Associate Director, Clinical Services

Associate Director, Clinical Services

Job DescriptionJob Description

Who we are

As the need for mental health services grows, Child Development Institute (CDI) continues to be the steadfast support and leading provider of specialized mental health services for children and youth aged 0-18 and their families. All of our services are guided by a strength-based approach that incorporates the family and the community into the journey of supporting children and youth.

Trusted with the mental well-being of our community's most sensitive members, infants and children, all of our programming is backed by rigorous research. Science is the backbone which informs our work as we evolve alongside the needs of our community.







We are committed to providing services that are respectful of racial, cultural, religious, ethnic and linguistic diversity, as well as sexual orientation, age, gender and family differences. All our services are delivered by a deeply caring and compassionate team that guides children, youth and families along a mental health journey in a safe, respectful and welcoming space.

Who we need

Reporting to the Director of Clinical Services, we are hiring an Associate Director, Clinical Services. As the new Associate Director, Clinical Services, you will lead the conceptualization and delivery of CDI programs and services that align with our mission, values, policies and procedures. You will drive service excellence by supporting clinical operations, managing client concerns, and fostering a professional and ethical environment. You will collaborate with Clinical Managers, contribute to continuous quality improvement, and play a key role in strategic planning, staff development,





and operational management within the People Manager Team and Clinical Managers Group.

This is an onsite role based out of our office at St Clair Gardens, with travel to other downtown sites as required.

Who you are

You hold a Master’s degree in a clinical field, such as a Master of Social Work with a clinical concentration, and bring at least 5 years of management experience in the child and youth mental health sector. You are deeply committed to ensuring that children, youth, and their families have access to high-quality mental health services in the community. With your strong clinical expertise and strategic operational leadership, you excel at driving continuous improvement and change management. You lead with positive energy, fostering a welcoming and collaborative environment,





and are passionate about building a learning and knowledge-sharing culture within your team.

What’s in it for you

Profound purpose. You will be key in leading and supporting practitioners dedicated to empowering children, youth, and families through evidence-based services. At CDI, you will help drive science-informed practices and research to expand our reach and impact, ensuring high-quality care for our clients.

Impact. We are deeply committed to demonstrating the impact of our services through measurement-based care. You will play a pivotal role in supporting the implementation, adoption and utilization of a clinical measurement platform, Greenspace, to track client progress and enhance service delivery.





You will have the opportunity to partner with The Knowledge Institute as we embark on a quality improvement program to help develop a consistent clinical framework across our programs.

Growth. You want to expand your leadership skills and influence while leading teams delivering multiple programs that follow our knowledge, skills, our evidence-informed practices and models. You will be part of in-house professional development opportunities, guided coaching and mentoring.

As our new Associate Director of Clinical Services, you will:

- Prioritize the CDI vision, mission, values and goals. You will ensure that clinical practices are evidence-informed, meet ethical and professional standards, are family-centred and congruent with the agency’s mission and direction.





You will ensure that access to service is as seamless and responsive to children, youth and families as possible. You will participate in program development planning, research activities and ongoing evaluation of services.
- Lead and optimize service delivery. You will drive initiatives to enhance health equity by reviewing service materials, organizing community consultations, supporting communities of practice, and youth engagement initiatives, and participating on internal and external committees. You will play a key role in developing and refining clinical practices, policies, and procedures while monitoring service delivery volumes against agency standards and anticipating emerging trends and needs. Additionally,





you will lead risk management efforts to ensure safe and effective service delivery.
- Maintain standards. You will work collaboratively with Clinical Managers to support clinical service coordination and effective operations. You will respond effectively to elevated client concerns and complaints. You will assist Clinical Management through Accreditation and continuous quality improvement processes. You will stay abreast of relevant clinical theory, models, practices and related research.
- Oversee the team. You will lead staff, and provide feedback, goal setting, and performance development in keeping with agency policy and service standards. You will follow a proven performance management process to encourage staff contributions and establish and support professional development plans for clinical services.





In collaboration with Human Resources, you will participate in the recruitment, hiring, training, and onboarding of clinical services staff. You will arrange scheduling and coverage as appropriate for service delivery.
- Execute administration. You will assume a lead role on management-level projects. You will approve expenditures within procedural requirements and manage assigned financial resources. You will assist with achieving funding through proposals, partnerships and contracts to achieve our goals. You will ensure a healthy and safe workplace for staff and clients in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

What you bring to the team:

- The qualifications.





You have a Master’s level University Degree in a clinical field (Master of Social Work, clinical concentration). You are registered and in good with the applicable regulating college. You have 7+ years of progressive experience in the child and youth mental health sector and at least 5 years in management. You may be a Senior Manager looking to achieve the next level in your career. Or you are an Associate Director, seeking new challenges in a rewarding environment.
- The expertise. You are driven to deliver high-quality clinical services that meet the needs of the community. You have experience conducting and supervising evidence-based and evidence-informed individual, group and family therapy and experience working with a diverse community. You have project development experience and have been part of an advisory or project team that works with different sectors in Children’s Mental Health. You have a deep understanding of child welfare, education and the health sector. Ideally, you have led or been part of initiatives that brought those sectors together for client services. You are familiar with measurement-based care (i.e. CAMH), and you may have been part of implementing a clinical practice framework.
- The growth mindset. You maintain awareness and knowledge of current issues in children’s mental health, both challenges and opportunities. You are committed to continuous learning and professional development: supervision, leadership, program development, and research (scientist-practitioner model).
- The people management. You operate with a high degree of emotional intelligence and integrity. You hold yourself and your team accountable to the priorities, values, and goals of the organization. You can build and grow a team, fostering a collaborative and engaging environment. You have experience leading change management and can exercise good judgment in making decisions within the scope of authority of this position. You understand the emotional weight of the work we do and can bring humour and lightness at the right time, and encourage self-care outside of the work environment.
- The interpersonal skills. You have exceptional communication skills. You can apply your training, humanity, and empathy to treat people sensitively, tactfully, diplomatically, and professionally at all times. You are highly attuned to the needs of your team and anyone you may encounter in a clinical or community setting. You have outstanding listening skills and high mental attentiveness, with the ability to handle interruptions and refocus on priorities and competing demands. You have a genuine appreciation and respect for diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

Other requirements

- All applicants are advised that offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a Vulnerable Sector Check.
- Credential verifications and references are required.

Apply now

If you're excited about this role but your experience aligns differently with every requirement, we encourage you to apply. While specific qualifications are strictly required, others can be based on various experiences, backgrounds, and knowledge. We can't promise an interview, but we will consider your whole application.

What you can expect from our interview process:

- A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor will discuss your interest in the role and background.
- An in-person interview with the Director of Clinical Services and the VP, Operations. You will be able to expand on your experience leading clinical programs, your community service delivery knowledge and people leadership skills. You will have the chance to ask follow-up questions about the role.
- An in-person interview with our CEO, which allows you to learn more about CDI’s mission, programming, and strategic plan.

CDI is firmly committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People of North America and the world, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. We are committed to providing equitable opportunities in employment and to providing a workplace which is free from discrimination and harassment. We are equally committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations, please reach out to us at [email protected]

#LI-DNI

UAY7VT4ycR