Clinical Youth Therapist

Northstar delivers specialized mental health, assessment, and rehabilitative justice services across Durham Region. Established in 1980, our organization has dedicated itself to enhancing the well-being of children, youth, and families involved in the legal system. Learn more about our work and community collaborations.

Beyond the Complex is an intensive, 3-year, federally funded custody-alternative intervention supported by Justice Canada’s Youth Justice Fund. The program supports gang-involved youth aged 12–17, with an intentional focus on racialized youth, including Black and Indigenous youth, who would otherwise face a custodial sentence for serious youth violence. Grounded in the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) framework, the program provides clinical treatment targeting the root causes of violent and anti-social behavior through therapeutic care, family therapy, psycho-educational supports, specialized psychiatric/psychological consultation, accountability structures, and individualized pathways to education, training, and employment.

Role Overview

We are seeking an empathetic, grounded, and skilled Clinical Youth Therapist with a clinical social work foundation, direct experience with justice-involved youth, and valued lived experience. In this role, you will bridge evidence-based clinical practice and experiential reality. Working alongside forensic mental health professionals (psychologists, consulting psychiatrists, and child and youth workers), you will hold a focused caseload of justice-involved young people. You will deliver individual and family interventions, develop individualized rehabilitative case plans, coordinate multi-disciplinary care, and serve as an unwavering advocate and mentor through service involvement.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Clinical & Therapeutic Intervention

• Deliver trauma-informed, culturally responsive individual therapy and psycho-educational interventions to gang-involved youth aged 12–17.
• Facilitate family and restorative caregiver sessions to heal systemic strains, repair communication, and stabilize home environments.
• Integrate evidence-based modalities, such as CBT, DBT-informed skills, motivational Interviewing, etc., within an RNR and culturally responsive framework to address criminogenic and mental health needs.
• Collaborate closely with consulting psychologists and psychiatrists on forensic mental health assessments, crisis interventions, and specialized psychiatric consultations.

2. Intensive Case Management & Community Reintegration

• Design, implement, and monitor robust, individualized case plans integrating academic re-engagement and/or vocational training, and positive pro-social recreation.
• Maintain frequent, reliable contact with youth in community settings, schools, courts, and homes to ensure engagement and accountability.
• Coordinate closely with Youth Justice Probation Officers, court personnel, legal counsel, and community partners while maintaining ethical boundaries and client trust.
• Develop clear, actionable crisis de-escalation and community safety plans.

3. Culturally Grounded & Anti-Oppressive Advocacy

• Ensure all clinical and case management approaches reflect an anti-Black racism, anti-colonial, and intersectional framework tailored to racialized and marginalized youth.
• Foster relational safety and trust using lived/shared understanding of the social, economic, and institutional pressures facing youth in gang subcultures.
• Advocate within school boards, child welfare, and justice systems to dismantle barriers hindering the youth’s reintegration.

4. Program Documentation & Evaluation

• Maintain timely, high-standard clinical records, case notes, and court updates in compliance with regulatory and organizational standards.
• Participate in data tracking and program reporting required under the federal Youth Justice Fund evaluation framework.

Qualifications & Competencies

Education & Credentials

Education: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) with demonstrated advanced clinical experience. Master of Social Work (MSW) is highly preferred.

Registered (or eligible for registration in good standing) with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).

Experience & Lived Expertise

• Lived Experience (Highly Valued): Direct or proximate lived experience navigating the juvenile/criminal justice system, systemic marginalization, gang-impacted neighbourhoods, or racialized community realities. The ability to leverage this lived insight constructively to build rapport, credibility, and trust with youth is essential.
• Justice & Gang Intervention Experience: Proven track record working with serious justice-involved youth, gang affiliation/exit strategies, violence interruption, or high-risk youth populations.
• Clinical Skills: Demonstrated ability to assess complex developmental trauma, substance use, attachment disruption, and acute behavioural challenges.

Knowledge & Attributes

• Thorough working knowledge of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), forensic youth justice pathways, and the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model.
• Deep understanding of anti-oppressive practice (AOP), the impacts of anti-Black systemic racism, and the historical/ongoing realities affecting Indigenous young people.
• Strong de-escalation, relational engagement, and crisis intervention skills.
• Valid Ontario Class "G" Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle for community-based outreach.
• Clear Vulnerable Sector Check (prior justice involvement will be reviewed contextually and is never an automatic barrier).

Compensation & Working Conditions

• Salary: Competitive nonprofit clinical salary commensurate with qualifications (BSW vs. MSW) and experience, plus comprehensive benefits.
• Schedule: Regular business hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Full-time (35 hours/week); requires flexibility for occasional late afternoon/evening outreach to meet youth when they are accessible. This is a hybrid position.
• Environment: Multidisciplinary, collaborative forensic mental health environment with dedicated clinical supervision and professional development support.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS ROLE: Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your interest in the role and why you would like to join Northstar to [email protected]

Why Join Northstar? At Northstar, this is more than a job. It’s an opportunity to change the trajectory of young lives. You’ll lead programs that create real opportunities for youth, strengthen families and communities, and help young people see possibility where barriers may have stood before. You’ll join a passionate, purpose-driven team that believes deeply in the potential of every young person and isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo to create better outcomes. If you’re looking for work that is meaningful, ambitious, and capable of creating lasting change, Northstar is where you can make that impact.

Our Commitment:

Northstar is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to fairness and accessibility. We are committed to anti-oppression, anti-discrimination, and anti-racism practices. We expect our employees to actively support our Vision and Mission, delivering high quality, culturally responsive services that promote positive outcomes for children, youth, families, and communities.