Child and Family Therapist – Kuumba

ABOUT US
York Hills is a children and youth mental health agency that offers a wide range of mental health services, supports and partnerships providing meaningful and evidence informed/based treatment to children, and youth, aged 0 to 18 years, and their families.

To learn more about us, including our mission, vision and values please visit our website https://www.yorkhills.ca

BENEFITS
• Full extended health and dental, life insurance, EAP, LTD and RRSP plan.
• Generous paid time-off includes vacation, sick and personal days.
• Commitment to employee development through internal and external training and development opportunities.

ABOUT THE ROLE
Reporting to the Manager of Clinical Services, the Child and Family Therapist (CFT) is an integral part of the Kuumba Program, providing clinically and culturally competent care in the form of individual and group therapy modalities for children, youth and families from the African, Black and Caribbean communities. The primary focus of this role will be to address a range of mental health needs, both emotional and behavioural, and identify social-emotional symptoms that may challenge a client’s ability to function at home, school and in social settings. The CFT will work within an interdisciplinary team to determine intervention strategies and assessments to benefit the overall wellbeing of the client, including providing consultation and education to community partners, partner organizations, advocacy work and case management. The Child and Family Therapist will collaborate with various staff, community partners and external organizations to improve access to competent care for African, Black and Caribbean children, youth and families, including remaining knowledgeable on current and emerging research on clinical framework, including the cultural competency framework within psychotherapeutic work, and industry best practices.

Employment Status: Permanent Full-Time
Salary Range: $69,514 to $73,746
Location: 11225 Leslie Street, Richmond Hill; this position will require travel within York Region.
Hours of Work: Thirty-five (35) hours per week, including evening and weekend work.

A LOOK AT YOUR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Provide outreach, youth engagement, and community-based mental health services to children, youth and families from the African, Black and Caribbean community in a variety of settings such as the home, school, or in the community.
• Actively develop positive rapport with clients to create psychological safety and trust through relationship-building activities and observation of the client’s physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Work collaboratively with children, youth and their families, including cross-sector service provider partners (e.g., school boards, children’s mental health services providers and other community organizations) in developing effective, strengths-based, anti-racist, anti-oppressive and culturally competent service plans.
• Provide single session and/or rapid access psychotherapy services.
• Actively manage full case load of files for clients using agency-endorsed therapy models, such as Attachment Theory, Neurobiology, Trauma, Child Development and Family Systems Theory, including family therapy and navigating referrals to internal and/or external programs.
• Ensure the use of evidence-based and evidence-informed treatments to maintain fidelity in practicing with clients and families/caregivers.
• Ensures data entry and written documentation for each file is consistently up to date, such as completing initial client assessment, ongoing recording, and administering assessment tools following a pre-determined timeline.
• Support the development and implementation of well-formulated assessment reports and treatment plans for clients and families that reflect the consensus of the treatment team and program goals and service plans.
• Develop and facilitate workshops, including accessible knowledge exchange activities for children, youth, families and service providers on the topics of Mental Health, Racial Trauma, Anti-Black Racism, and capacity building.
• Advocate on behalf of children, youth and families to address gaps in service identified through clinical work and demonstrate an understanding of structural racism.
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary team to ensure effective communication pertaining to client treatment plan development, progress and integration.
• Participate in regular team meetings to discuss administrative, clinical and learning concerns that impact the team and/or clients, including problem-solving and providing knowledge-based sharing of industry best practices.
• Provide timely provision of reports according to internal policies and procedures, including licensing requirements and accreditation standards.
• In partnership with the Manager of Clinical Services, support in the development, implementation and maintenance of program procedures and guidelines that meet the highest standards of practice.
• Support the implementation of quality assurance and evaluation processes that involve the monitoring, collection, and recording of clinical and service data, including submitting data in a timely manner and in accordance with internal policies and procedures.
• Participate in advisory committee(s), team-based projects as required to build greater capacity in resources for Black children, youth and families in York Region.
• Maintain a system of documentation and reporting that is consistent with quality assurance standards and procedures, legislation, accreditation and best practices.
• Ensure client files are maintained in accordance with quality assurance standards and procedures, legislation, accreditation and best practices.
• Attend and participate in required training and meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
• Completion of a post-secondary degree and/or post-graduate degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling and/or a combination of education and experience.
• Membership in a relevant professional regulatory body such as the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, College of Psychologist and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario etc.
• Self-identifying as Black, a bona fide requirement of the job, with experience in delivering culturally competent interventions, including supporting black children and youth who have experienced oppression and racism.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working in a children, youth and families mental health setting.
• Eligible and experienced in performing psychotherapy as defined under the Act of Psychotherapy, including utilizing various clinical modalities and evidence-based practices.
• A willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekend work.
• Competence in modelling professionalism and maintaining a high level of confidentiality
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including editing skills with attention to detail.
• Knowledge of child and youth development, family systems and neurobiology, including community and agency programs and services to support the transition of age youth and adults.
• Strong knowledge of evidence-based and evidence-informed treatment modalities, including but not limited to; Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Emotion Focused Skill Training, Emotion Focused Family Therapy, Trauma-Informed and Attachment-Based Therapy.
• Experience working with children and youth living with depression, anxiety, strained social relationships, eating disorders, self-inflected behaviour, trauma, psychiatric diagnoses, learning disabilities and difficult family dynamics.
• Demonstrate sound judgement related to the development of collaborative approaches working with children, youth and their families, including high-risk circumstances and safety planning.
• Experience utilizing suicide risk assessments and intervention skills.
• Demonstrates versatility in the ability to work independently and collaboratively to support agency and program goals.
• Excellent organizational, solution-based problem-solving and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience facilitating groups, webinars and workshops utilizing evidence-based practices.
• Functional technological skills (e.g., Office 360, MS Office, SharePoint, software applications).
• Awareness and appreciation for the dynamics of equity issues (diversity, equity and inclusion) especially as it relates to gender, ethnicity, race, and economic status.
• Identification with the strategic mission, vision and values of the organization including inclusion, collaboration, people centred, knowledgeable and courageous.
• Don’t check all the boxes? We encourage you to apply anyway!

NICE TO HAVES:
• Applicants with fluency in another language are encouraged to apply.
• Fluency in American Sign Language.
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) certificate.
• Mental Health First Aid certificate.

ON-BOARDING REQUIREMENTS:
• Vulnerable Police Record Check (within the last 180 days).
• First Aid Certification (CPR/AED Level C).
• Valid Ontario Driver’s License and access to a reliable motor vehicle.
• Completion of a Driver’s Abstract.
• Proof of automobile insurance.

HOW TO APPLY:
York Hills is strongly committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the populations we serve. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including applicants from all cultures, racialized communities, abilities, diverse sexual and gender identities and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

York Hills is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, accessible and respectful workplace. We believe in cultivating a selection process and employment environment without discrimination or harassment, that is inclusive and barrier free.

York Hills is an Equal Opportunity Employer and in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, should you require a code-protected accommodation, through any stage of the recruitment and selection process, please contact Human Resources.

We encourage you to reflect upon the diversity you would bring to this role within your application.

Please submit your cover letter and resume to our online portal (via the York Hills website) by April 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those under consideration will be contacted.