Individual and Family Therapist, Priority Access for Schools

About this position

The candidate will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing evidenced based services to children, adolescents and their families with a variety of mental health problems. The primary focus will be to provide individualized services to youth and their families with an aim to strengthen their ability to remain in the home, at school and within their communities. The successful candidate will be assigned to our school program supporting youth aged 12-18 years referred by Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board.

Strides Toronto is a new multi-service agency providing services to young people from birth to age 29 and their families in East Toronto. Formed in January 2020 through the amalgamation of Aisling Discoveries and East Metro Youth Services, Strides Toronto provides a range of community, residential and treatment services to improve the mental, social, and physical health of infants, children, youth and their families. We provide individual, group and family interventions that include mental health counselling, autism services, education, outreach and referral, early intervention, day treatment and community support. 

As Lead Agency for infant, child and youth mental health in Toronto, Strides Toronto works with 25 core service providers to design and implement system-level improvements that transform access to services, experience of services and the mental health outcomes for Toronto’s diverse communities.  

Strides Toronto has a budget of $30 million and more than 350 employees providing services out of 19 locations across East Toronto. The organization Is accredited by the Centre for Accreditation and the predecessor organizations have a long history of providing high-quality services in East Toronto. 

 Why work with us? 

• Be part of a long history of leadership and evidence informed practice in child, youth and family service. 
• Join a skilled and dedicated team who are passionate about achieving our vision of an inclusive and supportive community where children, youth and their families thrive. 
• Experience opportunities for growth and professional development.  
• Be committed to creating a positive and rewarding work environment. 
• Share an organizational culture of on-going learning and quality improvement. 
• Bring high standards for performance and implementation of best practices and demonstrated through our accreditation with the Canadian Centre for Accreditation  
• Expect a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. 
• Join a diverse and inclusive work environment with staff who speak more than 50 languages. 

 What will you do? 

• Provide therapeutic support to youth and their families using Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral therapy or other competency-based therapy models
• Be a self-starter in a fast moving, ever changing environment.
• Be responsible for assessment, formulation, and treatment with an ability to utilize flexible strategies for engaging and working with adolescents, families and community systems.
• Have excellent youth and family engagement skills
• A full understanding of anti-black racism, anti-oppressive/anti-racism perspective when working with clients and their families with the ability to recognize and identify situations where incidents of power and privilege may occur and can result in possible impact.
• Be self-reflective that allows the capacity to be an advocate and seek equitable solutions.
• Complete at least 8 hours per month in the ‘what’s up’ walk-in clinic.
• Be vigilant in maintaining all administrative duties related to caseload and complete documentation in compliance with the Canadian Accreditation Centre and agency standards.
• Participate in regular team meetings.
• Hold a case load of approximately 15-18 clients.
• Work three evenings per week.

What are we looking for?

• A Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling Psychology or equivalent.
• A member in good standing of a regulatory body for practitioners of psychotherapy including the CRPO and the OCSSWSW.
• Minimum 2 years of clinical therapy experience;
• Have a strong foundational knowledge of adolescent development, family systems issues, mental health and addictions, trauma focused approach, harm reduction approach, anti oppressive practice and working with youth from diverse communities including the LGBTQ+ community;
• Have strong communication skills, problem solving skills, oral and written skills and computer literacy;

Additional Assets 

• Fluency in French or another language.
• Experience in working with racialized, newcomer and disability communities
• Lived experience of racism, ableism, homophobia or transphobia
• Have a valid Ontario Driver’s license and access to a vehicle or have access to transportation within east Toronto;

Additional Information

This position is a part of a bargaining unit.

Salary Range: $58,460 – $73,377 per annum.

How to Apply 

Please quote job number 2019/2020-90

in the subject line of your cover letter and submit both cover letter and resume in a single document.

(Only those candidates to be interviewed will be contacted, no phone calls please.)

Qualified individuals are invited to submit their resume and cover letter by January 28, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

Strides Toronto is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome diversity in the workplace and encourages applications from qualified candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.  

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Strides Toronto’s own policies, requests for accommodation will be considered throughout the hiring process.