Youth Services Officer

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Apply By: Friday, December 4, 2026 11:59 pm EST

Youth Services Officer

Job ID:

249478

Posting status:

Open

Organization:

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

Division:

Youth Justice Division – Four (4) Direct Operated Secure Custody and Detention Youth Centres

City:

Brampton, Sault Ste Marie, Simcoe, Thunder Bay

Position(s) language:

English

Job term:

100 Temporary with possible extension subject to satisfactory job performance and operational needs of the facility

Job code:

50577 - Youth Worker

Salary:

$34.53 - $43.66 Per hour*
*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

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.

Ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young people in custody?
Visit the following page to learn more about the role, qualifications, application process, and training required to become a Youth Services Officer. Take the first step toward a rewarding career: https://www.ontario.ca/page/become-youth-services-officer

The four (4) available Youth Centres for this posting are:
• Donald Doucet Youth Centre – Sault Ste. Marie
• Justice Ronald Lester Youth Centre – Thunder Bay
• Roy McMurtry Youth Centre – Brampton
• Sprucedale Youth Centre – Simcoe

About the job

As part of a dedicated team of multidisciplinary professionals in one of Ontario's five youth centres, every day will be an opportunity to work with a diverse and challenging client group where you will:

• Supervise youth on an assigned rotating shift in a secure custody/detention facility setting that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Ensure the safety and security of youth, staff, the youth centre and community
• Provide community escort duties to ensure the safety of youth, staff, visitors and the public
• Support and deliver structured rehabilitative programs and reintegration services
• Use relationship custody and cognitive learning behavioural approaches to foster respectful, caring relationships and create a learning space for life and pro-social skills

What you bring to the team

Mandatory requirements

You have either:

1. 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 experience
   OR
   
2. 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.

Hours of Work

• The hours of work are up to 40 hours per week (pre-scheduled and on-call). You are expected to work rotating shifts within a secure custody/detention facility setting that functions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

***Preparing your Application for a Youth Services Officer Position***
For the purposes of this posting, we do not accept resumes and cover letters. To apply, please fill out the YSO Application form. To access the form please follow the link below:

Application Link

After completing the application, please submit the form using ONE of the following methods:

By email at:[email protected]

By mail to:
Youth Services Officer Recruitment
Youth Justice Division
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
6711 Mississauga Road, Suite 700
Mississauga, Ontario L5N 2W3

We encourage applications to be submitted via email. If you do not have access to email, your application can be sent by mail.

This is a continuous posting. The screening and selection processes are ongoing. This posting will be made available until the position has been filled. Please only submit your application ONCE.

Incomplete applications will be rejected. If you have applied for a Youth Services Officer position within the last 6 months, there is no need to re-apply. Pleasedisregard the instructions in the “How to Apply” section in the latter part of this job posting as we do not accept resumes and cover letters.

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

What we offer

We are a supportive and compassionate community who are proud about our transformative role in helping youth. You will join a flexible, supportive working environment where you complete meaningful, challenging, and impactful work every day.

Note: The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services will provide compensation to YSO candidates attending the 6-week mandatory pre-employment YSO Basic Training with a weekly stipend of $800.00 for a total of $4800.00.

In addition to your base salary, as a fixed-term employee your total compensation package will include:

• optional enrolment in a defined-benefit lifetime pension plan (guaranteed, ongoing inflation-protected income after retirement)
  
• an Employee and Family Assistance Program, which provides confidential assistance through the challenges of life
  
• Inclusive Counselling Services, which provides confidential mental health support from professionals belonging to diverse communities
  
• 5% gross pay in lieu of statutory holidays
  
• 4% gross pay in lieu of vacation
  
• 6% pay in lieu of insured benefits upon completion of 1-month continuous service
  
• Accrual of attendance credits at the rate of 1.25 days/month of full attendance.

The Ontario Public Service is one of Ontario's largest employers. Employees work for 30 ministries, with offices in more than 70 cities across the province. We offer:

• a career that can grow across ministries and job functions
  
• flexible learning and developmental opportunities, including education and mentorship programs
  
• many employee networks offering support for and education about underrepresented groups

Additional information:

Apply by:

Friday, December 4, 2026 11:59 pm EST

Position details:

• 5 English Temporary - Irregular On-Call, duration up to 6 months, 521 Second Ln E, Sault Ste Marie, North Region, Broad Record Check, Intelligence, Local Police Databases Search, Ontario Provincial Police Investigation/Background Interview, PIP/NICHE/RMS, Social Networking Search
• 15 English Temporary - Irregular On-Call, duration up to 6 months, 2435 Hwy 61, Thunder Bay, North Region, Broad Record Check, Intelligence, Local Police Databases Search, Ontario Provincial Police Investigation/Background Interview, PIP/NICHE/RMS, Social Networking Search
• 50 English Temporary - Irregular On-Call, duration up to 6 months, 8500 Mclaughlin Rd S, Brampton, Central Region, Broad Record Check, Intelligence, Local Police Databases Search, Ontario Provincial Police Investigation/Background Interview, PIP/NICHE/RMS, Social Networking Search
• 30 English Temporary - Irregular On-Call, duration up to 6 months, 660 Ireland Rd, Simcoe, West Region, Broad Record Check, Intelligence, Local Police Databases Search, Ontario Provincial Police Investigation/Background Interview, PIP/NICHE/RMS, Social Networking Search

Compensation group:

Ontario Public Service Employees Union

Work hours:

Schedule 4.7

Category:

Corrections and Enforcement

Posted on:

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Note:

• About security checks:
  A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities.
  If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in.
  Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.
• Please disregard the "How to apply" section below. In order to apply, please fill out the YSO Application Form: Application Form Link. A cover letter and resume is NOT required, only the completed application form.

How to apply:

1. You must submit your application using only one of the methods identified below.
2. Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.
3. Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.
4. Be sure to quote the Job ID number for this position.
5. OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.

Send application to:
Fill out the Application Form linked below and above, then submit as outlined in the ad.
https://forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca/en/dataset/006-3251

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.

Exigences en matière de langue et évaluation:
Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario (FPO) sont affichées en français et en anglais. Consultez la section « Langue du ou des postes » en haut de chaque offre d'emploi pour connaître les exigences linguistiques. Pour tous les postes, les candidats sont évalués en anglais, la langue d'affaires de la FPO. Si le poste est bilingue (anglais/français), vous devrez également passer un test de compétences linguistiques en français.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Information collection notice

We are collecting your personal information to assess how well you meet the qualifications for employment with the Ontario Public Service, and for related recruitment purposes. The collection of personal information is necessary to the proper administration of OPS Careers, which is an authorized common service in accordance with s. 6 of the Ministry of Government Services Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.25.

Please do not include any more personal information than is needed for your application (for example, do not include your photograph or social insurance number).

If you have any questions about how your information is collected, used, shared or saved, please contact us.

Strengthening Ontario, together