Youth and Family Counsellor, Youth & Family Counselling Services in Ottawa, Ontario at Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa

Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Reports to: Coordinator, Youth and Family Counselling Services

Employment Status: Full Time Permanent

Bargaining Unit Status: Included

Annual Salary/Hourly Wage: $73,028.80 - $87,713.60

Language requirements: English is essential; French is essential

Bona Fide occupational requirement (BFOR): N/A

Schedule: 40 hours per week - Monday to Friday, Two evening shifts per week

Reference Number: 26-079

Closing Date: September 30th 2026

Existing Vacancy: Yes

Posting Stage: Internal and external

About us:

Founded in 1960, the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB) is one of the largest and most comprehensive non-profit agencies in Ottawa and a registered charity. It provides mental health services, employment programs, emergency shelter, community, health and housing services, and justice programs to youth in the Ottawa area, serving between 2,500 and 3,000 at‑risk individuals aged 12+ and their families every month. YSB employs 400 caring professionals in a unionized environment in over 21 locations across Ottawa.

Under the general direction of the Director of Mental Health Services and Assistant Director of Mental Health Services, and the immediate supervision of a Coordinator of Youth and Family Counselling Services, the Youth and Family Counsellor is responsible for the provision of intake, assessment and counseling services to youth and families per program demand. The work will be conducted in accordance with policies and directives established within the Youth Services Bureau.

What you will do:

• Adhere to Choice and Partnership Approach (CAPA) system requirements
• Adhere to Feedback Informed Treatment principles and requirements
• Deliver individual, family, group, intensive services to clients of the agency in line with program demands
• Perform case management functions which may include using an integrated plan of care process
• Complete approved screening tool with clients
• Assess client need for and recommend when appropriate additional resources or multi-disciplinary support for client
• Support clients to identify counselling goals & strategies for goal achievement.
• Perform family home visits as part of case management
• Utilize recognized interventions to support client in the achievement of established goals
• Advocate with and on behalf of client as required
• Attend and participate in individual supervision & peer group supervision
• Participate in training to ensure ongoing development of skills and abilities – including Youth Services Bureau required training
• Ensure both electronic and physical client files remain current within established guidelines/policies & procedures.
• Meet standards defined in Youth and Family Counselling Services Procedural Manual/ Policy and Procedures Manual
• Contribute to program and services development and evaluation.
• Ensure timely submission of all administrative work in accordance with Youth Services Bureau practices
• Collaborate and network with community agencies as appropriate and as requested
• Ensure familiarity with all pertinent legislation
• Follow safe work practices as established by the Youth Services Bureau and the program.

This opportunity may be right for you if you have:

• Bachelors Degree in Social Work or Master’s Degree in Social Work/Counselling Psychology or relevant field is essential
• Membership in good standing with a college authorized to practice Psychotherapy; RP’s grand-parented into CRPO will be considered
• Minimum two years related experience in providing counseling services to youth and their families and case management
• Experience delivering family counseling services using a Collaborative approach and a systemic perspective
• Knowledge of recognized therapeutic approaches including CBT, DBT, Solution Focused Brief Therapy.
• Capacity to work using a DBT approach will be considered a significant asset
• Demonstrated ability to assess need for multi-disciplinary support or other resources
• Knowledge of mental health issues in adolescents
• Demonstrated decision making and problem solving skills both autonomously and in a team
• Oral and written fluency in English is essential
• Oral and written fluency in French is essential
• Availability and ability to work evenings, flexible hours
• Flexibility and comfortability in working at various locations which may involve local travel
• Demonstrated computer skills
• Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle

Additional Qualifications:

• Successful applicants will be required to provide a clear Broad Police check obtained within the past six (6) months, as a condition of employment with YSB
• To confirm language proficiency required for this position, successful candidates may be requested to undergo an oral and written assessment conducted by a third-party provider, arranged by YSB. Candidates must meet the minimum required linguistic profile before their employment start date. Formal education may be considered as sufficient demonstration of language proficiency, but is subject to review.

Disclaimer:

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required.

What we offer:

• An opportunity to join a vibrant team and be part of truly meaningful and rewarding work;
• 15 days of annual vacation + 2 personal days;
• 100% YSB-paid group health benefits for eligible employees;
• A team where you get to be yourself everyday and where you have the freedom to innovate;
• Overnight premium of $0.50 per hour for eligible staff working between the hours of 11:00pm-7:00am;
• Holiday pay, as determined by YSB polices and the Collective Agreement in place

Additional compensation:

• This position may qualify for overtime at 1.5 rate after 40 hours worked per week, as determined by YSB polices and the Collective Agreement in place;
• This position may qualify for on call compensation, as determined by YSB polices and the Collective Agreement in place;
• This position may qualify for emergency shift compensation at 1.5 rate, as determined by YSB polices and the Collective Agreement in place.

Please be advised that the number of overtime, on-call and emergency shift hours is not guaranteed, varies by position and is determined based on each program’s operational needs, YSB policies and Collective Agreement in place.

Join us!

If you think this vacancy is a good fit, we would love to hear from you. Please visit the career section of our website to submit your resume and one-page cover letter. Don’t just tell us what we want to hear, tell us your story and why you would make a great addition to our team.

We know applying to a job takes time and thank all candidates for their interest. While we are not able to get back to every candidate, we will ensure shortlisted applicants are aware of their status and will do our best to provide feedback if that can be helpful. Please be advised that although ADP has embedded AI functions YSB does not use this AI function to make hiring decisions. All recruitment decisions including the screening of applications are made by our hiring team, who review each application with care and consideration. We value the individuality and potential of each applicant and strive to create an inclusive hiring experience. If you have any questions about our recruitment practices, we encourage you to reach out to our Talent Acquisition Coordinator.

At YSB, we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community. We encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ community and/or people with intersectional identities. Accommodation will be made available for applicants with a disability throughout the hiring process, kindly make your needs known in advance.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply. In the event a qualified candidate is not found, candidates that do not meet the qualifications indicated on the posting may be considered. Qualified candidates may be contacted at any time throughout the application window, upon the closing date.