MAKE A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY IN THE LIVES OF YOUTH IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW

Do you have a desire to work with young persons in conflict with the law? If you would enjoy working with a diverse and challenging client group, where you can make a difference every day, then consider a career as a Youth Services Officer.
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, Youth Justice Division, is seeking dedicated professionals to join their multi-disciplinary team(s) as a Youth Services Officer providing primary/direct services to youth within a secure detention/custody setting.
The Youth Services Officer position will provide you with an opportunity to work with an employer that promotes diversity while you support and deliver programs and services to youth in the Ministry’s care. The goals are to keep youth active and engaged, focusing on specific risks and needs of youth related to reoffending, teaching new skills, keeping youth safe, resolving conflict, and employing intervention techniques and strategies to model pro-social behaviours and help youth make better choices upon their return to the community.
As a Youth Services Officer, you will be part of a team that plays a vital role in creating a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for both youth and staff in secure detention/custody settings. Your responsibilities will include rule enforcement and taking action to protect the safety and well-being of those in your care. At the same time, you will need to be responsive to the unique challenges of the position such as managing crisis, responding to unpredictable youth behaviour, and working rotating shifts in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. It is a demanding role, but also a deeply rewarding one where you can make a real difference in the lives of young people.
We are seeking compassionate and suitable candidates who will bring awareness, sensitivity, and mindfulness towards the challenges and barriers faced by youth from marginalized groups. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, valuing open communication, mutual respect, and a unified youth centered approach to supporting clients in the care of the Ministry.

The five (5) available Youth Centres for this posting are:

• Cecil Facer Youth Centre – Sudbury
• Donald Doucet Youth Centre – Sault Ste. Marie
• Justice Ronald Lester Youth Centre – Thunder Bay
• Roy McMurtry Youth Centre – Brampton
• Sprucedale Youth Centre – Simcoe

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

You have either:

• completed post-secondary education from a college/university of recognized standing in a related field with emphasis in behaviour management, adolescent development, and knowledge of family group dynamics, plus one year of recent relevant work experienceOR
• a recognized secondary school diploma with supplementary courses in human behaviour, plus three years of recent relevant work experience

You have valid Emergency First Aid, CPR (level C) and AED Certification, or can become certified before being hired.

KNOWLEDGE

You have proven knowledge of:

• sociological issues impacting on youth and youth/adolescent development theories
• case management and group work principles and techniques
• gender responsive therapeutic programming and treatment approaches
• mental health and behavioural disorders, including symptoms and causes of deviant behaviour
• cognitive behavioural intervention philosophy and techniques
• youth justice related legislation such as the Youth Criminal Justice Act, Child, Youth and Family Services Act, and Human Rights Code

SKILLS

• You can demonstrate respect and sensitivity to the diverse social, cultural, linguistic, developmental, and interpersonal needs of youth
• You can display confidence in an enforcement role, consistently applying effective behavior management principles in your day-to-day work.
• You can communicate clearly verbally, non-verbally, and in writing, and can produce detailed, accurate reports to document incidents and support case management.
• You can stay calm and flexible in fast-paced, high-pressure situations, handling challenges with confidence.
• You can support youth with complex needs and behaviors using empathy, resilience, and individually tailored strategies.
• You can de-escalate conflicts effectively and maintain respectful, professional relationships with youth and peers.
• You can apply both non-physical and physical intervention techniques safely and in line with training and legal standards to support the safe and effective behavioural management of youth.
• You have written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills
• You have interviewing, mentorship, coaching and counselling skills.
• You can build positive relationships with youth.
• You have facilitation and team-building skills.
• You have analytical, interpretive, reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• You can use business software and operational systems.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the “position(s) language” section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you’ll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.