Who we are

Children are at the front and centre of what we do; they are the foundation of our purpose and the basis for our evidence-driven strategy. Our mission is to transform the lives of children, youth and their families by developing and delivering innovative, research-based mental health and early learning programs. At the Child Development Institute (CDI), we are passionate about helping our communities’ most vulnerable members and their caregivers. It motivates each of us to face what can be difficult situations while continuously finding the purest joy in play, in silence, in advice, and in the unbelievable strength and resilience of our young clients. Joining us now is a rewarding opportunity to be part of an organization that is built on a legacy of more than 100 years of helping children and families. 

Recognized as a leader and model for measurement-based impact, we are client-centred, family-centred, and data-informed. We are a place where professionals grounded in mental health, care, and well-being of infants, children and youth, come together in collaboration, learning and inclusion. As a multiservice organization delivering social, emotional, and behavioural counselling services, early childhood education, learning disabilities and mental health services, and family violence services, we address the whole person from when they begin their life. Every child and family that reaches out to us is unique, and we value and embrace their individuality. We deliver the tailored support and tools they need to build life-long skills, positive mental health, and resilience. With their trust in us, we guide children and families along a supportive journey. It is an often difficult path and simultaneously the most rewarding experience for providers, children and families.

Who we need

Our Learning Disabilities and Mental Health (LDMH) program welcomes youth up to 18 years old. We provide specialized child & youth mental health counselling services delivered by a multidisciplinary team with knowledge in the field of mental health and learning disabilities. Therapeutic approaches are curated to each child’s learning style and help them understand their learning disabilities, develop coping mechanisms and improve their self-esteem and confidence. We follow our evidence-based programming and the Unified Protocol Program approach, including Feelings First. Our Clinical programming is supported by Therapeutic Recreational programming as well.

Reporting to the Clinical Manager, we are looking for a Child and Family Clinician to provide in-person, on-site therapeutic support to children and youth ages 8-18 and their families. You may be present one-on-one at school, in the community, and at the family home, as well as at CDI locations for group sessions. As part of our clinical leadership and children’s mental health treatment team, you will collaborate to develop treatment plans in a multidisciplinary context. 

Therapeutic interventions may be delivered to individuals, groups and families. You are willing and able to occasionally travel to other CDI sites, community locations and family homes. You can work flexible hours to meet client needs, whether that’s before, during, or after school.

What's in it for you

Profound purpose. You want to play a critical role in developing a treatment plan as part of our Learning Disabilities and Mental Health program. You want to be the steady hand and the calming presence, someone who is a champion for the well-being of clients and can bring forward their perspectives, introduce clarity, observe behaviour and identify interventions. 

Growth as a Child and Family Clinician and as a compassionate human. You want to expand your knowledge, skills, and impact following our evidence-based practices and proven processes in CBT and other methodologies. In addition, you will be part of in-house professional development opportunities, guided coaching and mentoring. Through cross-functional collaboration and as a result of our broad scope of services, you will gain insights through interactions with Social Workers, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, and more. You will have supervision for escalations or complex cases and be part of a team environment for overall practice support. 

The work-life balance and benefits. You will be a unionized, full-time staff member with flexible hours and full benefits. You will receive four weeks of paid vacation, including time off, at the end of the calendar year. You will have the advantage of delivering research-based, proven programming to a steady stream of 20-25 clients with the operational and administrative structure and support that are often missing in private practice.

As our new Child and Family Clinician, you will:

• Administer comprehensive psycho-social assessments. You will closely partner with clients and the multidisciplinary team to develop a clinical formulation. You will gather and review assessments to create an informed, shared, multi-faceted treatment plan that includes interdisciplinary input.
• Lead evidence-based and evidence-informed individual, family and group therapy. You will actively lead and participate in the assessment and treatment planning process with clients, monitoring progress toward goals and modifying the treatment plan as indicated. You will work closely with clients and their families at times and locations in person that work for their schedules.
• Manage 20-25 case files. You will ensure that service, including intake, assessment, transition and discharge planning, is delivered in a coordinated and timely fashion. You will initiate and participate in case conferences and treatment reviews.
• Conduct ongoing assessments. You will administer child and parent evaluation measures at prescribed intervals and submit data for analysis to inform treatment planning. When identified, you will prioritize and address clinical risk, manage and implement safety plans and recommend referrals to appropriate community mental health treatment and support services. You will liaise and connect clients to professionals (internal and external) and community services to ensure effective clinical treatment.
• Complete reporting. You will comply with agency and accreditation standards, including report writing, treatment planning, participation in ongoing professional development and staff meetings. You will update information systems with accurate data and maintain agency records as required. This may include assessment reports, intervention plans, closing reports, pre/post measures, case notes, statistics and other documentation, as required by agency standards 
• Learn and share knowledge. You will actively participate in and make use of ongoing clinical supervision. You will keep up to date with the latest proven clinical practices. You may be asked to participate in the development of training programs and materials for other professionals and community groups.

What you bring:

• The education. You have a Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology or a related clinical discipline. You are registered, in good standing, with a professional college (e.g. OCSWSSW, CRPO), and you meet the qualifications to provide psychotherapy.
• The clinical experience. You have 1+ years of experience in the field of children’s mental health, including exposure to working on cases involving adolescent mental health and learning disabilities. You have clinical skills in assessment, formulation, and treatment with an ability to utilize flexible strategies for engaging and working with families, individuals, groups and larger systems. You have strong clinical knowledge and experience in relevant theoretical approaches (e.g. trauma-informed treatment, attachment, CBT, TF-CBT, etc.).
• The highest standard of integrity. You adhere to excellence in professional and ethical standards, including ethical principles related to client interaction, documentation and confidentiality. You are sensitive to the uniqueness and demands of a public service agency and can maintain the security of client-related and agency information.
• The therapeutic expertise. You have exceptional communication skills and a proven ability to gain trust and nurture relationships, particularly with youth aged 8-18 and their families from diverse backgrounds. You have outstanding listening skills and demonstrate mental attentiveness in face-to-face and telephone interactions with clients, other service providers, community members, colleagues and managers. You can balance priorities and manage interruptions that require constant refocusing. You can handle crisis situations and unplanned drop-ins when they occur. You prioritize self-care.
• The interpersonal skills. A dedicated and flexible team player, you can interact with team members, colleagues at all levels, school and community administration, and other professional service providers, reflecting on and integrating clinical learning and feedback into practice. You have a deep respect for diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. 

Other requirements

• All applicants are advised that offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a Vulnerable Sector Check.
• Credential verifications and references are required.

Compensation: $72,286 per annum. This is a unionized position under CUPE.

Join us.

Fostering positive transformations in mental health for over a century, CDI is a world-class leader trusted in helping children, youth and families through a wide range of evidence-informed services to build lasting change.

At CDI, we prioritize the mental well-being and work-life balance of our teams. We acknowledge the reality of the emotionally demanding work each of us puts in every day. To that end, we strive to create a collaborative, diverse, inclusive, and equitable space where creativity flourish by offering:

• Flexible hours in a planned program environment.
• A focus on cross-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Ongoing paid professional development opportunities and certifications. 

If you want to be part of our vision to make a measurable lifelong impact on the mental health and well-being of children, youth and their families, join us.

Apply now

If you're excited about this role but your experience aligns differently with every requirement, we encourage you to apply. While specific qualifications are strictly required, others can be based on various experiences, backgrounds, and knowledge. We can't promise an interview, but we will consider your whole application. 

What you can expect from our interview process:

• A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor will discuss your interest in the role and background.
• An in-person interview with the Clinical Manager, another member of the Clinical team, and an HR Representative where you will have an opportunity to further expand on your knowledge and experience as well as ask follow-up questions on the role.

CDI is firmly committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People of North America and the world, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. We are committed to providing equitable opportunities in employment and to providing a workplace which is free from discrimination and harassment. We are equally committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations, please reach out to us at