Job Title: Senior Trauma Treatment Therapist

Salary Range:  $68,012 – $74,000

Comp#: 2024-10

Contract: Full-Time Position Mondays to Fridays

Start Date: May, 2024

Location:   In-person at either 2010 Eglinton Avenue W. 1541 Janes St. (West Toronto Youth Hub) or Community Locations, and remote

Yorktown Family Services provides a comprehensive range of mental health services for children, youth and families who are experiencing serious emotional/social/behavioural difficulties along with several gender-based violence initiatives. Yorktown is committed to ensuring that all programs produce effective and positive outcomes for clients through evaluation, research and the incorporation of evidence-based services and practices whenever possible. We are committed to inclusiveness and diversity at all levels of the organization.

Yorktown is currently seeking a Trauma Therapist with experience serving youth in the justice sector. The therapist should be trained in current therapeutic, trauma-informed modalities beneficial to vulnerable youth, their families, and victims and survivors of crime with insight into the psychology of loss/grief. The successful candidate will have specialized knowledge of the challenges that overrepresented and marginalized populations, including Black, Indigenous, and racialized youth, experience in Ontario’s youth criminal justice system. The trauma therapist will also be adept at report writing and communicating with community and justice system stakeholders. This position will contribute to the wider goal of the Ministry of Attorney General Justice Centre initiative, which aims to move justice out of the traditional courtroom and into a community setting by bringing together justice, health, and social services to address the root causes of crime, break the cycle of offending, and improve community safety and well-being.

This position will be housed within YFS’s Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) program. ETA is a mobile integrated care, behavioral health, social service support, and community capacity building model that provides direct service intervention and prevention for youth and young adults involved with or at risk of targeted violence acts across the Greater Toronto Area. The model involves numerous evidence-based and informed practices to divert youth and young adults away from targeted violence and or violent ideologies. Therapists within ETA and other YFS programs all work in the YFS Rapid Access Walk-In Clinic, providing single-session therapy approximately one day week to community members. This is a unionized position.

Responsibilities:

• Deliver evidence informed trauma treatment to youth aged 12-17 years old who are involved in the justice system (i.e. probation, extra judicial measures) in the context of individual and family therapy
• Normalize grief, encourage emotional expression and communication, cultivate and enhance resiliency, explore helpful coping strategies, and support continuing positive bonds or attachments
• Oversee treatment plan and coordination/case management of services related to mental/social health interventions
• Accept and track referrals of Justice Centre participants from the Justice Centre Crown and the Case Managers
• Provide timely progress client updates for the efficient and timely disposition of court matters
• Provide aftercare supports to clients after the disposition of their criminal   matter
• Be the clinical expert in the area of trauma and the justice system as part of a wider inter-disciplinary team that has expertise in other area (i.e. psychosis, early years)
• Work with family members, conduct family therapy as necessary
• Monitor on a regular basis through the use of various tools and screeners social engagement and mental health functioning
• Complete psycho-social assessment reports, mid-term reports and closing reports, and trauma assessments
• Provide therapy in person, over the phone, in the community or online
• Make referrals to more intensive services if required such as psychiatry, outpatient or inpatient support, residential care as necessary
• Work collaboratively with various sectors and systems including; legal, justice, law enforcement and various local and provincial agencies.
• Be able to incorporate culturally safe and competent methods in all practices
• Be open to work with program participants across the GTA and Province of Ontario through virtual services
• Participate in YFS trainings, consults, team meetings, events and committees as appropriate
• Lead trauma treatment trainings several times per year
• Additional duties as required

  Qualification:

• Minimum MACP or MSW
• Registered to a professional college i.e. CRPO/Registered Social Worker
• Minimum of 3 years of experience working with youth or young adults involved with the criminal justice system
• A strong understanding of trauma, PTSD, and the impacts of prolonged violence exposure
• A strong understanding of how racism, systems of oppression, social exclusion can lead to social isolation that may contribute to violent behaviour
• Have a strong operational knowledge of an evidence-informed therapy model, such as Trauma Focused CBT or Solution Focused Therapy for trauma
• Be able to assess threat to the community, self and others
• Have demonstrated the ability to work in an inter-disciplinary team in the past
• Has a proven ability to engage with hard to reach people and communities and is able to sustain and be persistent through creative engagement strategies
• Presentation skills are above average and willingness to present about program in the community
• Be able to set boundaries with workload and have a strong self-care
• Comfortable attending court and other legal proceedings
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings (possibly two evenings per week) and weekends are essential
• Speaking a language beyond English is an asset
• Vulnerable Sector Screening is required
• Access to a reliable vehicle is a definite asset as travel across the GTA will be required

Availability:

Must be available two evenings and one afternoon per week (Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesday) and occasional Saturday

Reports to: Manager, ETA and Clinical Development

Yorktown Family Services is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity.

Please submit your resume and cover letter to hr@yorktownfamilyservices.com or by fax  to 437-290-5523 by May 6, 2024.  Please quote “Competition 2024-10 and Job title in the subject line.

Yorktown values the diversity of people and communities and is committed to equity and inclusion.  As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the diversity of our communities.

Yorktown Family Services welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those considered for an interview will be contacted.