Full Time Youth Mental Health Specialist (COAST)

We’re Hiring: Youth Mental Health Specialist

Location: Brantford, ON

Hours: Full Time - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9a-5p, Tuesday 12-8p

Start Date: As soon as possible(Vacant Position)

Apply by: November 12^th, 2026 | Reference: FT Mental Health Specialist

Email Applications to: [email protected]

About SOAR Community Services

At SOAR, we believe in lifting communities through compassionate, inclusive, and innovative care. Serving the communities of Brantford, Brant, Haldimand, and Norfolk since 1968, we are accredited in Children and Youth Mental Health, Community Mental Health and Addictions Services and Youth Justice Services through the Canadian Centre for Accreditation. Our departments include Employment, Justice, Mental Health and Addictions, and Housing. Join a team that’s committed to making a difference – every day.

The Opportunity

We are recruiting for a Full Time Youth Mental Health Specialist. This role is a vital part of our Addictions and Mental Heal Program, working within the Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) to provide crisis stabilization services to children, youth, and their families in the setting of their choice. You will intervene to support initial mental health and/or addiction crisis stabilization, complete assessments, develop individualized support plans, and provide time-limited follow-up counselling to establish and sustain well-being. This role employs evidence and strength-based approaches and collaborates within an interdisciplinary team providing a continuum of crisis services.

What You’ll Do

As a Youth Mental Health Specialist, you will:

• Provide outreach response to stabilize crisis situations
• Provide assessment and treatment to high-risk youth in crisis, including clinical mental health intervention to individuals experiencing serious behavioural and/or psychological issues
• Facilitate client transitions and connection to longer-term or more intensive supports if required
• Work in collaboration with other members of the crisis team, other agency programs, and external community partners
• Maintain a high standard of clinical documentation
• Participate in youth-focused community committees and service partnerships as required

What You’ll Bring

• Have a college degree/diploma in a related Social Services field
• Provide proof of current registration in good standing with a governing body such as College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario or The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers
• Highlight clinical experience working with individuals, groups and/or families affected by addictions and mental health conditions in your resume
• Have knowledge and experience with assessment and treatment planning, therapeutic approaches, solution focused/brief therapy, case management, crisis intervention, group and family work
• Have a demonstrated ability to apply relevant evidence-based theoretical models when providing assessments to identify strengths, needs and level of risk
• Be proficient in MS Office and be familiar with databases
• Have access to reliable transportation
• Be able to manage ongoing exposure to direct and vicarious traumatic stress

Why Join SOAR?

• Salary: Starting at $27.73 per hour.

• Benefits: Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and travel insurance, with options fully paid for Full Time staff.

• Time off: 3 weeks’ vacation, 60 hours of personal leave, and 15 hours of wellness time (pro-rated first year).

• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) for staff and their families.

• RSP/TFSA matching for eligible staff.

• A supportive, values-driven workplace that prioritizes your well-being.

Ready to Make an Impact?

We’re looking for someone passionate about empowering client voices, connection in community care and inclusion in action! If that’s you, we want to hear from you.

Our Commitment to Job Seekers

SOAR Community Services 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.

SOAR Community Services is committed to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging within our workplace and across the communities we serve. We welcome applications from individuals with lived and living experience and from members of equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and persons with disabilities. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals. If you require accommodations as part of the hiring process, please let us know 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 Protection of Privacy Act.

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Full Time - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9a-5p, Tuesday 12-8p