Clinical Therapist / Crisis Response

Kinark Child and Family Services has a rich 50-year history serving children and youth through a wide range of evidence-based mental health services that include individual, family, and group counselling. We are on a mission to help children and youth with complex needs achieve better life outcomes with a broader vision of a healthy future for Ontario’s children and youth. We have a passionate team of over 700 staff serving close to 9,000 children and youth each year in our three program streams - Community-based Child and Youth Mental Health, Autism, and Forensic Mental Health.

Our people are the heartbeat of our organization where ‘Holding children, youth, and families at the centre of all that we do’ is only one of the values that guides our work.

In support of our journey towards being an employer of choice in our sectors, our staff is engaged for feedback to identify and support improvements, big and small, to enhance the employee experience.

If you have a passion for making a difference in the lives of children and youth with complex needs and want to be part of the mission we are on… Come join our team!

For more information about Kinark, our values, our strategic priorities, and our service programs, please visit our website at www.kinark.on.ca.

What we offer:

• Competitive salary, comprehensive health and dental benefits, and other employment perks*
• Flexible work arrangement supporting employee work life balance
• Employer Matching Defined Contribution Pension Plan up to 6%*
• Employee Wellness Program
• Extensive Educational and Training Opportunities and Supports
• Supportive work environment with regular Supervision and Feedback
• Renowned Accredited Clinical Programs

*Dependent on hours worked, length of service and/or collective agreement (where relevant)

We currently have an opportunity for:

Position Title

Clinical Therapist / Crisis Response

Program Lists

Kinark Child & Family Services -> Durham Program

Location

Oshawa, ON L1J 2K5 CA (Primary)

Reg/Temp

Temporary

Temporary End Date

September 15, 2026

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Relief

No

Total # of hours per week

35

Salary

Salary range: Level 1: $39.83 , Level 2: $ 41.81 , Level 3: $43.90

# of Positions

1

Close Date

Open until filled

Job Description

Kinark has introduced a benefit that gives employees in eligible roles the opportunity to work partially or fully remote if they choose to opt-in for this benefit. This role is assessed as a Roamer position requiring minimal days in the office (2 days per week) unless business demands require. This role is also eligible for compressed work week.

The Clinical Therapist is an integral part of a busy, dynamic and growing clinical program at Kinark Child and Family Services, Community Based Child and Youth Mental Health program in the Durham region primarily serving children under the age of 12 years and their families. As a member of an interdisciplinary team, the Clinical Therapist will be required to liaise with internal and external collaterals in the provision of clinical services.

The successful incumbent will be responsible for providing crisis response services, short term crisis stabilization support, and treatment for children and youth in both our brief services and longer term treatment programs. The Clinical Therapist will be responsible for completing clinical assessments, formulations, and developing individualized treatment plans prior to providing individual, family, and/or group therapy to children, youth, and families.

The successful candidate will be required to work up to two evenings per week where client need dictates. This position is covered by the Communications Workers of America, Local 30248.

Salary range: Level 1: $39.83 , Level 2: $ 41.81 , Level 3: $43.90

This is a Temporary Full-time Position with a Contract Length of 1 year.

Duties & Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):

• Complete mental health assessments, considering the multiple layers and interacting mental health issues, needs, and disorders, family dynamics, and systemic concerns.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop safety plans.
• Provide immediate telephone and/or mobile crisis support and risk mitigating strategies
• Utilize commitment strategies to obtain commitment to therapeutic engagement, while assessing client readiness and stage of change.
• Complete case formulation and treatment planning, with input from the client/family
• Modify treatment activities and approaches to meet client need
• Provide intervention, with clinical outcomes to be achieved through application of evidenced-based practices with ongoing monitoring of impact.
• Focus on the child’s potential for developing/sustaining pro-social, self-regulation of mental health symptoms, and related behaviours
• Self-monitor the completion of progress/contact notes describing each client contact and how that contact relates to treatment goals and adherence to policy
• Collaborate with other members of the treatment team and participate in interagency/team meetings

Qualifications:

• A Master’s Degree in Social Work or a Health-Related Discipline with a minimum of 3 years relevant experience is preferred.**
• Candidates with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with extensive and relevant experience will also be considered.**
• Must be registered and in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), the College of Nursing (CNO), the College of Psychologists in Ontario or the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario.
• Must be eligible and able to perform Psychotherapy as defined under the act.
• A minimum of 3 years relevant experience working in a mental health setting preferred
• Experience with diverse populations of children and youth preferred
• Excellent clinical assessment, formulation and treatment planning skills is essential.
• Training or experience in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy will be considered an asset.
• Experience providing crisis response services will be considered an asset
• Travel is required for this position; the successful candidate must have a valid Ontario driver’s license, access to a reliable vehicle and be willing to obtain automobile insurance which includes driving for business purposes with a minimum liability of one million dollars.
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check (including a Broad Sector record check) and Pre-Employment Medical.
• Bilingual English/French candidates will be given special consideration.

Interested applicants should submit their résumés via the Apply Button.

** Please note that Equivalent combination of education & experience will be considered.

Kinark Child and Family Services conditions of employment include but are not limited to successful Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening or Criminal Broad Record Check, based on position, and completed Pre-Employment Medical certificate.

Candidates must have the skills and knowledge needed to work with an increasingly diverse client and staff population as well as a proven commitment to anti-oppression, equity, and inclusion as relevant for the role applied to.

Kinark Child and Family Services values inclusivity and diversity in the workplace, including age, ancestry, disability, gender expression, gender identity, race, religion and sexual orientation, that make each of us unique, and recognize that people experience oppression based on these characteristics and identities. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds. We are committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (‘AODA’). If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please notify People and Culture at kinark.jobs@kinark.on.ca or (905) 474-9595.

While we thank all applicants, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Any information obtained during the course of recruitment will be used for employment recruitment purposes only, and not for any other purpose.