Child and Youth Worker, Youth Wellness Hub

Position Title: Child and Youth Worker, Youth Wellness Hub (1 position)

Employment Status: Permanent Full-Time

Job Posting Deadline for Internal Candidates: February  13, 2026, at 5:00 PM

Position Status: This is a Bargaining Unit position. All terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement apply.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Hours of Work Schedule 35 hours per week  

Annualized salary range: $51,356.00 - $60,091.00, commensurate on skills and experience, plus participation in HOOPP and Group Benefits.

Hiring Manager: Manager, Youth Wellness Hub

Primary Location Oshawa South, Ajax Youth Wellness Hub and across various agency locations within Durham Region

Organization

Durham Community Health Centre (DCHC) is a registered, charitable organization that provides integrated, accessible, and equitable community-based primary care, wellness services, and health education to Durham community members who face multiple barriers to their health and well-being.

DCHC also provides equity-based programs and services that focus on priority populations such as Indigenous, Black, the 2SLGBTQI Community, Newcomers to Canada, Seniors, and Unattached patients (i.e., those without a family doctor), to name a few. DCHC ensures Durham community members receive not only sick care, but preventive care as well.

At DCHC, we are a team-based interprofessional group of staff including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, counselors, dietitians, outreach workers, medical secretaries, and other administrative staff. We always place every client at the centre of our approach to care, based on their needs. We address these needs through integrated clinical and wellness care and health education.

It's an exciting time to be joining DCHC, while we are embarking on an energizing path with a focus on making our biggest impact yet on local health care by diversifying, expanding, and leveraging our Strategic Plan, Theory of Change, Brand, Client Stories and Resources.

DCHC’s 2023 – 2026 Strategic Goals

• Drive Program and Service Integration and Client Experience Across All that DCHC Does
• Evolve Program Offerings to Improve Health Equity and Meet the Needs of DCHC’s Priority Populations
• Establish DCHC as a System Advocate and Champion for Equity
• Enhance DCHC’s Brand and Awareness Across Durham Region
• Become an Employer of Choice with a Focus on Recruitment, Retention, and Development

Position Overview

The Child and Youth Worker plays a central role in creating and maintaining a safe, welcoming, and developmentally appropriate Hub environment for youth. This role facilitates programs and activities that promote youth wellness, engagement, and leadership, while supporting trauma-responsive, culturally safer, and youth-centered practices.

The Child and Youth Worker liaises with youth, families, and partner agencies, represents the Hub in the community, and supports the delivery of integrated services in line with the YWHO model. The role contributes to youth co-design processes, program planning, and continuous quality improvement, ensuring services reflect the needs and priorities of diverse youth populations.

Key Responsibilities:

Youth Engagement & Hub Atmosphere

• Create and maintain a non-judgmental, non-stigmatizing, safe, and welcoming environment for youth.
• Facilitate individual and group programming, workshops, and wellness activities that are developmentally appropriate and youth-centered.
• Support youth participation in co-design initiatives to ensure programs meet their needs and priorities.
• Actively promote a sense of belonging, leadership, and empowerment among youth.

Representation & Liaison

• Serve as a point of contact for youth, families, and partner agencies, representing the Hub and its programs.
• Liaise among youth, families, staff, and community partners to support communication, coordination, and engagement.

Program Support & Service Delivery

• Assist in planning and delivering Hub services, including wellness programming, mental health, substance use supports, and social service connections.
• Support program evaluation, data collection, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Hub team to ensure trauma-responsive and culturally safer practices are consistently applied.

Collaboration & Safety

• Work collaboratively with the Hub team, including Peer Support Workers, clinicians, and other staff, to support integrated service delivery.
• Follow Hub health, safety, and crisis response protocols, including supporting youth in distress under supervision.

Qualifications

• Completion of a formal 2-year post-Secondary program at a Community College (Child and Youth worker, Health/Social Services)
• At least 3 years of experience working with children and youth in a community setting.
• Demonstrated understanding of youth engagement, youth development principles, and co-design approaches.
• Knowledge of mental health, substance use, and wellness service delivery models for youth populations.
• Experience working with diverse communities, applying trauma-responsive, culturally safer, and anti-oppressive frameworks.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across sectors.
• Ability to create safe, welcoming, and developmentally appropriate spaces for youth.
• Familiarity with Ontario’s health system transformation, the YWHO model, and community health center environments is an asset.
• Proficiency with data management, reporting, and quality improvement tools.
• Valid Ontario driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle for regional travel.
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends to support programming.

Full vaccination against COVID-19 is mandatory for this position (DCHC will however adhere to its duty to accommodate those who are unable to be fully vaccinated for a reason related to a human right protected ground).

Application Process:

1. While we thank all applicants for their interest in applying, only those qualified and considered for an interview will be contacted. All applicant submissions will be kept on file for six months, for future consideration.
2. All applicants are encouraged to provide a valid email address for communication purposes. Applicants may receive written correspondence regarding this job posting directly to the email address provided on their resume. As an applicant, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check your email regularly.
3. All positions are subject to the successful completion of the following pre-employment conditions for all external hires: Reference Checks; and Criminal Background checks (including Vulnerable Sector Screening).
4. Please be advised that AI Technology supports the screening process of applications. All final hiring decisions are made by our recruitment team.

Durham Community Health Centre (DCHC) is committed to creating an inclusive environment that welcomes and celebrates diversity so that all employees have the opportunity to thrive.  DCHC will comply with all applicable standards as set out in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), the provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code, and any other applicable legislation.  Accessibility: If you have accessibility needs and require alternate formats or other accommodation, please contact our Talent and Culture team at 905-723-0036, or by email to recruiting@durhamchc.ca.