AMANI Mental Health Therapist

Rexdale CHC; Canada; On-site; CAD 68,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HOOPP

Benefits

Job summary

Rexdale Community Health Centre (RCHC) in Canada seeks a skilled mental health clinician to work with Black youth and families within the AMANI program. You will assess, support, and refer clients, using Afrocentric and trauma-informed approaches to reduce harm and improve wellbeing.

The role emphasizes collaboration with youth services, case management, and community partners, while maintaining strong boundaries and cultural responsiveness. Evening and weekend flexibility may be required.

Qualifications

• Post-graduate degree in Social Work or related field is required.
• 3–5 years of social service experience in diverse communities.
• Knowledge of resources for African Canadian and Caribbean youth.
• Fluency in English; bilingualism in French is a strong asset.

Responsibilities

• Devise trauma-informed assessments and treatments with youth and families.
• Engage clients to build trusting, long-term relationships.
• Develop and deliver programs for priority populations.
• Maintain confidential client records and notes.
• Collaborate with AMANI Case Manager and community providers.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team player

Facilitator

Organized planner

Bilingual in French and English

Education

Post-graduate degree in Social Work or related field

3–5 years of social service experience

Knowledge of Rexdale community

Tools

Computer literacy

Job description

The Rexdale Community Health Centre (RCHC) is a multi-service centre providing primary health care, health promotion and community support services, including settlement and community development activities for families, children, youth, adults and seniors of diverse backgrounds.

Rexdale Community Health Centre is expanding the services available to African Canadian & Caribbean Youth through its partnership with the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health- CAMH and its Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian & Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY), known as AMANI.

The Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth, AMANI, provides culturally responsive services and care to youth (between ages 14 and 29) from the Black community. AMANI's model is rooted in holistic, healing-centred, Afrocentric, and culturally responsive care. Offering a range of prevention, early intervention, harm reduction, and recovery-oriented services to assist youth and their families/caregivers in reducing harm, moving toward recovery, and making healthy choices for themselves and their families.

Primary function

This position will work largely with Black youth/clients and their families, as appropriate, who are dealing with mental illness and/or co-morbid addiction and, as necessary, provide consultation and referrals to other providers serving this population. The successful incumbent will deliver care within the AMANI model that recognizes the lived experience of Black youth who have faced anti-black racism and oppression as it relates to the many aspects of their lives.

Accountability

Considering Rexdale Community Health Centre's commitment to participatory management, staff in this and all other positions in the Centre are expected to be willing, when requested, to explain the reasons for a decision or action to other staff or community members, particularly when others are affected by the decision or action. In addition, all staff are expected to offer information and opinion, when relevant, to staff responsible for the development of program or Centre policies and procedures; correspondingly, all staff with responsibility for the development of policies or procedures are expected to efficiently and effectively solicit information and opinion from staff who may be affected by those policies and procedures.

Responsibilities:

• Devise and deliver goal-focused, trauma-informed assessments and treatment in partnership with youth, and at times their families, and other supports working toward improving functioning in the community and overall wellbeing.
• Engage with clients to develop a trusting, supportive and sustained long-term relationship.
• Utilize a strengths-based approach, provide support, encouragement, information and feedback that enable youth and family members to realize their goals.
• Develop and deliver programs and organize groups for identified priority populations.
• Ensure appropriate treatment is delivered by maintaining client records and assessment notes, and correspondence within the safeguard of confidentiality.
• Use an anti-oppressive and Afrocentric practice.
• In collaboration with the AMANI Case Manager, develop working relationships and rapport with community service providers in providing culturally adaptive language & services which consider the experiences of the African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) community around racial trauma and racial gaslighting.
• Assist clients (and families) in identifying and advocating for their civil and legal rights.
• Link clients and family members to supports and services that will promote their well-being, enhance their ability to meet their mental health needs and support the exhibition of adaptive behaviours that address problematic substance use.
• Provide case management support for youth, including working collaboratively with formal and informal support systems.
• Identify and coordinate community services to support youth and families’ mental health needs within their daily environment, including school, home, employment, legal, and other community domains.
• Utilize strong case management and advocacy skills, with extensive knowledge of resources within the community.
• Prioritize demands effectively to balance the complex needs of youth.
• Conduct risk assessments in the community.
• Provide culturally responsive counselling and information to reduce the incidence, duration and intensity of a crisis.
• Provide one-on-one counselling, including psychosocial assessments by gaining an understanding of health risks based on the Social Determinants of Health framework (e.g. socio-economic position, housing, educational, financial and legal needs).
• Coordinate, implement and evaluate treatment plans as well as implement group support programs.
• Collect data relevant to program evaluation and quality improvement.
• Inform clients (and their family/network) about services available and assist them in choosing potential service providers/partners that are most likely to have culturally adaptive services.
• Support and assist community members in outlining options; provide education and counselling necessary for them to make informed choices.
• Initiate joint programming and communication with other team members and other Centre comprehensive programs to ensure comprehensive treatment for clients of the Centre.
• Evaluate group and program work and provide reports as required.

Core Competencies:

• Leadership: Motivates and inspires oneself and others to participate in a common cause.
• Communication: Communicates in a thorough, clear, and timely manner.
• Team player: Works effectively with others in a self-directed team environment.
• Facilitator: Facilitates actions by others who are not under direct control.
• Organized Planner: Plans and organizes activities for self and involve others.

Qualifications and Experience:

• A post-graduate degree in Social Work, Child and Youth Care, other Social Service, or a combination of at least three years of related work experience and relevant education.
• Three to five years of work experience in social service positions in a culturally and racially diverse community.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in working with youth of African descent.
• Demonstrated commitment to and lived experience of anti-Black racism and Afrocentric values and principles.
• Knowledge of community resources for African Canadian and Caribbean youth and their families in substance abuse treatment is essential.
• A deep, fundamental, comprehensive knowledge of the unique challenges African Canadian and Caribbean youth and their families face across the social determinants of health.
• Ability to work with Black youth to develop and enhance their identity, culture and sense of belongingness to their community.
• A commitment to an interdisciplinary team approach to the coordination of health and social services.
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written) combined with computer literacy are required. Ability to negotiate, communicate, and maintain a supportive, trusting relationship with those served.
• Experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Knowledge of community-based health services.
• Strong and demonstrated ability to form relationships with individuals while maintaining healthy boundaries.
• Caseload management skills, including developing action plans for clients, monitoring client progress and maintaining records.
• Ability to work effectively within a diverse and multi-disciplinary team.
• Excellent interpersonal, decision-making, problem-solving and conflict-management skills.
• Demonstrated flexibility, organizational and time management skills in a high-pressured environment.
• Ability to work evenings and occasional weekends.
• Knowledge of the Personal Health Information Protection Act, Consent of Information / Records of Information and Medical Records Management.
• Knowledge of the Rexdale community.
• Bilingual in French and English, considered a strong asset.
• Must be able to provide a vulnerable sector security clearance

Salary Range: $67,613 to $81,463 annually (based on experience), plus HOOPP and benefits

Application Due Date: October 23, 2026

We would like to thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

Rexdale CHC strives to create a respectful, accessible, and inclusive work environment. Upon individual request, hiring processes will be modified to remove barriers to accommodate those with disabilities. Should any applicant require accommodation through the application, interview, or selection processes please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] for assistance.

Please note this is a unionized environment-UFCW Locals 175 and 633