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
Social Worker Program Lists Kinark Child & Family Services -> Syl Apps Youth Centre Location Oakville, ON L6H 1M3 CA (Primary) Reg/Temp Regular Start Date September 14, 2026 Temporary End Date Full/Part Time Full-Time Relief No Other Employee Classification (if applicable) Total # of hours per week 35 Salary # of Positions 1 Close Date September 3, 2026
Job Description
Reporting to the Clinical Manager, the Social Worker is a key member of the interprofessional clinical team at Syl Apps Youth Centre (SAYC), a secure treatment facility providing specialized mental health services to adolescents with complex mental health needs and high-risk behaviours. As part of SAYC’s Secure Treatment and Forensic Mental Health programs, the Social Worker provides clinical assessment and evidence-based treatment while working collaboratively with youth, families, and the broader treatment team to support individualized, coordinated care. This role is also eligible for compressed work week.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments, develop case formulations, and contribute to individualized treatment planning.
- Provide evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, parent, family, and group therapy.
- Complete clinical risk assessments and develop safety plans to support youth presenting with high-risk behaviours.
- Collaborate and consult with members of the interprofessional team to support coordinated and integrated care.
- Liaise with community agencies and external partners to coordinate care and support continuity of services.
- Develop and deliver clinical training, workshops, and professional development opportunities for interdisciplinary staff.
- Provide clinical supervision and mentorship to MSW and BSW students.
Qualifications
- Master of Social Work (MSW) required
- Eligible for registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
- Minimum of 2 years’ related experience in a children’s mental health setting or related field
- Demonstrated expertise in individual, family, and group therapy and counselling
- Experience working within live-in or residential treatment settings, preferably with adolescents
- Strong knowledge of evidence-based practices for adolescents with complex mental health needs, including those exhibiting violent or aggressive behaviour
- Excellent clinical, case management, and communication skills *
- 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. Criminal record check disclosures with confirmed findings will be reviewed in accordance with applicable policies and relevant legislation and does not necessarily preclude employment. Each case is reviewed individually and considers the relevance of the findings to assess the implications to employment 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.
