Position Type – FT Permanent
Hours of Work per week – 35 Hours
Salary range: $72,340 to $83,881 per annum
Benefits: We offer generous group employee benefits which includes:
- Comprehensive health, dental, vision coverage and EAP, premium fully paid by organization
- Life and disability insurance
- Defined Contribution Pension plan with employer matching up to 6% based on length of service
- Generous paid time off (Vacation, Sick and Float days)
- Pregnancy/Parental leave top-up
- Hybrid work flexibility
- Access to employee perks and discounts
Union Position - This position is represented by OPSEU local 567.
ABOUT US
Strides Toronto Support Services (“Strides Toronto”) Strides Toronto is a multi-service agency supporting infants, children, youth and young adults from birth to age 29, and their families, primarily across east Toronto. We offer community-based, residential and treatment programs - including mental health counselling, autism services, early intervention, day treatment, education, outreach and community support - using a client-centered, evidence-informed approach. Since 2015, Strides Toronto has served as Toronto’s Lead Agency for Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health, partnering with 21 core service providers to provide system leadership, citywide planning, coordinated service delivery and program alignment. Strides Toronto also leads initiatives with broader reach, including Help Ahead and the HOPE Strategy across Toronto and One Stop Talk/Parlons Maintenant and the Provincial Youth Outreach Worker Program across Ontario.
ABOUT THE ROLE
This is an existing vacancy for a full-time permanent Individual and Family Therapist (IFT), with a specialization in supporting youth experiencing substance use concerns.
The Individual and Family Therapist provide psychotherapy and counselling, as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing evidence informed services to adolescents and their families with a variety of severe social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. The individual and family therapist, provide individualized services to youth and their families through service coordination and case management when needed, by liaising with internal/external partners.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Provide Individual and Family Therapy to youth and their families to co-create the client-centered clinical goals, for the purpose of improving the client’s overall social and emotional wellbeing and functioning through use of evidence informed practices over a serious of multiple sessions.
- Act as service coordinator to ensure relevant stakeholders are engaged in the treatment process as needed. Lead collaborative efforts with community partners for the purpose of creating and delivering a treatment plan to allow the client to successfully reach their established goals for improvement of mental and emotional health and social functioning and wellbeing.
- Create and maintain a detailed and accurate history of client, family, and stakeholder interactions in a centralized database for the purpose of capturing meeting discussions (ongoing history of notes), details of assessment information, and correspondence to inform treatment plan.
- Respond to crisis to address and reduce immediate risk to client, staff and/or community where a client may be at risk of harm to self or others (i.e. abuse, neglect, suicidal ideation, homelessness, aggression, self-harm, etc.)
THE “MUST HAVES”
The following education, professional memberships and knowledge are a requirement for this role:
- Masters level degree in Social Work, Counselling Psychology or counselling related field
- At least 2 years’ experience working with adolescence and families with mental health needs.
- Registration in good standing in an appropriate regulatory body that can provide psychotherapy such as OCSWSSW or CRPO
- Training in an evidence-based model such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy or Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Demonstrated experience supporting youth experiencing substance use concerns, with strong competency in evidence-based therapeutic interventions for clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use presentations.
- Knowledgeable in youth-centered harm reduction principles
- Ability to deliver developmentally appropriate non-judgmental, collaborative care
- Capacity for leading peer consultations and external partnerships regarding assessment and treatment for substance use issues in adolescents
- Awareness of the role of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in the workplace and within the community being served by the position.
- An understanding of anti-black racism, anti-oppressive/anti-racism perspective in the context of the social determinants of health.
- Ability to recognize and identify situations where incidents of imbalance of power and privilege may occur and can result in possible negative impacts.
THE ‘NICE TO HAVES’
While not required, preference will be given to candidates with the following:
- Functional computer and client information system knowledge.
- Fluency in another language(s), including sign language.
BEFORE STARTING WITH US
As our work puts us in direct contact with youth and vulnerable persons in our community, with health and safety as a priority, the successful candidate must complete or obtain the following before commencement of their employment:
- A Vulnerable Sector police check
- A positive police check does not automatically disqualify an applicant for a position with Strides Toronto. The Police Check will be reviewed and evaluated for the purpose of making a decision on suitability for employment in relation to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position being filled.
WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?
- We provide a hybrid work model and competitive Group Health Benefits and Pension Plan.
- We provide opportunities for growth and professional development.
- We are committed to providing an equitable and inclusive environment where our diverse team members and clients can thrive.
- We have a collaborative and supportive Senior Management Team.
- We set high standards for performance, client outcomes, and implement best practices, which are demonstrated through our accreditation with the Canadian Centre for Accreditation.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit a cover letter and resume outlining your demonstrated education, certification (if applicable), working and related volunteer experience and how you meet specific requirements for this position, and any additional considerations you deem appropriate. The application deadline is September 28, 2026.
Strides Toronto is an equal opportunity employer. We benefit from diversity of lived experiences in the workplace and encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Strides Toronto is a participant in the Government of Canada’s 50-30 Challenge, a program which challenges organizations to improve access for women and/or non-binary people and other equity-deserving groups, including those identifying as: racialized, Black, and/or people of colour, people with disabilities (including invisible and episodic disabilities), 2SLGBTQ+ and/or gender and sexually diverse individuals, and Aboriginal and/or Indigenous Peoples to increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplace.
In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Strides Toronto’s own policies, requests for accommodation will be considered throughout the hiring process.
We thank all applicants however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.
