Job Description

October 7, 2025
Job Posting #1179 #hp

Permanent Full-Time

Placement Coordinator

The York Region Children's Aid Society (YRCAS) is a non-profit community organization legally mandated to protect children and youth from abuse and neglect. As a leader within the child welfare sector, we partner with parents, caregivers, and community to provide a safe environment for children and youth, through equitable, culturally aligned services.


Comprised of interdisciplinary teams of diverse professionals who push boundaries in support of family centered care, we engage with children and families for a stronger, healthier community within the York Region.


YRCAS is fully committed to a culture of belonging and an inclusive environment that encourages every team member to lead within their role, generate innovative ideas that reinforce our mission and goal to create a healthy workplace and community where children youth and families thrive.


To support us on our journey, YRCAS is looking for a Child Protection Worker to support our Child, Youth & Family Wellbeing Department.

Why Work for Us?

Hybrid working model (working virtual and in person) Casual dress code Employer paid Group Insurance and Health & Dental Benefit Four (4) Weeks of Vacation accrued per calendar year Five (5) float days per calendar year One day off every five (5) weeks during Winter months Shortened Summer hours OMERS Pension, with employer and employee sharing premiums equally Mileage Reimbursement Enhanced Wellness Initiatives Virtual Fitness Classes

SUMMARY OF DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

To search for appropriate and available placements for children and youth who require out-of-home care. To manage, coordinate, and evaluate the Society's internal foster care and emergency placement resources, and external use of outside paid resources (OPRs), in order to assist the Society in providing a high standard of care for children and youth. As a member of the Foster Care and Placement team, Placement Coordinators interpret the Society's policies and procedures and ensure Ministry standards are maintained while providing consultation and resource support to staff.

NATURE OF POSITION:

General

Participates as an active member of the Foster Care and Placement Team, attends and provides input at Team meetings and provides coverage during vacation periods

Clinical

Responds to requests from society staff for admission or replacement of children and youth.
Prioritizes degree of urgency for placement and reviews all placement options
Collects and reviews pertinent family and child's social background information and information about possible placements in order to match needs of child to available resources. Reviews information about OPR placements available in CPIN and provided by the OPR. Makes recommendations regarding supports required to sustain the placement Reviews placement options with society staff prior to admission and placement Presents clinical information on the child to prospective foster parents and/or representatives of OPR resources Conducts site visits when a new OPR is being considered or has been utilized for a child/youth Identifies placement issues and participates in program development. Liaises with OPRs to support good working relationships between the OPR and the Society, to work towards resolution of issues that arise and to improve current practices and procedures To have a good working knowledge of the Society's contract with OPRs and be able to answer questions from Society staff or OPRs regarding the contents of the contract Responsible to address quality of care concerns when they are raised regarding OPRs Completes organizational reviews and assessments about the strengths and weaknesses of OPRs Makes recommendations about the Society's use of specific OPRs Participates in service planning meetings Liaises with counterparts at other CAS agencies to request or offer placement suggestions when needed, or to inquire about quality of care when considering placing in an OPR for the first time or after an extended period of non-use This position requires travel inside and outside of York Region in order to fully support children, youth and families.

Administrative

Maintains a system for tracking placement vacancies with the internal foster care system Prepares an invoice list of 'on call' foster homes and forwards to accounting for payment Maintains a system that identifies all requests for placement or placements and prioritizes requests and tracks placements Prepares referral documentation for OPR placements and negotiates terms and conditions of OPR placements Compiles monthly statistic reports regarding the number of searches completed and placements secure Provides an on-call list of available beds for the after-hours program Completes documentation to support the selection of a given placement for each child or youth for whom a placement is arrange

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

Bachelor of Social Work Degree from a university of recognized standing combined with a minimum of two years' experience in social services or a BSW equivalent combination of formal education, experience and training. Previous experience in working with families, children and adolescents as well as training in the dynamics of child abuse would be an asset.

Knowledge and Skills

A good working knowledge of child welfare legislation and practices, Society policies, Ministry standards in foster care, and residential care for children o Knowledge of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices and principles, including sensitivity to Indigenous, Black, racialized, gender, and disability-related issues and their intersection(s) with other identities including socio-economic status, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status, etc. Knowledge of and a high level of clinical assessment skill with respect to child development, and family dynamics and the impact of abuse and neglect Clinical knowledge of childhood physical, emotional and behavioural needs, behaviour management approaches, and treatment modalities Excellent analytical skills to review reports and file documentation and assess children's needs for the purpose of determining appropriate resources Ability to initiate and develop a network of professional contacts Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to facilitate cooperative efforts between the society and other agencies Strong interpersonal and interviewing skills with a professional, diplomatic presentation Well-developed problem solving and mediation skills The ability to make quick and decisive decisions in a stressful and high-pressure environment Strong human relation skills and demonstrated coordinating and organizing abilities Excellent computer skills, experience with Microsoft Office considered an asset The ability to manage, allocate and develop the Society's resources. Good knowledge of foster care, OPR care, and residential treatment; their philosophy, practice and use to address various

PAY GRADE:

Union - Pay Grade 6 ($67, 050.75 - $90,947.92)

HOURS OF WORK

33.75 hours per week

Candidates who meet the qualifications are welcome to apply no later than October 17, 2025 at 11:59PM.

Internal Applicants: Please apply for this opportunity using your Agency ADP account.


External Applicants: Apply here: yorkcas.org/careers


We appreciate all applications received. All communications will be held in strict and professional confidence. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. We thank all applicants for their submissions.


Employment at York Region Children's Aid Society is conditional upon the verification of credentials, a satisfactory vulnerable sector check, and a class "G" driver's license with daily access to an insured vehicle. York Region Children's Aid Society works in a hybrid virtual and on-site working environment.

Anti-Oppression/Anti-Racism at York Region Children's Aid Society

YRCAS is committed to having a workforce that is reflective of the diversity of York Region and strongly encourages application from all qualified individuals, especially those who can provide different perspectives and contribute to a further diversification of ideas.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

York Region Children's Aid Society is committed to employment equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and fostering equity, diversity and inclusion in recruitment practices is a key aspect of the search process. The current posting is in search of candidates who identified from the following equity seeking groups; women, racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. If you are of the aforementioned identities, and feel comfortable making it known, you may choose to self-identify as member of a designated group. Any information directly related to you is kept confidential and used in a safe manner to inform our recruitment process towards being an equal opportunity employer.

Vaccination Policy

York CAS prioritizes the health and safety of their employees and closely follows the Public Health Guidelines and Recommendations. The agency's mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement as a condition of employment is currently suspended. Should the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement be reinstated, all active agency employees will be required to comply with YRCAS' Mandatory COVID-19 policy (providing proof of COVID-19 vaccination-2 doses required).

Accommodation at YRCAS

We are committed to a selection process and work environment that is inclusive and barrier free. Accommodation will be provided in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants that may require accommodation during the selection process are encouraged to notify the Human Resources Department when contacted for an interview.


Human Resources will work together with the hiring committee to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation for the selection process, which will enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.



Children at the heart of all that we do!