Compensation Pay Range:

$38.57-$47.34Job Description:

If you are a current CHEO employee with access to Workday, please apply to this posting via the Workday application as an internal applicant using the Jobs Hub.

Ottawa is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabek Nation have lived on this territory for millennia and we honour them and this land. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. CHEO also honours all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.

CHEO is one of the few stand-alone, global leaders in pediatric health and is home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives. Within its own walls and through partnerships with community providers, CHEO has transformed from a 20th century acute care hospital into a 21st century integrated child and youth health system.

Ranked in the top 1% of Canadian hospitals for the digitization of its clinical infrastructure, CHEO combines excellence in clinical care, research, and education to advance seamless care that’s provided where, when, and how it is needed. CHEO’s Research Institute is dedicated to world-class clinical, translational, and basic science research covering a wide range of children’s health concerns. CHEO has been named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and is ranked second among Canadian hospitals on its list of Canada’s Best Employers for multiple consecutive years.

For the 14th consecutive year in a row, the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers has recognized CHEO as a top employer in the National Capital Region. Every year CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario.

POSTING SUMMARY

The Intake Worker is a primary point of access for children, youth, and families seeking services in mental health, addictions, substance use and neurodevelopmental health, development and rehabilitation, and home care services and care when needed.

The Intake

Worker reviews referrals, gathers key clinical and developmental information, and determines the urgency and appropriateness of each request for service.

The Intake

Worker completes an intake using standard screening tools to support the navigation of patients and families to the most appropriate resources.

The Intake

Worker maintains thorough and confidential documentation, keeps referral records current within electronic systems, and communicates clearly with families and referral sources to support understanding of next steps. Strong judgment, effective communication, and consistent, family‑centered practice allow the Intake Worker to support equitable and timely access across complex care environments.

This posting is for a three-month temporary assignment. Initial assignment will include a focus on supporting referrals for school age children and youth referred for assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Intake Screening and Information Gathering

• Receive and review incoming referrals and determine the need for additional information.
• Contact families and referral sources to gather clinical, developmental, psychosocial, and functional background details.
• Conduct structured intake screenings using established guidelines and decision‑support tools.
• Identify indicators of both risk and protective factors to determine urgency and escalate concerns to clinical leadership as required.
• Prioritize referrals based on defined criteria to ensure timely and appropriate access to services.

Service Coordination and Access Support

• Determine the appropriateness of each referral within established clinical, developmental, and service-specific pathways.
• Coordinate assignment of referrals to programs, clinicians, or teams and track movement through the intake workflow.
• Support with waitlist review where expertise of an Intake worker is required
• Respond to family inquiries regarding service eligibility, navigation, wait times, and next steps in the care process.
• Ensure timely and appropriate information and support to referring physicians when referrals are made, in accordance with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) guidelines.
• Provide families with clear information and support to improve understanding and engagement with recommended services.
• Support seamless and coordinated connections to appropriate services including community partner agencies where appropriate, sharing relevant information with consent to streamline pathways and reduce the need for families to retell their story.

Collaboration and Liaison

• Liaise with teams to clarify referral needs, share relevant information, and optimize service alignment.
• Communicate with community partners, including schools, agencies, and health providers to coordinate information exchange and referral pathways.
• Respond to urgent intake‑related requests by following established protocols to ensure timely intervention.

Documentation and Electronic Systems

• Maintain accurate, comprehensive, and timely electronic documentation in approved systems.
• Track referral activity, client status, and workflow updates to support reporting, quality monitoring, and clinical planning.
• Ensure all documentation practices meet privacy, consent, and confidentiality standards as required by legislation and organizational policy.
• Use electronic health records, referral management platforms, secure communication tools, and other relevant software effectively.

Advisory Input and Quality Support

• Identify patterns, recurring issues, or pressures emerging from referral activity and communicate these to leadership.
• Recommend improvements to intake workflows, communication processes, and referral decision pathways.
• Participate in quality improvement discussions, audits, or initiatives as requested to enhance access and system efficiency.
• Bring forward observations about service gaps, barriers, or policy concerns affecting families or service delivery to leadership
• Other related duties as required

QUALIFICATIONS

• Three (3) year college diploma in Child and Youth Counselling, Social Sciences, Child Development, Autism and Behavioural Science, or a related field (Essential)
• Bachelor's degree in social sciences, Child and Youth Care, Psychology, Health Sciences, or related fields (Preferred)
• Minimum three (3) years of related experience in mental health, developmental services, rehabilitation, or community‑based health services (Essential)
• Experience in intake, screening, triage, navigation, or service coordination within health, community, or social service settings (Preferred)
• Knowledge of mental health, neurodevelopmental, rehabilitation, and community care systems (Essential)
• Strong intake screening, interviewing, and risk‑identification skills (Essential)
• Trauma‑informed, family‑centered, and culturally safe practices (Essential)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with children, youth, and families (Essential)
• Ability to work independently within established procedures and collaboratively with interprofessional teams (Essential)
• Sound judgment, critical thinking, and effective decision‑making.
• Strong organization, prioritization, and time‑management abilities in a high‑volume environment (Essential)
• Proficiency with electronic health records, referral tracking tools, and digital communication systems (Essential)
• Vulnerable Sector Check (Level 3) (Essential)
• Bilingualism (French/English) (Essential)

*Equivalent combinations of relevant experience, formal training, and demonstrated performance may be considered.

Timeline may be extended or shortened based on operational needs.

*Veuillez noter que vous serez représenté(e) par le Syndicat des employées et employés de la fonction publique de l’Ontario (SEFPO). Veuillez noter que ce poste sera basé à Ottawa. Veuillez noter que l’emplacement pourrait être modifié en tout temps à la discrétion de l’employeur. Tous les membres de OPSEU serront accorder une entrevue après avoir passé la présélection. La présélection peut comprendre des tests.

Effective March 29, 2021, CHEO will conduct a more comprehensive pre-screening and evaluation process. This process may include more varied and multidimensional testing such as a written test, practical exam, or other assessment. All candidates who meet the essential and preferred qualifications may be tested.

Bilingualism (French/English) will be validated by a language proficiency assessment conducted by a third party provider. Candidates will be required to meet the minimum linguistic profile prior to the date of hire.

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at TalentAcquisition@cheo.on.ca. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Please note you will be represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

Bilingualism (French/English) will be validated by a language proficiency assessment conducted by a third party provider. Candidates will be required to meet the minimum linguistic profile prior to the date of hire.

CHEO values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process and welcome interest from all qualified applicants.

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at TalentAcquisition@cheo.on.ca. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

We thank all those who apply, however, only those to be interviewed will be contacted.