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 family and community counselling program welcomes youth up to 18 years old referred from other programs within the agency and externally referred children experiencing social, emotional and behavioural difficulties from 0-6 years old. In addition, we support children and youth who are part of our child abuse counselling service. We also co-facilitate the Circle of Security parenting program, which focuses on building attachment between parents and their children. 

Reporting to the  Associate Director of Clinical Services, we are seeking a Clinical Manager to oversee the delivery of quality, evidence-informed mental health treatment for children and their families within a multidisciplinary framework. You will manage a team of clinicians and take the lead in the clinical onboarding of some recently hired clinicians. You will be responsible for ensuring that the conceptualization and delivery of our programs and services are consistent with the mission, values, policies, procedures, standards, and priorities of the organization. 

Who you are

You are a registered professional with a passion for providing quality care to young children and families. You may be a Clinician who has supervised others in the past, and you are looking for an opportunity to gain managerial experience. Or, you may be a Clinical Manager looking for a change and to grow your knowledge as part of an evidence-based team. 

What’s in it for you

Profound purpose. You want to play a critical role in supervising and supporting the work of practitioners who are dedicated to making the lives of our clients better through empowerment and practical skills. You want to be part of a group of managers and interdisciplinary teams that lead and support science-informed practice and research to further our reach and our impact on infants, children, youth and their families in our communities. You want to be the steady hand and calming influence with excellent clinical judgment, someone who is a champion for quality services. 

Growth as a Manager, a Clinician and as a compassionate human. You want to expand your leadership skills and influence while leading teams delivering multiple programs that follow our knowledge, skills, our evidence-informed practices and models. 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, Child & Youth Workers, Psychologists, and Psychiatrists. You will support practicum students if capacity permits.

As our new Clinical Manager, you will:

• Supervise. You will oversee the daily and overarching work of your team, ensuring adherence to manuals and processes in place to provide exceptional, research-based clinical services to our clients. You will lead, develop and establish direction and work priorities for the clinical staff in alignment with service and work plans for each program under your supervision.
• Manage a team. You will provide informal coaching and guidance combined with regularly scheduled evaluations and performance reviews. You will support continuous professional development plans for clinical staff. You will foster a high-quality professional environment in accordance with Accreditation and Professional Regulatory standards, the Collective Agreement and agency policies and procedures.  You will also promote a healthy and safe workplace for staff and clients in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Plan and evaluate. You will ensure that clinical practices are evidence-based, meet ethical and professional standards, are family-centered, and are congruent with the mission and direction of the agency. You will monitor the volume of service delivered against approved agency standards and anticipate emerging service patterns, issues, and needs. 
• Be involved at the clinical level. You will maintain a current knowledge of relevant clinical practices and theoretical models. You will support your team as they deliver therapeutic programming that offers linkages to parents, children, and youth that balances a responsive, professional model with empowerment and mutual aid philosophies. You will respond to elevated client concerns and complaints.
• Oversee operations. You will arrange staff scheduling and coverage as appropriate for service delivery. You will approve expenditures within procedural requirements and manage assigned financial resources. You will support monitoring budgets, service planning and quality assurance.
• Collaborate. You will work closely with members of the Clinical Managers group to ensure overall coordination and effective agency operations, policies, standards, and procedures. As part of a team of managers and of your own team of practitioners, you will increase efficiency and impact through management processes and balancing individual and program perspectives with the overall well-being of the agency.
• Continuously improve. You will collaborate within and across teams to optimize our processes, practices, and service delivery. You will participate in program development planning, research activities, and ongoing evaluation of services. You will assume a lead role in the additional management-level projects and agency initiatives.

 What you bring:

• The education. You have a Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology or a related clinical discipline from an accredited educational institution. You are registered, in good standing, with a professional college (e.g. OCSWSSW, CRPO), and you meet the qualifications to provide psychotherapy.
• The expertise. You have clinical experience in the children’s mental health sector, working with children and youth, families, and groups, and familiarity with associated systems (schools, community agencies). You have strong clinical knowledge and experience in relevant theoretical approaches (e.g. trauma-informed treatment, attachment, CBT, TF-CBT, etc.), including exposure to working on cases involving infant mental health, learning disabilities, family violence and trauma. 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 are invested in contributing to ongoing research-informed program development. 
• The therapeutic expertise. You can engage with children and parents of all ages and backgrounds with sensitivity, empathy, tact, and diplomacy at all times. You have exceptional communication skills and a proven ability to gain trust and nurture relationships. 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 integrity. You hold yourself to high professional standards and exercise good judgment in making decisions within the scope of authority of this position. 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 people leadership. You lead by example and welcome open communication and feedback. You can influence with and without authority and treat those around you with respect. You have experience in managing staff, including recruitment, training, scheduling, evaluation, team building, and performance management. You support the growth and development of your team members. You embrace the opportunity to work in a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment. 

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.

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 professional development opportunities. 

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 Hiring Manager and an HR Representative where you will have an opportunity to further expand on your clinical knowledge and people leadership 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