Intensive Family Support Worker

Abiona Centre (“the Centre”) is an award-winning, accredited Children’s Mental Health Centre that is a multi-service, non-profit, unionized, community agency located in the east end of Toronto.  The Centre is committed to nurturing empowerment, independence and growth for young pregnant and parenting women, children and families in a non-judgmental, inclusive environment by providing a residential care and treatment program; supportive transitional housing; on-site high school program, community housing support and referral services; and maternal infant mental health programs and services. We do this by working collaboratively as a multi-disciplinary team with community partners to provide holistic programs and support that respond to mental health, education and transitional needs. The Centre also operates an EarlyON Child and Family Centre and an Early Learning Centre.  All the programs and services are open to families, young women and their children living in the broader community.

The Intensive Family Support Worker (IFSW) in the Live-In Treatment Program contributes to the Centre’s mission, vison and values and embeds client-centred infant and early childhood mental health model in its service delivery.

Working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team, the IFSW builds therapeutic relationships with pregnant and parenting adolescents, focusing on developing comprehensive care plans, maintaining accurate case files, facilitating care pathways, connecting clients to resources, and conducting holistic case management to achieve program objectives.  The IFSW works collaboratively with other Centre staff to ensure continual and holistic treatment.

Position:  Intensive Family Support Worker

Term:  Permanent Full-time

Rate of Pay:  $55,340 per annum

Department:  Live-in Treatment Program

Reports to:  Supervisor, Live-in Treatment and Transitional Housing Program

Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in Child and Youth Care, Social Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, or  equivalent
• Current Standard First Aid, CPR and CPI
• At least 3 years’ experience working in the mental health/social services field, including recent experience in adolescent, infant and early childhood mental health work and case management
• Ability to develop and maintain therapeutic relationships with children, youth and their families, respecting their unique life spaces, and applying the principles of relational practice to meet their needs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of out-of-home or live-in treatment programs transitional housing, mental health care facilities and community support systems, service and agencies
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, monitor, measure and evaluate treatment, education,  and health promotion programs/services outcomes for individuals, couples, families and the community
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary team
• Excellent verbal and writing communication skills
• Experience in working with diverse, marginalized and street involved pregnant teens and female-identified young mothers.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of infant and early  mental health theory and practice, brief treatment approaches with trauma informed approaches, Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction an asset
• Knowledge and understanding of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, Mental Health Act and other relevant legislations; experience in attending or contributing towards court cases, report writing an asset
• Effective crisis management skills

Working Condition:

• Shift work – day, evening
• Physical demands – lifting, walking, climbing stairways, bending, carrying items as required by program needs (e.g., lifting a child under in the care of the program).

Closing Date:  September 10, 2024; 5:00 p.m.

The Centre offers a dynamic work environment and career advancement opportunities. The successful candidate must have a negative criminal reference check and vulnerable sector screening as a condition of employment.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Centre’s Accommodation Policy, accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. Please make your needs known in advance.

The Centre encourages applications from persons who represent the diverse populations we serve.

Qualified applicants should send their cover letter and resume by the closing date to:

­Human Resources

Abiona Centre

1102 Broadview Avenue

Toronto, ON M4K 2S5

Fax: 416-425-4056

OR

Email: hr@Abionacentre.ca (please quote “Intensive Family Support Worker” in the subject line)

We thank all applicants, however, only those we select for interview will be contacted.