Team Lead, African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) Child & Youth Mental Health Services

SEOCHC•Ottawa, ON

42d•CA$70,616 - CA$81,481•Onsite

About The Position

The South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre (SEOCHC) is seeking a Team Lead for its newly established Black Mental Health Initiative for Children and Youth. This role aims to improve access to culturally responsive, community-informed mental health services for African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) children, youth, and families. The position reports to the Director of Community and Social Services and involves a combination of clinical leadership, direct therapeutic services, and community-building. The Team Lead will provide clinical supervision and day-to-day leadership to a team of ACB Child and Youth Mental Health workers, manage a counselling caseload, and support program growth. Key functions include building strategic partnerships, strengthening community relationships, identifying service gaps, supporting outreach, and contributing to the development of culturally responsive mental health services. The role also involves supporting student learning and workforce development through the supervision of practicum students and learners, contributing to a sustainable pipeline of skilled clinicians who reflect the diversity of the communities served. This position requires flexibility to attend community events, meetings, and programming during weekdays, evenings, and occasional weekends.

Requirements

Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Counselling Psychology, or related graduate degree from a recognized university.
Registration in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) or another regulated mental health profession eligible to provide psychotherapy in Ontario.
Minimum 3 years of leadership, supervisory, or clinical coordination experience.
Minimum 5 years of direct therapeutic counselling experience working with children, youth, and families.
Experience providing clinical supervision, mentorship, or consultation to staff.
Experience developing and facilitating therapeutic groups.
Demonstrated understanding of anti-Black racism, racial trauma, systemic inequities, and the social determinants of health.
Strong clinical assessment, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and counselling skills.
Knowledge of evidence-informed and culturally responsive therapeutic modalities.
Experience with program development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
Strong partnership-building, stakeholder engagement, and community development skills.
Excellent leadership, communication, facilitation, and relationship-building abilities.
Strong organizational, project management, and data management skills.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams.
Fluency in English is required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in community-based mental health, community health centres, or not-for-profit health and social service settings is preferred.
Experience working within African, Caribbean, and Black communities is strongly preferred.
Experience supervising, mentoring, teaching, or supporting practicum students, new graduates, or emerging professionals is considered a strong asset.
Eligibility to serve as a practicum supervisor for graduate-level social work, counselling, or related professional programs is considered a strong asset.
Lived and/or living experience within African, Caribbean, and Black communities is considered a strong asset and will be given significant consideration.
Fluency in French is strongly preferred.
Additional languages commonly spoken within the South-East Ottawa catchment area are considered strong assets, particularly: Somali, Arabic.

Responsibilities

Provide clinical supervision, mentorship, coaching, and consultation to ACB Child & Youth Mental Health team members.
Support staff in case formulation, treatment planning, risk assessment, documentation, and ethical decision-making.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture grounded in anti-oppressive and anti-racist practice.
Participate in recruitment, onboarding, orientation, and performance development activities.
Facilitate peer consultation, case reviews, and reflective practice meetings.
Ensure quality assurance standards, documentation practices, and service delivery expectations are maintained.
Support program planning, evaluation, continuous quality improvement, and accreditation activities.
Monitor service trends and identify opportunities to improve accessibility and responsiveness of services.
Provide field instruction, supervision, mentorship, and evaluation for social work, counselling, and related practicum students in accordance with academic and professional standards.
Support student recruitment, onboarding, learning plans, and integration into the interdisciplinary team.
Foster a learning environment that promotes reflective practice, professional growth, cultural humility, and anti-oppressive approaches to care.
Collaborate with post-secondary institutions and placement coordinators to strengthen student learning opportunities and workforce development initiatives.
Provide psychosocial assessments, individual, family, and group counselling to children, youth, and families.
Deliver culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and strengths-based therapeutic interventions.
Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy, system navigation, and case coordination.
Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with professional standards and organizational policies.
Collaborate with schools, healthcare providers, community agencies, and families to support integrated care.
Facilitate therapeutic groups and psychoeducational workshops for youth, caregivers, and families.
Build and sustain relationships with ACB community members, grassroots organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, and community leaders.
Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships that enhance access to culturally responsive mental health supports.
Represent SEOCHC at community tables, conferences, networking events, and stakeholder meetings.
Support outreach initiatives and community engagement activities that increase awareness and trust in services.
Participate in community events, health promotion activities, and public education opportunities.
Identify emerging community needs, service gaps, and opportunities for innovation.
Lead the development of new therapeutic groups, mental health workshops, and family-focused programming.
Support the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of program initiatives.
Collect, analyze, and report on program data, outcomes, and key performance indicators.
Contribute to funder reports, evaluation activities, and organizational reporting requirements.
Identify opportunities to strengthen the pipeline of African, Caribbean, and Black mental health professionals through student placements, mentorship opportunities, and partnerships with colleges and universities.