Children are at the front and centre of what we do; they are the foundation of our purpose and the basis for our evidence-driven strategy. Our mission is to transform the lives of children, youth and their families by developing and delivering innovative, research-based mental health and early learning programs. At the Child Development Institute (CDI), we are passionate about helping our communities’ most vulnerable members and their caregivers.

Joining us now is a rewarding opportunity to be part of an organization that is built on a legacy of more than 100 years of helping children and families. Reporting to the Clinical Supervisor, we are seeking a compassionate Social Worker to join our Here to Help program. Consistent with trauma-informed models of group service, Here to Help is a twelve-week closed group, child witness program, offering mothers and children (ages 4 to 18) a safe and supportive space to share and process their thoughts and feelings related to past experiences of domestic violence.

Each week, group sessions include a family dinner, a family activity and age-appropriate groups for children and mothers. Children and youth will have an opportunity to explore their feelings, learn emotion regulation and understand that they are not alone in their experiences. Mothers have an opportunity in-group to focus on the unique aspects of parenting after abuse and learn strategies to support their children’s challenging thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

As a Registered Social Worker, you are looking for a place to channel your commitment to making a difference in the lives of mothers who have experienced trauma and their children. You want to leverage the expertise of a long-historied organization that operates at the cutting edge of evidence-based treatment for children, youth, and their families, a place where you will be supported in professional development and work-life balance. You want to take mothers, children,



and youth along a healing journey, guiding them to connect through trauma-informed group sessions.

You want to be a calming and secure presence, someone who is a caring and steady champion for the well-being of vulnerable clients and parents. Growth as a Social Worker and as a compassionate human. You will be part of in-house professional development opportunities, guided coaching and mentoring.

Through cross-functional collaboration, you will gain insights through interactions with other Social Workers, Psychologists, and Child and Youth Workers. As our new Social Worker, you will: Foster a safe space. With parents and children as your primary client group, you will prioritize comfort and security, empowering your clients to build strong and nurturing relationships.

You will work to help mothers process their trauma and more easily interact with their children and each other. You will work with children and youth to understand what they have witnessed or experienced and help repair any disconnection that may occur between caregivers and children after experiences of violence and abuse. Administer psycho-social assessments.

You will administer child and parent evaluation measures at prescribed intervals and submit data for analysis to inform treatment planning. When identified, you will prioritize and address clinical risk, manage and implement safety plans and recommend referrals to appropriate community mental health treatment and support services. You will update information systems with accurate data and maintain agency records as required.





You have a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work combined with three years of experience or a Master’s in Social Work combined with at least one year of experience. You understand the different and changing needs of children and youth ages 4-18 years old, and you are comfortable interacting with all ages and their parents for group therapy sessions. You have professional experience in the field of children’s mental health, including exposure to working on cases involving child and youth mental health, learning disabilities, family violence and trauma.

You have clinical skills in assessment, formulation, and treatment with an ability to utilize flexible strategies for engaging and working with families, individuals, groups and larger systems. You are sensitive to the uniqueness and demands of a public service agency and can maintain the security of client-related and agency information. You have outstanding listening skills and demonstrate mental attentiveness in face-to-face and telephone interactions with clients, other service providers, community members, colleagues and managers.

You prioritize self-care. A dedicated and adaptable team player, you can interact with team members and colleagues at all levels of the organization, reflecting on and integrating clinical learning and feedback into practice. You are flexible to work one to two evenings a week.

This is a permanent position under CUPE. A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor where you will discuss your interest in the role and background. The conversation will be recorded using BrightHire, an AI-powered video interview tool.

CDI is firmly committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People of North America and the world, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

📌 Social Worker I - Bachelor in Social Work (Toronto)
🏢 Child Development Institute
📍 Toronto