Individual and Family Support Worker Strides Toronto https://stridestoronto.ca

Children's Mental Health Ontario; Toronto; On-site; CAD 62,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group benefits

Vacation and sick days

Employee discounts

Job summary

Strides Toronto is seeking three full-time IFSWs to provide in-home skills building and supportive counseling for youth and families. You will deliver individual, family, and group sessions, coach caregivers, and coordinate care with other professionals in a client-centered setting.

The role emphasizes safety, trauma-informed practice, and collaboration with the Intensive In-Home team, while ensuring accurate documentation in our information systems and adherence to accreditation standards.

Qualifications

• 3 year Community College Diploma in Child and Youth Practitioner program, Bachelor Degree in Child and Youth Care, or Bachelor Degree in Social Work or related field
• 2 years of child and youth mental health experience including provision of supportive counselling, caregiver coaching, behaviour management and consultation / liaising with other professionals
• Requires registration in good standing with a relevant association (where applicable)
• Experience working with youth/families with Child Welfare involvement
• Awareness of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in the workplace and in the community
• Understanding anti-black racism, anti-oppressive perspective in the context of social determinants of health
• Ability to recognize situations of power imbalance and potential negative impacts

Responsibilities

• Provide direct in-home skills building, supportive coaching to caregivers and clients presenting with mental health concerns through psychotherapeutic groups, individual and family sessions and caregiver teaching/coaching
• Support clients in accessing appropriate services/resources internally and externally to support their treatment needs
• Enter clinical information into the agency’s client information system and maintain up-to-date clinical reports and recordings in accordance with policy and guidelines
• Incorporate ongoing learning and evidence-based practices to enhance quality clinical work
• Conduct themselves safely and adhere to health and safety measures and agency policies

Skills

Emotional regulation

Behaviour management

Caregiver coaching

Case management

Interagency collaboration

Education

3-year college diploma or bachelor degree in relevant field

Tools

Client information system

Job description

Position Type –Full-time contract until November 2027

Hours of Work per week –35

Salary range:$61,532 to $71,656 per annum

Benefits:We offer generous group employee benefits which includes:

• Generous paid time off (Vacation and Sick days)
• Access to employee perks and discounts

Union Position – This position is represented by OPSEU local 567.

ABOUT US

Strides Toronto Support Services (“Strides Toronto”) Strides Toronto is a multi-service agency supporting infants, children, youth and young adults from birth to age 29, and their families, primarily across east Toronto. We offer community-based, residential and treatment programs—including mental health counselling, autism services, early intervention, day treatment, education, outreach and community support—using a client-centered, evidence-informed approach. Since 2015, Strides Toronto has served as Toronto’s Lead Agency for Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health, partnering with 21 core service providers to provide system leadership, citywide planning, coordinated service delivery and program alignment. Strides Toronto also leads initiatives with broader reach, includingHelp Aheadand theHOPE Strategyacross Toronto andOne Stop Talk/Parlons Maintenantand theProvincial Youth Outreach Worker Programacross Ontario.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is an existing vacancy for three (3) full-time contract Individual and Family Support Workers (IFSW). The IFSW provides a range of evidence-based therapeutic skills and interventions relating to emotional regulation, behaviour management, family stabilization, caregiver-child conflict resolution, and service coordination/case management in the context of flexible service delivery to reduce out of home placement while accommodating caregiver/client needs.

The IFSW, in partnership with the Intensive In-Home Child and Family Therapist, engages in assessment of needs and developing goals. They are responsible for teaching skills, emotional and behaviour coaching (caregiver/client) and supportive counseling to address mental health concerns and improve family functioning.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Provide direct in-home skills building, supportive coaching to caregivers and clients presenting with mental health concerns through psychotherapeutic groups, individual and family sessions and caregiver teaching/coaching in accordance with agency standards to support improved caregiver/child relationships, emotional regulation, behaviour presentation and family stabilization.
• Support clients in accessing appropriate services/resources internally and externally to support their treatment needs
• Enter clinical information into agency’s client information system and maintains appropriate, up to date clinical reports and recordings in accordance with agency policy, procedures, and program guidelines/workflows, and consistent with recording guidelines from accreditation bodies.
• Incorporate and integrate ongoing learning, and evidence‑based/informed practices to enhance quality clinical work.
• Conduct themself in a safe manner and adhere to the established health and safety measures and practices in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations and adhere to agency policies and procedures.

THE “MUST HAVES”

The following education, professional memberships and knowledge are a requirement for this role:

• 3 year Community College Diploma in Child and Youth Practitioner program, Bachelor Degree in Child and Youth Care, or Bachelor Degree in Social Work or related field
• 2 years of child and youth mental health experience including provision of supportive counselling, caregiver coaching, behaviour management and consultation / liaising with other professionals
• Requires registration in good standing with a relevant association (where applicable)
• Experience working with youth/families with Child Welfare involvement
• Awareness of the role of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in the workplace and within the community being served by the position.
• An understanding of anti-black racism, anti-oppressive/anti-racism perspective in the context of the social determinants of health.
• Ability to recognize and identify situations where incidents of imbalance of power and privilege may occur and can result in possible negative impacts.

THE ‘NICE TO HAVES’

While not required, preference will be given to candidates with the following:

• Functional computer and client information system knowledge.
• Fluency in another language(s), including sign language.

BEFORE STARTING WITH US

As our work puts us in direct contact with youth and vulnerable persons in our community, with health and safety as a priority,the successful candidate mustcomplete or obtain thefollowing before commencement of their employment:

• A Vulnerable Sector police check
• A positive police check does not automatically disqualify an applicant for a position with Strides Toronto. The Police Check will be reviewed and evaluated for the purpose of making a decision on suitability for employment in relation to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position being filled.

WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?

• We provide competitive Group Health Benefits.
• We provide opportunities for growth and professional development.
• We are committed to providing an equitable and inclusive environment where our diverse team members and clients can thrive.
• We have a collaborative and supportive Senior Management Team.
• We set high standards for performance, client outcomes, and implement best practices, which are demonstrated through our accreditation with the Canadian Centre for Accreditation.

Strides Toronto is an equal opportunity employer. We benefit from diversity of lived experiences in the workplace and encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Strides Toronto is a participant in the Government of Canada’s 50-30 Challenge, a program which challenges organizations to improve access for women and/or non-binary people and other equity-deserving groups, including those identifying as: racialized, Black, and/or people of colour, people with disabilities (including invisible and episodic disabilities), 2SLGBTQ+ and/or gender and sexually diverse individuals, and Aboriginal and/or Indigenous Peoples to increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplace.

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

We thank all applicants however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.