Who we are
Children are at the front and centre of what we do; they are the foundation of
our purpose and the basis for our evidence-driven strategy. Our mission is to
transform the lives of children, youth and their families by developing and
delivering innovative, research-based mental health and early learning programs.
At the Child Development Institute (CDI), we are passionate about helping our
communities’ most vulnerable members and their caregivers. It motivates each of
us to face what can be difficult situations while continuously finding the
purest joy in play, in silence, in advice, and in the unbelievable strength and
resilience of our young clients. Joining us now is a rewarding opportunity to be
part of an organization that is built on a legacy of more than 100 years of
helping children and families.
Recognized as a leader and model for measurement-based impact, we are
client-centred, family-centred, and data-informed. We are a place where
professionals grounded in mental health, care, and well-being of infants,
children and youth, come together in collaboration, learning and inclusion. As a
multiservice organization delivering social, emotional, and behavioural
counselling services, early childhood education, learning disabilities and
mental health services, and family violence services, we address the whole
person from when they begin their life. Every child and family that reaches out
to us is unique, and we value and embrace their individuality. We deliver the
tailored support and tools they need to build life-long skills, positive mental
health, and resilience. With their trust in us, we guide children and families
along a supportive journey. It is an often difficult path and simultaneously the
most rewarding experience for providers, children and families.
Who we need
Reporting to the Clinical Manager, Family Violence Services, we are seeking a
compassionate Social Worker to join our Shelter Program team for a 13-month
contract covering a maternity leave. CDI partners with external shelters to
provide mothers and their children (0-18) who have experienced abuse or violence
with services to help them with their specific needs. As a Social Worker
connecting with 15-20 families across eight sites, you will be a source of
support, empathy, and hope, guiding the family through the healing journey. You
will be part of a program that helps families prepare a safety plan, work
through thoughts and feelings in a confidential setting, strengthen parenting
skills, learn coping strategies, and set goals for the future.
You will predominantly work with mothers and their children at a partner shelter
or our CDI location. You will collaborate with internal and external team
members to create access to resources and stability as they navigate significant
life changes brought on as a result of domestic abuse. As a member of our
clinical leadership and children’s mental health treatment team, you will also
take turns co-leading our off-site Mothers-in-Mind group intervention program
for mothers with young children who have experienced family violence.
This is a full-time, onsite role based in Toronto with travel within Toronto to
meet with clients.
Who you are
As a Registered Social Worker, you are looking for a place to channel your
commitment to making a difference in the lives of mothers who have experienced
abuse and their children. You want to leverage the expertise of a long-historied
organization that operates at the cutting edge of evidence-based treatment for
children, youth, and their families, where you will be supported in professional
development and work-life balance.
What's in it for you
Profound purpose. You want to take mothers and their children on a healing
journey, guiding them to connect after experiencing domestic violence. You want
to be a calming and secure presence, a caring and steady champion for the
well-being of young, vulnerable clients and parents.
Growth as a Social Worker and as a compassionate human. You want to expand your
knowledge, skills, and impact following our evidence-based practices and proven
processes. You will be part of in-house professional development opportunities,
guided coaching and mentoring. Through cross-functional collaboration and as a
result of our broad scope of services, you will gain insights through
interactions with other Social Workers, Psychologists, and Child and Youth
Workers. You will have a chance to explore other opportunities here after your
contract ends.
As our new Social Worker, you will:
- Foster a safe space. With parents and children who have fled an abusive
situation as your primary client group, you will prioritize comfort and
security, empowering your clients to build trust and strong, nurturing
relationships. You will work to help families more easily interact with each
other, promoting healthy patterns of connection and repairing any potential
disconnection that may occur between caregivers and children after
experiences of violence and abuse.
- Administer psycho-social assessments. You will closely partner with clients
and the multidisciplinary team to develop a clinical formulation. You will
gather and review assessments to create an informed, shared, multi-faceted
treatment plan.
- Lead evidence-based and evidence-informed individual, child, or family
therapy. You will actively lead and participate in the assessment and
treatment planning process with clients, monitoring progress toward goals and
modifying the treatment plan as indicated.
- Manage case files. You will ensure that service, including intake,
assessment, transition and discharge planning, is delivered in a coordinated
and timely fashion.
- Conduct ongoing assessments. You will administer child and parent evaluation
measures at prescribed intervals and submit data for analysis to inform
treatment planning. When identified, you will prioritize and address clinical
risk, manage and implement safety plans and recommend referrals to
appropriate community mental health treatment and support services.
- Complete reporting. You will comply with agency and accreditation standards,
including report writing, treatment planning, participation in ongoing
professional development and staff meetings. You will update information
systems with accurate data and maintain agency records as required. This may
include assessment reports, intervention plans, closing reports, pre/post
measures, case notes, statistics and other documentation, as required by
agency standards.
- Learn and share knowledge. You will actively participate in and make use of
ongoing clinical supervision. You will keep up to date with the latest proven
clinical practices. You may be asked to participate in the development of
training programs and materials for other professionals and community groups.
What you bring:
- The education. You have a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, combined with
three years of experience, or a Master’s in Social Work, combined with 1 year
of experience. You are registered and in good standing with a professional
college (e.g. OCSWSSW, CRPO).
- The clinical experience. You have professional experience in the field of
children’s mental health, including ideally including work within the shelter
system and on cases involving homelessness, family violence, and trauma. You
have clinical skills in assessment, formulation, and treatment and can
utilize flexible strategies for engaging and working with families,
individuals, groups and larger systems. You have strong clinical knowledge
and experience in relevant theoretical approaches (e.g. trauma-informed
treatment, attachment, CBT, TF-CBT, etc.).
- The highest standard of integrity. You adhere to excellence in professional
and ethical standards, including ethical principles related to client
interaction, documentation and confidentiality. You are sensitive to the
uniqueness and demands of a public service agency and can maintain the
security of client-related and agency information.
- The therapeutic expertise. You have exceptional communication skills and a
proven ability to gain trust and nurture relationships. You have outstanding
listening skills and demonstrate mental attentiveness in face-to-face and
telephone interactions with clients, other service providers, community
members, colleagues and managers. You can balance priorities and manage
interruptions, requiring constant refocusing. You can handle crisis
situations and unplanned drop-ins when they occur. You prioritize self-care.
- The interpersonal skills. A dedicated and flexible team player, you can
interact with team members and colleagues at all levels of the organization,
reflecting on and integrating clinical learning and feedback into practice.
You have a deep respect for diverse backgrounds, experiences and
perspectives.
- The flexibility. You are available to work one to two evenings a week, either
to meet with clients or participate as an occasional co-facilitator in the
delivery of our Mothers in Mind program.
Other requirements
- All applicants are advised that offers of employment are contingent upon the
successful completion of a Vulnerable Sector Check.
- Credential verifications and references are required.
Compensation: $70,579 per year. This is a contract unionized position under
CUPE.
Join us.
Fostering positive transformations in mental health for over a century, CDI is a
world-class leader trusted in helping children, youth and families through a
wide range of evidence-informed services to build lasting change.
At CDI, we prioritize the mental well-being and work-life balance of our teams.
We acknowledge the reality of the emotionally demanding work each of us puts in
every day. To that end, we strive to create a collaborative, diverse, inclusive,
and equitable space where creativity flourish by offering:
- Flexible hours in a planned program environment.
- A focus on cross-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Ongoing paid professional development opportunities and certifications.
If you want to be part of our vision to make a measurable lifelong impact on the
mental health and well-being of children, youth and their families, join us.
Apply now
If you're excited about this role but your experience aligns differently with
every requirement, we encourage you to apply. While specific qualifications are
strictly required, others can be based on various experiences, backgrounds, and
knowledge. We can't promise an interview, but we will consider your whole
application.
What you can expect from our interview process:
- A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor will discuss your interest in the
role and background. The conversation will be recorded using BrightHire, an
AI-powered video interview tool. More details will be shared when you are
invited to interview.
- An in-person interview with the Clinical Manager, Family Violence Services,
and an HR Representative, where you will have an opportunity to further
expand on your knowledge and experience, as well as ask questions.
- A take-home written assessment to be completed and submitted within two
business days.
CDI is firmly committed to diversity within its community and welcomes
applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People of
North America and the world, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and
those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. We are
committed to providing equitable opportunities in employment and to providing a
workplace which is free from discrimination and harassment. We are equally
committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require
accommodations, please reach out to us at careers@childdevelop.ca
[careers@childdevelop.ca]
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