Social Worker

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 Mothers in Mind MIM team for an 18-month contract. Consistent with trauma-informed models of service, MIM is a 10-12 week program that provides a mother–child playgroup environment that emphasizes mothers' choice, strengths and empowerment, and an awareness of the impact of trauma on the experience of parenting, child development, and the parent–child relationship. You will work with mothers and their young children up to age four in group settings, on-site at our CDI location, in a partner shelter, or at our partnered program at a Children's Aid Society of Toronto location. As a member of our clinical leadership and children's mental health treatment team, you will also take turns co-leading our Here to Help, 12-week group intervention program for mothers with children 4-18 years old who have experienced family violence.

Therapeutic interventions may be delivered to individuals, groups and families. You are willing and able to travel to other sites and can work flexible hours in the day or evening to meet client needs.

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 trauma and their young 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, a place 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 young children along a healing journey, guiding them to connect after experiencing trauma. You will play a critical role in developing a treatment plan. You want to be a calming and secure presence, someone who is 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 support practicum students if capacity demands.

As our new Social Worker, you will:

• Foster a safe space. With parents and very young children as your primary client group, you will prioritize comfort and security, empowering your clients to build strong and nurturing relationships. You will spend much of your time in a playful learning environment. The group is designed to feel more like a mother–child playgroup than a targeted intervention. You will work to help mothers more easily interact with their children and 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 plant.
• Lead evidence-based and evidence-informed group 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, in good standing, with a professional college (e.g. OCSWSSW, CRPO).
• The willingness to play. You understand the different and changing needs of children 0-4 years old, and you are comfortable getting down on the playroom floor and interacting with babies and children and their parents for group therapy sessions.
• The clinical experience. You have professional experience in the field of children's mental health, including exposure to working on cases involving infant mental health, learning disabilities, family violence and trauma. You have clinical skills in assessment, formulation, and treatment with an ability to 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 that require 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 flexible to work one to two evenings a week, co-facilitating Here to Help sessions.

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.
• As a condition of employment, you are required to provide updated COVID vaccinations in compliance with the CDI Mandatory Vaccination Policy.

Compensation: $68,615 per year.

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:

• 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 background.
• 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.

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

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