Child and Youth Counsellor, George House
Why Work for SOAR Community Services
About SOAR Community Services
SOAR Community Services (formerly St. Leonard's Community Services) has been an established part of the community for more than 55 years, and is accredited for our excellence in serving children, youth, adults, and families.
Our Values
These aren’t just “lip-service” to us – we work and live by them. If you do, too, we want to talk to you!
- Inclusive – we value everyone and their unique perspectives and journeys
- Compassionate – we care about our clients, our staff, partners, and the communities we serve
- Collaborative – we work together to support our clients and community
- Integrity – we hold ourselves accountable and are fair, trustworthy, and dedicated to our mission to empower people to achieve their vision of independence, health, and wellbeing
- Innovative – we are open to change and continuous improvement
- Genuine – we are honest, respectful, and authentic with our clients, each other, and our partners
- Optimistic – we believe that everyone can accomplish their goals
Variety of shifts available, days, afternoons, and nights, most shifts include combination of weekday and weekend.
Duties
George House offers bed-based housing for youth aged 14-16, providing essential support for high-needs youth in care. Embracing a harm reduction philosophy, the program fosters collaboration with internal and external partners to ensure coordinated, integrated, and high-quality services
As the Child and Youth Counsellor, you will:
- Intervene and manage client behaviours by using Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) techniques.
- Utilize the Agency’s Client Service Model, assist with monitoring and maintenance of planned activities progress in relation to goals and planned outcomes.
- Advocate for clients when necessary and assist clients in assertiveness and in developing advocacy skills for themselves.
- Provide individual and/or group life skills training, using the cognitive behavioural approach to teach skills such as problem-solving, anger management, self-control and coping strategies.
- Communicate with parents, guardians, and referral sources by sharing information, addressing concerns and resolving problems.
- Monitor, distribute and document medication.
- Prepare meals/snacks for clients and replenishes kitchen supplies for meals.
Qualifications
- College Diploma in Child and Youth/Social Services field preferred
- Minimum 2 years’ combined student placement and/or paid experience working with youth with complex needs (significant mental health and substance use issues, as well as homelessness issues). Experience working with youth at risk
- Must have a valid Driver’s License
- Must have access to reliable transportation, as some travel may be required
Eligibility
April 28, 2025; as George House is a new program, all new hires are expected to participate in agency and program onboarding from April 28-May 9, 2025
Benefits
- Employee Assistance Plan for all staff and their families
- Full Time staff start at 3 weeks’ vacation
- 60 hours of Personal Leave Time per year for Full Time staff (pro-rated the first year)
- 15 hours of Wellness Time per year for Full Time staff (pro-rated the first year)
- Staff wellness activities
- Participation in RSP/TFSA plans for all staff, with Agency pension match for Full Time and eligible Part Time staff
- Group health, vision, dental and travel insurance plans where premiums are 100% paid by the Agency for Full Time staff
- An Agency committed to ensuring your physical and mental health/safety is paramount
How to Apply
Our Commitment to Job Seekers
St. Leonard’s Community Services Inc. is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wyandot, the Haudenosaunee, and some of the Ojibwa Nation. The territory is mutually covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this community, on this territory. We also acknowledge that the settler population has been able to benefit from this beautiful land. We are all treaty members and will strive to act in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and center their voices.
The Agency values the diverse and intersectional identities of its clients and staff. The Agency regards equity and diversity as an integral part of excellent community service and is committed to accessibility for all staff. The Agency seeks applicants who embrace our values and beliefs around respect for the dignity and diversity of our clients, staff, and community. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
The Agency encourages applications from all qualified individuals. If you are an applicant with disabilities and require accommodations, please let us know at the time of our contact so that we may arrange for their provision.
Personal information submitted will only be used for the purposes of the competition in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.