof of enrolment:
• Canadian Nurses Association – Current Psychiatric and Mental Health Certification
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – Concurrent Disorders Certification
• Accredited Colleges in Canada – Mental Health Certification

Nursing and Mental Health Knowledge and Experience

• You have in-depth knowledge of mental illness, mental health nursing theory, community mental health resources, evidence-based practices and current treatment options acquired through enrolment in/completion of a post-diploma/post-degree certificate program in mental health, and supplemented by continuing education in mental health/psychiatry
• You can interpret and apply relevant legislation (such as the Mental Health Act, Regulated Health Professions Act, Health Care Consent Act, Personal Health Information Protection Act)
• You have knowledge of mental health evidence based practices and current treatment options as well as experience completing comprehensive mental health assessments
• You can elicit, interpret and evaluate information from patients and other sources and draw conclusions to develop treatment and care plans
• You are able to evaluate patient responses to planned interventions and to modify interventions in collaboration with the inter-professional team to achieve established inmate goals
• You can address emergency situations and implement appropriate therapeutic interventions

Effective Communication Skills

• You can present information in a clear and concise manner as well as adapt your communication skills to provide information and health teaching to a diverse population
• You can work collaboratively with others, such as the inter-professional team, correctional staff and community agencies
• You are an effective patient advocate and can advocate for and encourage patient participation in their plan of care
• You have oral and written communication skills to clearly communicate care and progress through documentation, including progress notes, written care plans, clinical and administrative summaries
• You are able to support patients in working towards achieving identified goals

Hours of Work

The hours of work are 40 hours per week. You are expected to work rotating shifts in a health care unit that provides 7 days per week service, up to 24 hours a day.

Don’t meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario’s Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer  accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please  contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

What we offer

The Ministry of the Solicitor General offers a comprehensive and competitive compensation package, including:

• A defined benefit pension plan
• Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits
• A comprehensive health and dental plan
• Life and disability insurance
• A progressive work environment that promotes work/life balance
• Flexible learning and developmental opportunities, including online, education and mentorship programs
• Opportunities for career advancement and specialization

Northern Attraction Incentive Program (NAIP)
This position qualifies for the Northern Attraction Incentive Program (NAIP). NAIP is a pilot recruitment program which offers financial incentives to new hires in specific positions in designated institutions and probation and parole offices in Northern Ontario, including external candidates to the Ontario Public Service and existing employees who agree to work for a term of three years.

All applicants will be provided with more information on the program, once the job advertisement closes. If you would like more information prior to applying, you may contact: COR-ETU@ontario.ca

Additional information

Address:

1 English Permanent, 285 Macdougall, Thunder Bay, North Region, Vulnerable Sector Check, Credit History Check, Local Police Databases Search, PIP/NICHE/RMS

Compensation Group:

Ontario Public Service Employees Union

Understanding the job ad – definitions

Schedule: 4-7

Category: Health and Social Services

Posted on: Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Note: About security checks:
A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position’s responsibilities.
If a check is needed and you’ve lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you’ll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in.
Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential. T-CL-229118/25

How to apply:

1.      You must apply online.

2.      Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.

3.      Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.

4.      Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.

5.      OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.

6.      If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please Contact Us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

Please be advised that the results of this competition may be used to form an eligibility list of qualified candidates to potentially fill future vacancies represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). In accordance with the Collective Agreement, eligibility lists are shared with OPSEU representatives. By applying to this competition, you are providing consent that your name may be shared with OPSEU representatives.

 

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee’s exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember:

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, May 6, 2025 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.
We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.

The Ontario Public Service is an inclusive employer.
Accommodation is available under the Ontario’s Human Rights Code .

Apply Online