Job Description

November 20, 2025

Job Posting #1190

Child Protection Worker - Integrated Service Team

17 Month Contract

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 and families thrive.


YRCAS has started the implementation of the Signs of Safety Framework across the organization. As part of implementation, we are seeking individuals with passion and excitement for Signs of Safety and a desire to provide mentorship and leadership with respect to embedding Signs of Safety into their work with children, youth and families and supporting the same in others and to support organizational alignment of current processes, policies, procedures and practices with Signs of Safety.


This position offers an opportunity for advanced child protection workers to be part of a two-year pilot program as part of the Integrated Service Team with the role of offering coaching and mentorship to unauthorized child protection staff. Responsibilities include carrying a reduced generic case load, ongoing learning and skill building while supporting and modeling best practice, coaching, and mentoring new staff through the authorization process. Active engagement with processes and activities that inform and support organizational alignment with Signs of Safety will also be an expectation of the role. It is of central importance that our work be always grounded in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and be trauma informed.

Why Work for Us?

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Hybrid working model (working virtual and in person) Casual dress code Employer paid Health & Dental Benefit 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

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The successful applicants will have support of the Integrated Service Team Supervisor, Signs of Safety Change Management Lead and The Signs of Safety Learning Team to enhance and develop their knowledge and application of Signs of Safety tools and processes in their casework.

NATURE OF POSITION

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Provision of mandated child protection services for a reduced generic caseload. Support new staff through the OACAS Authorization Process. Provide modeling, guidance, mentoring of practice that is consistent with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Signs of Safety, and quality service that achieves long term outcomes of safety and wellbeing of children and youth. Facilitate Group Supervision and Appreciative Inquiry in groups. Be part of the Signs of Safety Learning Team responsible for developing and facilitating learning opportunities for others across the organization, including running the 2-day Foundations Training. Make recommendations and engage in the development of processes to support organizational alignment with Signs of Safety. Willing to facilitate agency wide learning opportunities including facilitating group supervision and appreciative inquiry with others and being a member of the SofS Learning Team. Modeling practice that is grounded in DEI and is trauma informed. Commitment to the decolonization of our practice and the ability to be self-reflexive and encourage this in others. Desire to build constructive working relationships, use a curious questioning approach and be able to engage children, youth, families their communities and networks in collaborative, participatory, safety organized work. Provide consultation, mentorship (coaching) and on the job learning opportunities for staff, including opportunities to shadow and co-work cases. Participate in supervisory sessions with the worker, Child Protection Supervisor, SofS Change Management Lead and/or learning team members. Promote a positive working relationship between team members through discussion, facilitation of problem solving and developing recommendations for improved service delivery. Participate in ongoing evaluation of the role and flexibility to make changes within the role as the pilot progresses. Be a champion of Signs of Safety.

QUALIFICATIONS

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Education and Experience

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Bachelor of Social Work Degree (BSW) or BSW equivalency + Master's or Bachelor's Degree in Human Services related field, and a minimum of three years of Child Protection Work.
+ Authorized Child Protection Worker Standing.

Knowledge and Skills

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Knowledge of and commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion demonstrated in child welfare practice. A class "G" driver's license and daily access to an insured vehicle required. Understanding and/or practice in Intake & Assessment and Family Services. Excellent working knowledge of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act 2017*, Ministry standards and guidelines, YRCAS policies and procedures.
A high level of knowledge of diagnostic and treatment theories, methodologies and practices and ability to integrate theory and practice. Analytical skills to identify and resolve problems, assess client needs, formulate recommendations, develop appropriate service contacts and determine actions specific to the needs of the child and family. Decision-making skills to determine actions required ensuring protection of children. Crisis intervention skills to determine the degree of risk to a child, defuse potentially hostile client situations and take appropriate action to reduce risk accordingly. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, self-initiating where required. Demonstrated interpersonal skills to liaise with community professionals and other YRCAS staff. Attendance at the Advanced SofS training and current member of the SofS learning team an asset.

PAY GRADE:

Union Pay Grade 7 ($73,840.98-$96,195.10)

HOURS OF WORK

33.75 hours per week

Candidates who meet the qualifications are welcome to apply by no later than

December 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

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


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

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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

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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

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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

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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!