Youth Mental Health Worker

Why work for CMHA York Region?

We are a team committed to our vision of mental health support for all. We offer an inclusive, innovative, and high-performance work culture that helps us deliver transformational impact. The organization cares about the growth, safety and well-being of employees and offers:

• Competitive Total Compensation
• HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan)
• Learning & development opportunities

Learn more about us by visiting: https://cmha-yr.on.ca/careers/

At the CMHA-YRSS we are taking a targeted approach to removing systemic racism barriers experienced by Indigenous, Black and other racialized employees, to create equitable outcomes for everyone. If you want to participate in meaningful initiatives that promote a culture of anti-racism and gender diversity inclusion within CMHA-YRSS consider current opportunities to contribute in one or more of the following ways:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.
We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from Gender Diverse individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

We are looking for a Youth Mental Health Worker for our Choices Program!

1 Contract Position: until January 4, 2027. Part-time, 17.5 hours a week. Occasional weekend and/or evening hours may be required.

Closing Date: October 9, 2026

Salary range: $31.01- $37.60 per hour *This represents all steps of a seven-step salary grid. Candidate experience will be considered when determining the starting salary

Location: The successful candidate will work in office, in the community, and occassionally on our MOBYSS vehicle and report out of our Aurora office, located at 15150 Yonge St, Aurora ON L4G 1M2. The candidate will be required to occasionally travel within York Region & South Simcoe for training, meetings, and client visits.

Job Profile:

The Youth Mental Health Worker working on the Choices Program works in a group-based psychoeducational program that provides a safe and encouraging environment for youth aged 12 to 17 to learn skills that will help them make more positive choices in their lives in a group setting. The program is delivered in partnership with schools, shelters and community organizations in York Region and South Simcoe. In addition to Choices, the Youth Mental Health Worker will support other Youth programs as needed.

In addition to compliance with all organizational policies and procedures, the incumbent is also expected to behave ethically, demonstrate competence in effective communication and team building, demonstrate effectiveness in working in a collaborative environment, and demonstrate confidence in decision-making and building relationships.

Requirements:

• Degree or diploma in health and social services; child and youth work, counselling or related field.
• Current registration in good standing with the OCSWSSW or a regulatory body under the Regulated Health Professions Act.
• Registration with the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care would be considered an asset.
• Two or more years of experience in the mental health field. Experience with youth is an asset.
• Formal training and education in adolescent development and mental health, education, group work, program planning and evaluation, community facilitation and development.
• Ability to drive a 32-foot Recreational Vehicle. Driving instructions will be provided.
• Knowledge/skills/experience in counselling, case management, and workshop/group development and delivery and familiarity with solution-focused brief therapy and/or other brief counselling approaches.
• Ability to apply Recovery principles and empowerment-oriented philosophies and practices in work with clients.
• Practices from an anti-racist/anti-oppression perspective.
• Demonstrated ability to observe boundaries, engage in appropriate emotional regulation, refrain from dual relationships with clients, maintain confidentiality, and engage in reasonable self-care strategies that incorporate balancing work/life responsibilities.
• Extensive knowledge of supports and services in York Region and South Simcoe.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and professionally with clients and School Board personnel.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and conflict resolution.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent diplomacy, decision-making, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.
• The ability to work independently.
• The ability to assess risk to individuals and take informed action in crisis situations.
• Good time management and the ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Experience with client needs assessment, program planning and evaluation, crisis intervention, work in schools or classroom settings with large groups, community education, health promotion, public speaking and work with diverse cultural and age groups preferred.
• The ability to use various forms of media and teaching materials, including, but not limited to Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Evening and weekend work as required.
• The ability to travel throughout York Region and South Simcoe, which requires a valid Canadian driver's license, and a minimum of $1,000,000 third-party liability insurance.
• A satisfactory and current Vulnerable Sector Screening (Police Check).
• A second language is an asset.

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an individual assigned to the job. This information is not constructed to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel in the job.

This position reports to and is supervised by the Manager, People & Teams.

Working Conditions:

Working in a vehicle, office work, community settings, meetings in clients' homes and travel with clients, and operating a recreational vehicle. A satisfactory driver's abstract will be required.

• Weekends and/or evenings is required based on program needs

Disclaimer: In keeping with mental health reform, best practices, funding, and direction, this position may later require knowledge, skills, abilities, and working conditions not noted here.

To request this posting in an alternate format or to request an accommodation in the application process, email [email protected].

Application Procedure: If you are interested in this opportunity, please visit https://cmha-yr.on.ca/careers/ and search for Youth Mental Health Worker, click on the “Apply Now” button, and proceed to upload your cover letter and resume.

Complete the application form and submit the following:

• Cover letter with 300 words or less which tells us why you want the role and why you should be considered for this position. (PDF or Word document)
• Resume (PDF or Word document) (applications received without a Resume attached will not be considered).

CMHA-YRSS is dedicated to promoting employment equity and dismantling obstacles to employment for marginalized communities. CMHA-YRSS supports the journey to mental wellness, and we welcome applicants with lived experience of mental illness. In acknowledgment of the systemic underrepresentation faced by Black, Indigenous, racialized peoples, and those living with disabilities, this opportunity has been developed based on the special program provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We therefore extend invitations for applications from the following groups:

• Racialized Persons
• Indigenous Persons
• Persons living with Disabilities

While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.