Residential Counsellor

YouthLink believes in the potential of every youth. We are dedicated to providing them with the support, guidance and opportunities they need to make positive life choices. We provide youth with brief and ongoing counselling, in-home wraparound support, shelter, housing, educational support, and safe drop-in spaces. YouthLink works towards equitable outcomes for youth in our community and, as such, is committed to equity-based hiring practices.

We welcome applications from candidates who reflect the communities we serve, particularly candidates from Black communities, Indigenous communities, and racialized people, persons with disabilities, members of diverse gender identities and people with lived experiences. We are seeking candidates who demonstrably operate and practice from an equity and trauma-informed lens. We encourage applications from passionate professionals who will help us dismantle systemic barriers and will embrace working outside of Euro-centric practices.

Residential Counsellor

(Contract Full Time, 40 hours/week)

(Starting Asap: – August 30, 2025)

(Bargaining unit position)

This position is responsible for providing high quality residential care for 9 female identified youth (14-18) and youth who are gender fluid, non-binary and transitioning from male to female and female to male in a live-in treatment home. The program is committed to fostering an environment which promotes safety and security for youth who have experienced any or all of the following. Traumatic events, abuse, parental/family conflict, neglect, and/or issues with attachment that more than likely are contributing to a deterioration of their mental health, sense of self and low self-esteem. This position provides direct care and case management, as well as administrative and household functions of the residence.

Highlights of Your Role

Client Centered Approach: Creates (in consultation with youth/placing agency/parents) specialized plans of care with individualized goals for youth assigned on your case load; including but is not limited to development of self-esteem, healthy relationships with both self and others, self-regulation in stressful times and problem solving , Provides case management progress reports internally and externally as required.

Providing Supports to the Residence: Safely dispenses, administers and documents medications. Assists with emergency services, such as accompanying residents to the hospital. Works from a harm reduction model, promotes safer sex and substance use practices. Promotes acceptance of disability or impairment. Maintains therapeutic milieu by providing a home like atmosphere within the residence: crisis management, role modelling, navigating peer dynamics, building self-esteem and creating a safe and positive environment. Provides daily and household functioning routines and structure, such as hygiene, attendance at school, work, medical, therapy appointments, shopping, menu planning, food preparation, daily chores and settling in routines.

Documentations and report writing: Writes reports and other administrative tasks: serious occurrence and incident reports, daily logs, medical logs, missing person, etc. Orients new residents. Works with student placements.

Collaborate with team and other stakeholders: Plans and facilitates therapeutic evening and weekend programs, such as sports activities, life skills, outings, games and other activities. Provides school support, including contact with TDSB staff, supervises homework, attends parent-teacher interviews. Researches and connects residents with school programs and tutoring and assists with applications, e.g. OSAP. Attends team, case management, and community of practice meetings. Presents cases for review and provides updates for staff during shift change. Provides family support through in-person and phone contact with parents, informal counselling, treatment updates and recommending services and supports. Attends scheduled and ad hoc supervision meetings

Maintain daily functions of the Residence: Maintains the residence, including cleaning, maintenance tasks, garbage removal, snow removal, fire drills and fire safety checks and other routine tasks associated with the care of the residence.

Supports Organization’s Strategy: Actively contributes to the Agency’s Strategic Plan by participating in initiatives and committees to support the overall plan. This includes continual learning and growth in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Any other duties as assigned.

Highlights of What You Bring

Education:

• Child and Youth Worker Diploma or Degree, Social Work, Psychology or a directly related discipline
• Specialized training in attachment theory, developmental lifespan stages, neurobiology of the brain and the impact of trauma.
• Specialized training in relevant interventions to address behavioural issues from a trauma informed attachment lens is an asset.

Experience:

• Two (2) years experience working with at-risk adolescents.
• Experience working from a strength-based, relational approach.
• Knowledge of community services, relevant legislation, and social justice issues.
• Familiarity with suicide/risk assessment and crisis support services.
• Familiarity with operating from an Anti-Black Racism lens and knowledge of working with black youth
• Experience working in residential group treatment with adolescent youth is an asset.
• Experience providing Afrocentric programming an asset.

Skills:

• Ability to perform tasks involving physical activity, including lifting, bending and prolonged standing as well as the ability to be trained in CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) techniques or any ministry approved physical restraint training program.
• Ability to work within a staff team that provides high quality care for female identified youth (14-18) and youth who are gender fluid, non-binary and transitioning from male to female and female to male who have diverse needs and experience, including knowledge of diversity issues
• Knowledge of working with a diversity of black youth.
• Understanding that team dynamics are an important factor in working with vulnerable people and a necessity for team collaboration.
• Display the capacity and capability to be open to both giving and receiving feedback.
• Demonstrated ability to write clear and concise reports in a scheduled time frame including maintaining complete and confidential electronic case records and required paperwork.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills. Ability to multi-task and prioritize responsibilities.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to case-manage and access appropriate community resources for the young person and provide educational support.
• Bilingualism is an asset.

Key characteristics:

• Non-Judgmental, open minded, client centered, clear understanding of harm reduction, trauma informed, team player, advocate, adaptable to ongoing change, knows that small changes call for celebration, patience, excellent communication, understands the importance of collaboration, ability to write clear concise reports, able to form therapeutic relationships with a variety of clients, working in a diverse setting that celebrates differences

Salary: $59,189

Hours of work:

• 40 hours per week.

Other Requirements:

• Medical clearances including up to date vaccinations and 2 step tuberculosis testing.
• Vulnerable Sector Police Check required.

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