Child and Youth Worker

We are seeking an individual who is inspired by our mission and whose beliefs align with our core values of integrity, compassion, inquiry and courage, and who reflects our core competencies to join our Junior School as a Child and Youth Worker. This is a full-time, permanent position that follows the academic school year calendar.

Why Havergal is the Place to Be

Founded in 1894 and located on a beautiful 22-acre campus in midtown Toronto, Canada, Havergal College is one of Canada’s pre-eminent independent schools for girls from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12.  At Havergal College, we believe that great schools are made up of great people. With a rich history spanning over 130 years, we are committed to offering a contemporary liberal arts education, which is rooted in the Anglican tradition. Our mission is to prepare young women to make a difference. Through our outstanding academic and cocurricular programs, and a cohesive and collegial team of faculty and administration staff, we nurture a culture of capability that fosters self-confidence, leadership, critical thinking and global-mindedness within our students.

We take pride in attracting and retaining highly-qualified faculty and administration staff to ensure that our school remains at the forefront of educational excellence. Join us in this transformative journey of education, working together to empower young women to make a positive difference in our world.

We are committed to building a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace. We believe that an inclusive environment fosters a culture of mutual respect, creativity and innovation, collaboration and accountability. To this end, we encourage applications from all qualified candidates with a diverse range of experiences and perspectives, including women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) peoples, LGBTQ2S+, and persons with disabilities to join our thriving team.  We seek candidates who are committed to nurturing a community where integrity, compassion, inquiry and courage thrive. 

The Position:

The role of the Child and Youth Worker is to support faculty and families in meeting the needs of students who are experiencing social-emotional and/or behavioural challenges. As a valued member of the Junior School Learning Support Department, the Child and Youth Worker (CYW) reports to the Head of Learning Support, Junior School, and collaborates with the Learning Support Specialists. The CYW works alongside faculty and families to support the positive social, emotional, and behavioural growth of our students. This position requires a high degree of flexibility and crisis management skills.

Specific Accountabilities:

To support faculty in meeting the social-emotional and behavioural needs of all learners by:

• Providing strategies for supporting students with social-emotional or behavioural challenges.
• Responding to crisis situations to support faculty and students.
• Providing specific strategies and supports as specified in students’ Individual Education Plan.
• Attending Junior School Learning Support meetings, individual progress meetings, IEP review meetings, and assessment debrief meetings to provide a perspective and strategies to support students.
• Consulting on Behavioural Support Plans, Safety Plans, Student Distress Protocol and Individual Education Plans.
• Completing and/or supporting suicide risk assessments and supporting communication with families. 

To support students by:

• Conducting direct observation of students of concern as identified by the classroom teacher or parents and make specific recommendations for strategies or other supports to meet the needs of the student.
• Implementing evidence-based programming to support students’ social-emotional wellbeing in 1-1, small group, and whole class environments.
• Identifying when a student requires external supports and communicating with parents to facilitate this process.
• Monitoring the progress of students and communicating with faculty and  families to ensure transfer of learned skills.
• Maintaining observation records, incident reports and other documentation on a student to provide insight into behavioural or social/emotional support needs.
• Providing consistency and support in managing social/emotional and/or behavioural concerns during unstructured times in the school day (recess, lunch, outdoor play).
• Liaising with outside service providers to integrate strategies and supports into the classroom environment.

To stay current with research by:

• Attending professional development opportunities.
• Reading professional literature.
• Sourcing resources for the school.

To develop new and enhance existing professional relationships with:

• Faculty to develop their capability.
• Parents to provide understanding of the learning needs of their child.
• Support the Head of Learning Support, Junior School by:
  • Providing regular updates on students with social emotional and/or behavioural challenges.
  • Maintaining student records and documentation of student meetings.
  • Recommending appropriate strategies to strengthen social/emotional and behavioural programmes.
  • Working with the Admissions team to review student applications and to facilitate student transitions.
  • Independently managing a school-assigned caseload of students requiring social/emotional and behavioural support.
  • Maintaining documentation of all individual sessions, parent communication, consultations and observations.

To facilitate communication with all stakeholders by:

• Attending Junior School faculty meetings.
• Meeting regularly with the Head of Learning Support, Junior School to discuss student issues or concerns.
• Collaborating with Learning Support Specialists to support students with identified needs.

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

• Registered as a CYW through Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care
• 5 years experience as a CYW
• Experience working in a school setting
• Understanding of confidentiality associated with this position
• Expertise in social-emotional and behavioural intervention, planning, implementation and assessment
• UMAB (Understanding and Managing Aggressive Behaviour) Certification
• ASSIST Training or similar self-harm awareness and response training
• Knowledge of differing needs and strategies for supporting neurodivergent students
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Self-starter, able to work in a self-directed manner appropriate to changing needs
• Ability to support faculty and staff in building a culture of capability
• Ability to build relationships with all stakeholders
• Problem-solver in situations that are challenging
• Technologically literate with the ability to independently maintain student records
• Understanding of the unique aspects of working in an independent school
• First Aid/CPR

Demonstrated ability and commitment to the Core & Leadership Competencies of;

• Inclusive Excellence
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Integrity & Trust
• Learning Agility
• Communication
• Growth Mindset

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and express their interest to HC Careers no later than August 22, 2025. This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Havergal College thanks all applicants in advance. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Havergal College is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process, and work environment in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We will be happy to work with applicants requesting accommodation at any stage of the hiring process. If you require accommodations, please contact Cathy LeBlanc at 416-483-3519 ext. 6526 or by email at accessibility@havergal.on.ca