Job Title

Posting closes: February 11, 2026 at 5:00pm About Us: The Canadian Mental Health AssociationWaterloo Wellington (CMHA WW) provides a full care system for those with addictions, mental health or developmental needs. We serve everyone from children to adults to seniors, all under one roof. Our programs help individuals and families to lead lives filled with meaning and promise. We have 400 staff at offices in Cambridge, Waterloo, Kitchener, Guelph, Fergus, and Mount Forest. We are fully accredited by Accreditation Canada and our proud of our Exemplary Status (the highest standing) received at our most recent accreditation exercise. Why Join our Team: Competitive Compensation and Benefits: Our compensation package includes a competitive salary and generous benefits supporting the wellness of our staff. We are proud to be members of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) offering one of Canada''s largest and most respected defined benefit plans. Career Development Opportunities: Our wide range of services and supports allows for varied opportunities for career growth. Our multi-disciplinary approach to care offers cross collaboration and enhanced opportunities for learning. A formal succession planning process is key to our internal leadership recruitment. Values that include: Mutual Respect, Accountability, Integrity and Excellence and Innovation and a culture that is welcoming and inclusive. Commitment to Health and Safety: We have a strong health and safety culture at CMHA WW and work tirelessly to address the health and safety needs of staff and the people we serve. The Opportunity: We are recruiting for an Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Risk Lead - This is a regular full-time position to fill an existing vacancy (35 hours per week Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) based on-site at 737 Woolwich Street, Guelph. The Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) and Risk Lead plays a key role in advancing the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington''s (CMHA WW) commitment to client safety, quality of care, and organizational risk management within community-based mental health and addictions services. Guided by the organization''s Risk Management Framework, this role leads the development and application of evidence-based, data-informed infection prevention, outbreak response, and risk management practices that are adapted to non-hospital environments, including shared program spaces, drop-in services, outreach settings, client homes, and clinical group formats. Reporting to the Director, Quality & Risk and Chief Privacy Officer, the IPAC & Risk Lead works closely with the Quality-of-Care Review (QCR) team to prepare Quality-of-Care Review documentation, support risk incident reporting and staff training, and coordinate review scheduling and follow-up. The role provides subject matter expertise through policy development, surveillance, audits, education, risk assessments, and incident response, supporting teams, management, and senior leadership in identifying emerging risks, responding effectively to incidents and outbreaks, and strengthening system-level safety and quality improvement across the organization. The Infection Prevention & Control and Risk Lead performs a wide range of duties including but not limited to the following: Preparation of Quality-of-Care Review Documents Conduct thorough and detailed reviews of client case files, analyzing clinical information and relevant data to extract key insights in alignment with the Quality-of-Care Review (QCR) Framework. Prepare comprehensive QCR documents that synthesize findings, identify risks, and support informed decision-making by assessors and leadership. Disseminate draft QCR documents to assessors, ensuring clarity, completeness, and adherence to organizational standards, and deliver finalized documents to the Director, Quality and Risk, Chief Privacy Officer. Track and support follow-up on system-level recommendations through the Risk Register, ensuring corrective actions are implemented, monitored, and reported on effectively. Contribute to the continuous improvement of QCR processes, tools, and templates, ensuring documentation is both accurate and actionable. Facilitate and Support Training in Risk Incident Reporting Lead and deliver training for staff on risk incident reporting, promoting a culture of safety, transparency, and accountability. Provide hands-on support to staff in completing risk reports during incidents or complaints, ensuring timely and accurate documentation. Review, analyze, and finalize incident reports following Quality of Care Reviews, identifying trends, patterns, and potential mitigation strategies to reduce future risk. Collaborate with leadership to enhance reporting processes and improve staff confidence and competency in risk management practices. Support Scheduling and Management of Quality-of-Care Reviews Coordinate and manage scheduling for all Quality-of-Care Review activities, ensuring assessments are timely, well-organized, and aligned with organizational priorities. Support the scheduling and availability of the relevant leadership, and expert external clinical consultation for QCR assessments, anticipating and resolving conflicts to maximize efficiency. Serve as a central point of communication between leadership, reviewers, and staff to ensure smooth execution of QCR schedules and related follow-ups. Continuously evaluate scheduling processes and tools, recommending improvements to optimize workflow and support organizational effectiveness. Infection Prevention & Control Leadership and Strategy Lead the Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) and infection-related risk portfolio across all CMHA WW sites and community-based programs. Develop and maintain community-specific IPAC guidelines that reflect client mobility, fluctuating engagement, shared program environments, and harm-reduction practices. Ensure IPAC policies align with national and regional public health guidance, evidence-based best practices, and organizational requirements, including Accreditation Canada Required Safety Practices (RSPs). Provide strategic IPAC and infection-related risk advice to Senior Leadership, including emerging infectious disease trends and risks specific to substance use, congregate living, outreach, and community mental health settings. Infection Risk Consultation and Outbreak Management Act as the expert advisor for community-based outbreaks and infection concerns affecting clients and staff, including respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin/soft tissue infections. Support teams in interpreting diagnostic tests, identifying communicability periods, and applying appropriate precautions in environments where full isolation may not be feasible. Provide specialized consultation for clients with complex co-occurring needs, including immunocompromised individuals, high-risk substance use, and behavioural factors impacting infection control. Apply recognized IPAC specialist competencies, including differentiating colonization versus infection and interpreting laboratory results. Provide coaching and guidance during high-risk or rapidly evolving scenarios, such as suspected outbreaks, overdose responses involving biohazard exposure, or uncontrolled community environments. Surveillance, Auditing, and Quality Improvement Lead an IPAC surveillance system tailored to community-based programming, including monitoring infection trends, environmental cleaning practices, sharps and needle disposal risks, shelter-style exposures, and group program incidents. Conduct IPAC audits in community settings, ensuring infection control measures are practical, portable, and adaptable to diverse physical environments. Prepare regular IPAC and infection-risk reports for organizational leadership and public health partners, ensuring compliance with regulatory, reporting, and accreditation requirements. Support continuous quality improvement initiatives by integrating IPAC findings into broader organizational risk, safety, and quality frameworks. Education, Training, and Program Capacity Building Develop and deliver IPAC education and training tailored to community Mental Health and Addictions environments, including direct service staff, administrative staff, and leadership. Educate staff on infection prevention principles relevant to harm-reduction services, home visits, shared program supplies, crisis intervention, and outreach work. Build and sustain a network of program-level IPAC champions to strengthen local capacity and reinforce infection prevention practices across services. Incident Review, Risk Assessment, and System Integration Lead infection-related risk assessments in community settings, considering factors such as client unpredictability, variable housing conditions, environmental constraints, and congregate programming. Review infection-related client safety incidents and staff exposure events in collaboration with Quality and Risk leadership, contributing to corrective action planning and follow-up. Integrate infection prevention risks into organizational risk management processes, supporting system-level mitigation and learning. External Partnerships and Communication Liaise with local Public Health, community partners, shelters, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and hospitals regarding infection trends, outbreak management, and coordinated response efforts. Work in collaboration with CMHA WW Communications to develop clear, timely messaging during outbreaks or infection risk escalations, tailored to community staff and client audiences. Maintain strong working relationships with leadership and service teams to promote a consistent, safety-oriented culture aligned with IPAC leadership frameworks. Qualifications: Completion of post-secondary degree in Nursing, Public Health, Epidemiology, Medical Laboratory Science, or related field. Master''s degree in a health-related discipline is preferred. Certificate in Risk Management and/or Certification in Infection Control (CIC) are considered an asset. Three to five (3-5) years of quality, risk management, incident investigation, and quality improvement experience in a community or healthcare setting, with proficiency in continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, PDSA cycles). Two to five (25) years of clinical or health service experience, ideally in mental health and addictions. Experience working in community-based mental health, addictions, public health, or congregate living environments, with demonstrated knowledge of Ontario''s healthcare system and applicable standards. Comprehensive understanding of infectious diseases, outbreak response, and applied IPC in non-hospital community environments. Proven ability to guide and coach multidisciplinary teams, tailoring instruction to varied clinical roles and professional backgrounds. Advanced knowledge of quality improvement approaches, principles, and frameworks, with proven implementation and evaluation skills. Strong computer and data analysis skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and Project Management software. Highly analytical and detail-oriented, with strong problem-solving skills; able to interpret surveillance data, prepare reports for leadership and external partners, manage multiple priorities, and adapt solutions in diverse, unpredictable community settings (client homes, encampments, community hubs, etc.) Effective organizational and project management skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and achieve measurable outcomes. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear reports, presentations, and tailored messaging for diverse audiences. Demonstrated interpersonal skills, enabling professional, collaborative, and patient interactions with staff, physicians, community partners, and external organizations. Valid G Class driver''s license, access to a reliable personal vehicle, and appropriate insurance (travel to on-site meetings and events are required). Embodies and promotes CMHA WW''s core values of Mutual Respect, Integrity, Accountability, Excellence, and Innovation in all professional interactions and decision-making. If you are interested in this position, please submit a resume and cover letter in one document outlining how your skills, qualifications and experience meet the position requirements. CLASSIFICATION AND RATE OF PAY: Level 7 (Non-Union) $41.34 to $50.24 per hour CMHA WW, as an equal opportunity employer, embraces diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Our goal is to attract, develop and retain talented employees from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. *We do not use AI in our screening process.