registered nurse

registered practical nurse

research analyst

social worker

program assistant

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

CAMH does great things for the community yet they barely care for their employees. Needed several years of experience/education to be given  hourly pay in the $20-$28 dollar mark with no vacation, no stat holiday pay, no benefits and no opportunity for advancement. 

They hired on temporary one-year contracts that would be automatically renewed every year (training alone takes about a year), so that they could avoid giving benefits. No opportunity to advance despite being given job tasks of higher-up positions. Only way to get promoted was if someone quit.

Management hated each other, yelled everyday, a lot of stress and responsibilities put on staff that made the least amount of money.

When COVID hit they pretended nothing was happening, didn't allow remote work (despite being able to in terms of the demands of the job), and despite consistent outbreaks. Had to still see patients with no PPE, later ordered to then screen for additional o/t hours at the door of the hospital until midnight. All this despite having ZERO SICK PAY if employees got sick.

Zero benefits for mental health unless you were a permanent staff member (hard positions to get) and even then EHB only allowed for very little $$ a year for counselling. Many employees had their mental health significantly suffer while working here - lots of burn out, mental crises, quitting without notice.

I was extremely passionate about working here. Loved what I should have been doing there, felt it was important, but the way the place was run and how I was treated made it single-handedly the worst place I've ever been.

Surprised not more whistle blowers about what happened there, especially during COVID.


Projects can be interesting. 
Management: Business analysts typically report to project managers, this type of setup calls for a power authority by PM's and a hierarchical relationship rather than fostering of a healthy team environment. Some management lack adequate training on how to deal with their direct reports and in my experience I found that the style was very paternalistic rather than a healthy relationship based on trust, respect of BA as a team member as well as lack of managers role to foster creativity and utilize/grow individuals talent. BA's are considered worker bee's (do what you are told) rather than respected team members. This can be detrimental not only to the individuals growth but to the teams growth as well impediment to the success of projects. In essence, BA's are not considered professionals with experience. This observation may not represent all PM's and/or other managers at CAMH.
Director level individuals are approachable and ready to listen to feedback and implement improvements.
Interesting observations: Was surprised to find political nuances at deep levels in this organization. It can affect productivity and talent stumper for those caught up in it.
Overall experience has been quite negative at a professional level in this organization. Not certain if it is a very good place for a BA to have positive professional experience, learn and grow.

CAMH is an inclusive and caring hospital that has wonderful teams that really go out of their way to help the patient's who come to us for help. It makes working here very rewarding because you know that you are helping to make someone's life better. The staff are friendly and willing to go the extra mile to help each other. We have pot luck breakfasts or lunches just to build team spirit and often have after work gatherings for those who can attend. The management is always willing to listen to your ideas about how to make yours and others work life easier. They encourage growth and learning and the open environment allows for easy communication for good and bad reasons welcome. With the types of patient's that we have to encounter varying largely when a difficult situation arises management and the whole team are there to support you and make sure you are taking care of yourself as well. One of the most enjoyable parts of the job is that there is never a dull day and you never know what to expect from one day to the next.

The workload is heavy but rewarding. The learning curve is very steep and there is something new to learn all the time. Working here brings out your compassion and gives you a chance to use skills that you may not have known you had. I learned how to think on my feet when dealing with tough situations. My coworkers were always supportive and willing to help when I had questions. The management encouraged a team environment which created a great supportive environment where everyone could do their work to the best of their abilities. The hardest part of the job was the steep learning curve when having to learn how to administer all the new questionnaires and tests to participants. The most enjoyable part was getting to interact with new people everyday.

Get ready to be a member of Canada's largest spin machine.  Sure they get all the money, but the org values it's image more than the needs of its clients.  As a clinician, you'll be responsible for protecting the illusion that this place is anything more than a vehicle for psychopharmacology and it's academic interests.  non-medical staff can be placated for years with ceremonial activities that seem to function as a means to allow people to pretend they provide a range of services. Be prepared to join the ranks of the most professionally unsatisfying culture.  When you're not bogged down by administrative tasks you'll have a little time left over to meet clients and manage their expectations of actually receiving a helpful Mental Health service.

A typical day at the CAMH is often busy and your time well utilized. I was able to contribute to the regulatory applications process using what I had learned in the CRA program - the practical experience allowed me to gain insight into the reality of grant proposals, which is a huge plus for a research assistant since that quality is a major aspect of being a Research Associate/Coordinator. Database creation, database maintenance/entry/checking and maintaining CRFs were also tasks attended to on a regular basis, which again, is a another major plus for an aspiring CRA/CRC.

During my placement at CAMH in Toronto I was a Behaviour Therapist placement student. I was placed through my Behavioural Science Technology program at George Brown College to assist with behavioural programming, design and implement a reduction program, and work as a member of an inter-professional team to provide the best overall rehabilitation services to forensic patients dealing with mental health issues. I had the opportunity to work with an excellent team of Nurses, Occupational, Behavioural and Recreational Therapists, Dietitian's, Social Workers and Psychiatrists. This was an overall excellent learning experience.

CAMH was my home away from home. Working here means being part of a team of exceptional mental health professionals. The facilities are world class. Many positions are unionized and it is nice to have a job where employees are treated like human beings. Compassion and kindness is CAMH’s business. Working  here though often challenging is a great experience. 

I was able to launch my career with skills CAMH taught and developed in me. I miss working here. The department I worked in did mean I experienced vicarious trauma frequently but I had colleagues I could trust and rely on. Further the organization let me develop as a person and taught me life lessons I am always going to be grateful for.

A typical day at work involves my recording court appearances and relevant documentation for CAMH - this includes client names, dates, community service hours/sanctions assigned, urine sample information, bail modifications, and personal reminders (i.e. of documentation to bring for next appearance, such as doctor's notes, health card, proof of address, etc). Additionally, I provide personal support to clients before, during break and after Drug Treatment Court. It is a fantastic learning opportunity and a good way to familiarize yourself with clinical and court settings.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Mental health supports and emphasis on being considerate

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Healthcare took a hit during the pandemic with burnout

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment can be taxing at times and feeling overworked without enough recognition

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
There is a lot of prioritizing involved to be successful in achieving your tasks for the day and being able to manage your workload

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Registered nurse 132 salaries reported	$48.22 per hour
Registered practical nurse 125 salaries reported	$35.23 per hour
Research analyst 66 salaries reported	$32.32 per hour
Social worker 54 salaries reported	$47.36 per hour
Program assistant 68 salaries reported	$26.11 per hour

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