Job Description

The Emergency Medical Assistance Team (EMAT) was established in 2004 as part of the provincial government's commitment to help safeguard the healthcare system from health emergencies, mass casualties, and infectious disease outbreaks.

EMAT is a mobile and scalable medical field hospital that can be deployed anywhere in Ontario. The EMAT can provide a field hospital that supports triage, primary care, acute care, intensive care and mental health care needs during an emergency. Such deployments may take place in populous or remote, semi-austere environments using field hospital tents or buildings of opportunity. In addition, the EMAT can provide:

Patient care and isolation requirements in the case of an infectious diseases outbreak; Cold zone medical support and decontamination in the case of a chemical, biological or radiological incident; and Case management and triage of patients in a mass casualty situation.
Note: This is a contract position. EMAT leadership will ensure that an EMAT member works with his/her home organization for the provision of availability during deployments and training events.

EMAT is currently recruiting for

Social Workers, Mental Health and Crisis Response Team

The Mental Health and Crisis Response Team (MHCRT) is a functional component within EMAT that is responsible for the provision of mental health care and other forms of psychosocial support to patients and their families. Its target client group is Ontario's First Nations communities. Though its primary role is psychological, emotional, and spiritual support and intervention, the team may also provide information and links to resources in order to facilitate the reconnection of families and patients.

Major Duties: Social Workers

Outside of tasks regularly attributed to social workers, specific tasks could include:

Providing emotional support and psychological first aid to families, patients/clients and the community. Providing psychological triage of casualties and the identification of patients at higher risk of serious traumatic stress. Providing families and patients/clients, whenever possible, with accurate information on the event, along with culturally-appropriate information on psycho/emotional response and self-care strategies. Assisting the medical team with the identification of patients/clients and assisting with their reconnection with their families. Registration of families and providing the medical team with social, psychological, functional and medical information gathered from families about the patients/clients. Maintaining two-way communication with local medical facilities so that families can know quickly the location and condition of injured/sick family members. Identification of and connection with local medical/psychosocial services for referring families for long-term support and follow-up. Identification of and connection to local community resources, i.e. local reception centers providing food, shelter, etc., and referral of families/patients/clients with such resources as needed. Identification of local and appropriate medical/mental health resources and referral of families and patients/clients to such resources as needed. Assisting the medical team in responding to issues such as suicidal ideation, sexual assault, and child abuse situations. Assisting the medical team with death notification. Facilitating peer-led debriefings for EMAT staff and to provide, with the knowledge of the team supervisor, crisis counselling for staff members in urgent situations.

Required Qualifications/Experience

Professional Requirements

MSW preferred, BSW accepted (RSW required). At least 3 years (5 years for BSW) of acute care experience or a combination of acute care and mental health experience (preference will be given to those with both mental health and acute care experience). Social work experience should include providing psychosocial assessments, counselling, care and discharge planning, locating and arranging resources, family and patient education. Liability insurance is recommended and can be arranged through the Ontario Association of Social Workers. Experience working with patients and families on the issues of death, dying, bereavement and loss. Ability to collaborate as part of an interdisciplinary team, but act independently.

Psychosocial Health Requirements

A demonstrated history of working in or with First Nations communities in a psychosocial or health care role. Must have an extensive working knowledge of First Nations culture. Certification from a recognized disaster/emergency response training program preferred (e.g. NOVA, CISM, SFA, etc.). Knowledge of traumatic stress reactions: emotional, physical, and psychological. Knowledge of long-term predictors and effects of acute stress: PTSD, depression, anxiety and addictions. Experience with suicide assessment and response.

Additional Knowledge Recommended

Non-violent crisis intervention. CPR/basic first aid. Guided relaxation techniques, EFT, etc. A high tolerance to stressful and chaotic environments.

Areas of Specializations

Please state in your cover letter if you have any specialized knowledge or skills with the following populations: Indigenous peoples, children, elderly, women, adults, special needs, trauma, sexual and domestic assault, mental health, or any others not mentioned.

EMAT Social Worker Competencies

Ability to work with a multidisciplinary team and to function independently. Exhibit a safety and tactical-oriented mindset. Physically fit to handle lifting of heavy objects in a safe manner. Good written and oral communications skills. Ability to handle a high pressure, stressful clinical environment. Ability to problem solve using critical thinking. Ability to prioritize, remain flexible and use good time management. Ability to quickly learn and implement new concepts, skills, and cross-train to support the needs of the team. Multilingualism is an asset. Must demonstrate leadership, problem solving and conflict resolution skills.

EMAT Immunization Requirements

EMAT contractors require assessment of immunization status, completion of routinely recommended vaccine series, and booster doses in accordance with the Canadian Immunization Guide for Health Care Workers (HCW). In addition, HCW may require additional doses or booster doses of routine immunizations, or a change in the routine immunization schedule. Unimmunized or incompletely immunized HCW should receive routine immunizations as appropriate for age as well as vaccines recommended because of specific occupational risks. For EMAT contractors, this includes annual influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Application

Along with your cover letter and resume, please provide 3 references at the time of your interview, including one from your direct Supervisor or Manager. Due to the nature of this position, the candidate may be subject to a Vulnerable Sector Background Check.
If you are interested in joining our team,

please submit your resume to EMAT Human Resources

at

hr@emat.ca

no later than

17:00 hours on Monday, October 20, 2025

. Please address any questions concerning this position to Nicole.Pinto@emat.ca.

Thank you for your interest. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Job Types: Fixed term contract, Casual

Work Location: In person