Join Our Team
Imagine being part of an organization that adds value to our community, cares about its staff, and creates a supportive workplace environment. Starling Community Services (formerly Lutherwood) is a progressive, not-for-profit health and social service organization that strengthens people's lives by providing mental health, employment, and housing services to more than 18,000 people annually in Waterloo Region and Wellington County.

We need great people like you to help us realize our mission and support communities where everyone experiences mental wellness, opportunities for employment, a place to call home, and a sense of belonging.

There is one Full-Time contract Child and Youth Counsellor II, Safe Haven position available starting on May 11, 2025, and ending on April 04, 2026. working 37.5 hours per week.

Your Role:

Supervises, monitors, supports and counsels clients throughout their participation in the program. Works in partnership with multidisciplinary teams, to facilitate safe and goal-focused programs for clients. Supports the implementation of evidence-informed practices including Trauma Informed Care, Housing First Model and Attachment Theory. Works intentionally from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive and equity perspective to further create a sense of belonging at the Agency. Supports the sustainability of Social emotional learning.

Tasks:

Client Service:

1. Performs primary/secondary worker functions, for assigned cases.
2. Chairs case review meetings for assigned cases.
3. Supervises, monitors, supports and counsels clients throughout all components of the program.
4. Assesses, develops and implements plan of actions and objectives for the group program, establishing norms and structures that provide a safe and growth-focused environment.
5. Assesses, develops, and implements goals and objectives with individual clients, ensuring continuity of care.
6. Assimilates clients' individual plans of care into the group program, coordinating the individual needs and group plan of actions.
7. Counsel clients in individual and group settings, including life skills, social skills, housing and specific issues as they arise.
8. Responds to client crisis situations utilizing crisis intervention techniques (CIT) as well as from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive lens in understanding the trauma history of the client.
9. Participates with clients in special program events.
10. Liaises with client, family, police, educational staff and other agencies ensuring communication, continuity and support. Establishes relationships with local grassroots organizations and community gathering spaces to provide clients with opportunity to access cultural supports.
11. Participates with members of the clients' multidisciplinary team, Program Supervisor and other Agency personnel in coordinating and implementing programs.
12. Participates in developing, implementing and evaluating client needs assessments and contracts.
13. Develops and delivers skills programming.
14. Supports clients to attend off-site appointments and activities in the community.
15. Conducts intakes, discharges, administers medication and attends to clients medical needs.
16. Role models the Agencys values for staff members and clients.
17. Plans and implements the group and individual programs.
18. Participates in designing, delivering and evaluating the overall program.
19. Participates in assessing, developing, and implementing action plans and support in the community. This includes utilizing evidence informed models.
20. Develops and promotes specialized programs (safety contract, housing plans, etc.).
21. Provides back-up support to Mobile Crisis team, as required.
22. Responds to crisis calls, gathering all relevant information, and determines the appropriateness of all referrals as per existing protocols.
23. Evaluates the severity of the crisis situations and determines if phone support and referral to other services is sufficient.
24. Responds to the client utilizing crisis intervention strategies, de-escalation techniques.
25. Completes various screening tools, e.g. HEADS ED, YAP or Suicide Risk Assessment seen as appropriate in determining the next course of action.
26. Develops a crisis management service plan in a proactive manner, utilizing family/guardian strengths and resources augmented with community resources.
27. Coordinates with the larger housing sector systems and partners for discharge planning.
28. Provides coaching and mentorship to Child & Youth Counsellor Is as required. providing guidance and sharing experience to provide continuity of service delivery.

Food Handling and Preparation:

1. Prepares well-balanced meals that comply with Canadas Food Guide.
2. Ensures food is safely stored and properly labeled and dated to avoid spoilage.
3. Ensures that dietary requirements to meet individualized dietary plans are adhered to.
4. Monitors food preparation and presentation to ensure high standards.
5. Coordinates and participates in the proper cleaning of the dining room, kitchen, and serving areas including but not limited to tables and bases, chairs, floor, serving carts, trays, kitchen equipment, counter tops.
6. Works within legislated requirements for proper food handling, WHMIS, Occupational Health and Safety, infection control, lifting techniques and disinfecting and cleaning requirements.
7. Monitors food and supplies inventory and ensures supplies are maintained.
8. Builds relationships with local ethnic or cultural supermarkets or stores to support clients in finding cultural food and ingredients.

Administration:

1. Oversees and monitors group budgets, applying to Leadership for other financial needs and coordinates with the Trustee where necessary.
2. Monitors and oversees clients with Family and Children's Services funds and directs purchases.
3. Collects information, records and maintains client files and updates client and shift data.
4. Utilizes HIFIS.
5. Collects and records information for medication trials.
6. Oversees and monitors safety, general repair, maintenance, and cleanliness in the facility, reporting deficiencies to Leadership or Maintenance Department.
7. Monitors the security of the facility.
8. Provides additional back-up support, as needed, in order to deliver program activities.
9. Communicates relevant client information and needs to internal and external team members.
10. Builds and maintains positive relationships with partners.
11. Integrates and monitors volunteers within the overall program.
12. Accepts and processes all donations and generating acknowledgment correspondence.

Your Talents and Experience:

A relevant degree or diploma in child and youth work or related discipline with a minimum of one year working in a milieu setting as a Child and Youth Worker. Demonstrated ability to relate to youth with warmth and understanding and setting consistent appropriate limits. Highly developed professional, verbal and written skills, with a demonstrated ability to deal with a diverse range of people. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team while still demonstrating strong decision-making capabilities. Exceptional organizational skills and the capability of multi-tasking to meet various timelines are essential. Alignment with the Agency's commitment to anti racism, anti-oppression and equity. Passionate, aware, and willing to continue to learn about antiracism, anti-oppression and equity. First Aid Certificate, CPR, and CIT training.

Whats in it for you?

• 
  Job Band G (hourly wages): Min - $26.62, Mid - $28.83, Max - $32.54
• 
  A positive work culture, inclusive workplace policies, and employee wellness initiatives.
• Eligible to join the HOOPP defined pension plan on a voluntary basis.
• 
  Access to our Employee and Family Assistant Program which provides free and confidential counselling, resources and services.
• 
  3 Weeks paid vacation (accumulated bi-weekly)
• 15 hours of personal time per year.
• 
  Paid sick time (accumulated monthly) to a maximum of 300 hours.
• 
  11 paid holiday benefits per year plus a floater day.
• 
  Discounted GRT passes through membership with Travel Wise.
• 
  Employee Referral Incentive Program.
• 
  Agency Orientation and Training modules.
• 
  Professional development and tuition reimbursement opportunities.
• 
  Staff appreciation events.

If you are community-focused and share our values and antiracism commitment, we want you to grow with us. Please submit your application through BambooHR, in confidence, no later than 4 pm on April 30, 2025.

This is an internal and external posting.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If you don't have every single requirement and the exact level of experience listed in our description, but the skills and experience needed for the role still resonate with you, please consider applying. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and quality; therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require any support submitting your application or during the interview process by contacting Human Resources at [email protected] or by calling 519-707-1958 ext. 1247.

Commitment to Equity

As a community agency delivering mental health, employment, and housing services, Starling Community Services acknowledges Canadas history of systemic racism, oppression, and the need for structural and institutional change. We are committed to continuously improving so that we may deliver equitable and accessible services to our entire community.

We are dedicated to embedding equity practices into the fabric of our organization, recognizing that this requires ongoing effort, education, and dialogue. Guided by our equity strategy, we are committed to providing equal opportunities for career advancement, professional development, and success for all staff, regardless of their identity or background.