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. 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
We are looking for a Day Treatment Classroom Worker (Child and Youth Worker) to join our team and play a pivotal role collaborating to deliver our highly impactful, evidence-based program that has been running in collaboration with the Toronto school boards for over 20 years. In this unique position, you will provide on-site, side-by-side treatment to students in grades 3-5 who require intensive support to overcome severe social, emotional, and behavioural challenges. Working closely with a classroom teacher and another Child and Youth Worker in a 2:1 ratio, you will address the complex needs of children often facing issues such as undiagnosed or untreated ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, and trauma. Your role will involve managing and de-escalating moments of frustration and aggression while creating a safe, structured environment that fosters growth.
You will work with children who experience a range of difficulties that create barriers to thriving in a standard classroom setting. Through your efforts, you will help reduce aggressive behaviours, improve emotional regulation, build critical social and life skills, and support their transition back into a traditional learning environment.
This is a Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm on-site role based at Charles G Fraser Junior Public School in the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood. You will work 10.75 months a year, from the last week of August to mid-July. You will have four weeks of paid vacation, with mandatory time off during school closures; this includes two weeks in December and one week in March. You are eligible for EI benefits to supplement unpaid time off in the summer.
What's in it for you
Profound purpose. You want to take children along a journey of self-empowerment, changing the trajectory of their lives, growing their self-esteem, and increasing their ability to trust adults. By developing and implementing a comprehensive treatment program, including social, emotional, and behavioural curriculum, you will empower these students to rediscover their ability to learn, grow, and succeed.
Growth as a Child and Youth Worker and as a compassionate human. Following our evidence-based practices and proven processes, you want to expand your knowledge, skills, and impact. You will be part of a team that is deeply passionate about the impact they can make on children who are struggling and often overlooked. Through cross-functional collaboration and as a result of our broad scope of services, you will gain new insights, access in-house professional development opportunities, and be coached.
As our new Day Treatment Classroom Worker, you will:
- Provide daily treatment in a classroom setting. Working within a strength-based model, you will develop, plan, and implement therapeutic one-on-one and group programming for high-needs, at-risk children experiencing internalizing and externalizing issues. You will assist children with academic support within the day treatment program and during times of integration within the larger school setting.
- Meet the needs of your students. You will assess referrals to the program and diagnose challenges. You will design and implement customized client-focused activities that meet their current developmental, academic, treatment, and psychosocial needs. You will supervise your students, ensuring their care and safety during programming throughout the school day. You will evaluate and modify interventions as appropriate to ensure the proper framework is in place for the students.
- Collaborate. You will foster collaborative relationships with staff, TDSB teachers, clinical consultants, and a Psychologist. You will work with the team to implement planned interventions for clients and follow daily routines to provide clients with the required consistency and structure. You will work closely with the classroom teacher to develop and maintain an effective therapeutic environment that meets the unique and challenging needs of the students.
- Provides crisis prevention. You will attend CDI training to effectively and safely de-escalate and intervene in high-stress, aggressive situations with clients. You will manage, design, and implement a crisis plan to ensure safety for yourself, your clients, and your colleagues.
- Communicate. You will liaise with internal staff and consult with other CDI staff to ensure appropriate communication and coordination for internal program referrals. You will participate in case conferences with other organizations to develop effective intervention plans to support the children and their families (including daycare providers and schools).
- 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.
What you bring:
- The education. You have a Child and Youth Care Work or Social Worker diploma or degree. CPI certification is an asset.
- The experience. You have 2 years of work experience in the children’s mental health field. You have a deep understanding of diagnostic and treatment theories, methodologies, and practices, particularly as they apply to high-needs, at-risk, school-age children. You excel at translating theory into practical, effective strategies for students with social-emotional and behavioural difficulties in community-based settings. Your sound knowledge and experience extend to working with children from diverse ethnocultural and socio-economic backgrounds, including those with diverse developmental and intellectual abilities, as well as racialized communities. You bring a demonstrated ability to work from a strength-based, client-focused perspective, supporting children and families with complex needs, including social, emotional, and behavioural challenges, trauma, relational struggles, anxiety, depression, and learning disabilities.
- The cultural sensitivity. You have demonstrated experience working from an anti-oppressive framework with children and families from diverse ethnocultural and socio-economic backgrounds, including children with diverse developmental and intellectual abilities and racialized communities. You may have experience working with school staff or in a multi-disciplinary setting.
- The therapeutic expertise. You have the 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 young clients, teachers, families, other service providers, community members, colleagues and managers. You can balance priorities and manage interruptions that require constant refocusing. You can handle crises and unplanned drop-ins when they occur.
- 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 availability. You can work five days a week in a classroom setting throughout the school year, taking time off during school breaks, including part of the summer.
Compensation: $57,833 prorated per annum. This is a permanent position, working 40 hours per week for 10.75 months annually, in accordance with the OPSEU collective agreement.
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.
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 flourishes by offering:
- Full health and well-being benefits and generous paid time off.
- 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 your background in clinical services and counselling.
- An in-person interview with the Senior Manager, Intensive Services, Intake and School Based Groups, the Program Supervisor, and an HR Representative will allow you to further expand on your experience and ask questions.
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.
#LI-DNI
xrLDdWjFc8
