Live -In Treatment Youth and Family Therapist

Who we are YouthLink believes in the potential of every youth, and we are dedicated to providing them with the support, guidance and opportunities they need to make positive life choices.

We provide youth with brief and ongoing counselling, in-home wraparound support, shelter, housing, educational support, and safe drop-in spaces.

Guided by our mission and inspired by the potential to make a profound impact, Youthlink works closely with youth, families and partners in our community.

We come together to highlight and develop strengths, aspirations and positive actions that improve the health and well-being of all who live, work, study and play in our community.

As a service delivery organization, we leverage data-driven decision-making and grassroots engagement with youth advisory councils to create an inclusive, innovative, and responsive agency that provides the best fit and most needed services for our communities.

If you are seeking a meaningful opportunity and want to play a key role in bringing our vision for a stronger Scarborough where all youth and families thrive, join us.

Who we need YouthLink's Live-In Treatment (LIT) Home.

LIT is a nine-bed residence designed for female-identified youth (ages 14-18) and youth who are gender fluid, non-binary, or transitioning.

Our program provides intensive live-in treatment for young people seeking to improve their mental health and emotional well-being.

Based in Scarborough, we are seeking someone deeply committed to equity and advancing Black excellence in all aspects of YouthLink's mission.

Reporting to the LIT Manager for daily operations and the Senior Clinical Manager(s) for clinical supervision, we are hiring a Youth and Family Therapist.

You will play a vital role in developing and implementing group therapy curricula.

Adhering to a healing-centered, trauma-informed, and equity-driven approach, rooted in anti-racism and inclusion, you will maintain accurate and confidential client records in the electronic health record (EHR) while utilizing attachment-based and family-focused interventions.

You will manage a caseload primarily within the LIT program but may support other clinical services as needed.

The position includes a target of at least 15 attended individual, family, and group therapy sessions per week, totaling a minimum of 17.5 direct client contact hours.

This is an onsite role requiring a schedule that includes at least two evenings per week, ending at 8:00 pm.

Time will be primarily spent at the Live-In Treatment Home, though travel to other YouthLink or community locations may be required.

What's in it for you Purpose.

You want to be part of growing healing through creativity, trust, and proven processes to address trauma.

You want to make a difference at a genuinely wonderful place to work, helping to reiterate youth with their community.

Impact.

You will directly contribute to YouthLink's vision of building a community where all youth thrive.

By providing individual, family, and group therapy, you will play a key role in addressing complex needs, creating early, life-changing interventions that empower youth and families in Scarborough.

Support.

You will join a passionate team aligned with YouthLink's commitment to collaboration, equity, and inclusion.

Together, you will foster a culture of support, learning, and care—one where team members lift each other up and thrive.

With built-in supervision and mentorship, you will feel supported every step of the way.

Growth.

You will have the opportunity to grow within an organization that values innovation and continuous improvement.

You will receive professional development, training, and opportunities to expand your expertise, ensuring meaningful growth in your career.

As we expand our trauma speciality, there will be increased opportunities for your career development.

How you will make an impact: Conduct assessments and plan treatments.

You will establish rapport with youth and families, creating a therapeutic alliance and a safe space for engagement.

You will ensure informed consent is obtained before assessments or external communications, adhering to PHIPA guidelines.

You will complete comprehensive Bio/Psycho/Social/Spiritual assessments, incorporating intergenerational content and standardized tools to guide case conceptualization, risk assessment, and safety planning.

You will interpret and deliver assessment results to enhance the Live-In Treatment (LIT) Plan of Care, providing professional recommendations on level of care and areas for improvement.

You will collaborate with the care team, youth, and families to develop Treatment Plans that align with therapeutic goals and the LIT Plan of Care.   Deliver individual, group, and family therapy.

You will create a supportive environment for client growth and goal attainment.

You will provide psychotherapy and case management services using trauma-informed, attachment-based, and family systems approaches within an anti-oppression and equity framework.

You will engage youth and families in multiple levels of care to improve individual and family functioning.

You will develop and implement tailored interventions, de-escalate crisis situations, and lead safety planning for new LIT clients and at-risk outpatients.

You will report incidents that may impact client, staff, or community safety.

You will provide group therapy and psychoeducation for youth and caregivers and incorporate outcome measures to assess effectiveness.

You will offer flexible services, including evening sessions, while ensuring client confidentiality.   Report writing and documentation.

You will prepare concise clinical reports at key service milestones, including assessments, treatment reviews, and case closures, supporting the LIT Plan of Care.

You will document safety plans, risk assessments, and serious occurrences in compliance with the Ministry of Health and internal reporting requirements.

You will maintain accurate, timely clinical notes while safeguarding client privacy.   Manage health records.

You will ensure clear, accurate, and consistent documentation in accordance with Ministry guidelines, accreditation standards, and YouthLink policies.

You will oversee electronic and physical records, manage file openings and closures, and support data collection and program evaluation efforts.   Engage in collaboration and professional development.

You will work with the LIT and Clinical teams to deliver programs and support new counsellors and therapists.

You will integrate an intersectional lens into practice, promoting diversity and equity.

You will participate in community initiatives, team meetings, and internal committees, providing clinical insights and recommendations.

You will engage in professional development through supervision, case consultations, clinical rounds, and training opportunities.

You will contribute to YouthLink's Strategic Plan and uphold health and safety standards to protect yourself and colleagues.   What you bring: The education and training.

You have a Master's degree in a therapy or psychotherapy-related field, ideally with coursework specific to family systems theory.

You are registered or licensed to practice through a regulated health college which permits the delivery of the Act of Psychotherapy.

ASSIST Certification is an asset.

An Associate or Clinical Membership with the Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT) or Ontario Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (OAMFT) would be considered an asset.  The experience.

You have a minimum of two years of post-Master's experience providing healing-centered engagement practices and trauma-informed individual psychotherapy, including dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT ), to youth and adults, as well as facilitating psycho-educational and group therapy.

You have experience supporting youth and their families through complex mental health challenges, crisis management, and safety planning.

You are skilled in applying attachment and developmental approaches when working with youth and families.

You have expertise in substance use and harm reduction theory and practice as it relates to youth and families.

Experience working in a Live-In Treatment setting would be preferred.

You are skilled in working with diverse populations, including 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, BIPOC communities, and individuals from varied cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, providing high-quality, culturally safe, and anti-racist care.

The practice-based knowledge.

You have an exceptional ability to build rapport with youth and their families.

You have profound experience with treatment assessments and planning, systemic formulation, individual psychotherapy, family therapy, and case management.

You demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based and evidence-informed psychotherapy practices.

You have an in-depth understanding of how trauma often affects families and the implications for mental well-being, resilience, safety, etc.

Ideally, you have experience providing clinical supervision to Master's Level students engaged in practicum or internship for psychotherapy.

Expertise in Children's Mental Health settings and in group curriculum development are highly valued.

The integrity.

You consistently navigate ethical considerations with diverse client populations, adapting your decision-making processes to each situation.

You prioritize measurable outcomes in individual, group, and family psychotherapy, ensuring effective, accountable care.

You are confident in your ability to empathize and connect with people and manage stressful situations with tact, diplomacy, and professionalism.

You have high standards of accountability and prioritize professionalism and respect.

You are open to feedback and coaching.

The technical skills.

You are proficient with technology used to engage youth and families (e.g.

mobile phone, text, and video call platforms) and to complete clinical documentation (e.g.

EHR, Microsoft Word/Teams, Adobe, and Outlook).  The communication skills.

You communicate with empathy and an understanding of racial trauma, drawing on your compassion and clinical therapy skills.  You have exceptional listening skills and mental attentiveness, and you can focus on the needs of individuals.

You embrace the opportunity to work with groups from diverse backgrounds and experiences and can adapt your communication style to ensure transparency, authenticity, and understanding.

Compensation: $65,914 per year Join us.

YouthLink's core values define what we stand for and how we operate, helping us to work together in the most fulfilling ways.

We value leadership , acting in ways that exemplify what we expect of each other and our clients.

We work together, bringing out the best in each other and creating strong working relationships.

Our professional ethics are evident in all the work we do and the decisions we make.

We value humanity and show consideration for people, their abilities, skills, diversity and perspectives.

We create an inclusive workplace that celebrates individual differences and, through our actions, demonstrates empathy, goodwill and honesty.

We value innovation , demonstrating flexibility and changeability in adapting to our work and community dynamics.

We show courage in developing service initiatives that will improve the well-being of our clients and their families.

We value respect for people for who they are and for their knowledge, skills and experience as individuals and team members.

We treat clients with respect and fairness and encourage the same in return.

We value excellence , demonstrating competence and accountability in delivering client services.

We display clear judgment and exhibit clear thinking and reasoning in all situations.

We continually strive to accomplish all tasks and provide an outstanding service for our clients.

Benefits At YouthLink, we understand the nature of our work and the deep commitment every team member offers.

We strive to provide a rewarding compensation and benefits package to support our people.

This includes: Comprehensive health and dental coverage for you and your family, with 100% of the premiums fully covered.

Annual vacation with pay at 1.66 working days for each calendar month to a maximum of 20 working days per year.

5 'authorized absence' days for family illness or emergency circumstances that prohibit employees from reporting to work.3 paid agency days every calendar year after 3 calendar months service.

Maternity / parental /adoption leave top-up payments (to top-up Canadian government unemployment benefit payments).

100% premium cost for long-term disability coverage paid by employee.

Eligibility to participate in the pension plan after 2 years of continuous service with a generous matching employer contribution.

What you can expect from our hiring process: A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor to discuss your interest in joining the company and in the role.

A request for proof of your education/ certification/ board or governing body registration  relevant to the role will be requested before an interview with the hiring manager.* An interview with the hiring manager and other management team members to share your experience and knowledge and expand on your approach to actively building trust and supporting an environment and programs through an anti-Black racism lens.  A Vulnerable Sector Search with Broad Record Police Check, as well as references, will be conducted before an offer of employment.

Proof of medical clearances, including up-to-date vaccinations and tuberculosis testing will be requested.

Apply now.

We welcome applications from candidates who reflect the communities we serve, particularly candidates from Black communities, Indigenous communities, racialized people, persons with disabilities, members of diverse gender identities and people with lived experiences.  We are seeking candidates who demonstrably operate and practice from an equity and trauma-informed lens. We encourage applications from passionate professionals who will help us dismantle systemic barriers and embrace working outside of Euro-centric practices.  If you meet 70% of the qualifications we are looking for and share 100% of our passion and commitment to supporting youth and their families, please submit your application.

We can't promise to hire you; we can promise to review your lived and learned experiences fully.

We are committed to providing equitable employment opportunities and a workplace free from discrimination and harassment.

We are equally committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace.

If you require accommodations at any stage of the interview process, please email us at accessibility@youthlink.ca .

*As a funded organization offering mental health services, our regulatory guidelines require certification and registration in good standing with a governing board or college.

Out of respect for your time, we ask for proof in advance of hiring manager interviews as this is a mandatory requirement.

Other Requirements:
• Medical clearances including up to date vaccinations and 2 step tuberculosis testing.

• Vulnerable Sector Police Check required.  #LI-DNI  Powered by JazzHR

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