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 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
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:
- 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
- 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.
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
Address:
- 5 English Temporary - Irregular On-Call, duration up to 6 months, 2500 South Lane Rd, Sudbury, North Region, Broad Record Check, Intelligence, Local Police Databases Search, Ontario Provincial Police Investigation/Background Interview, PIP/NICHE/RMS, Social Networking Search
- 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
- 20 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
Category: Corrections and Enforcement
Note:
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.
How to apply:
Please fill out the Youth Services Officer Application Form: Application Form Link.
For more information about the position including other youth centres in Ontario that are hiring, please visit www.ontario.ca/careers and search Job ID 245723.
Remember: The deadline to apply is Friday, July 3, 2026 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.
If you require accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please contact us at www.gojobs.gov.on.ca/ContactUs.aspx to provide your contact information. Recruitment Services staff will contact you within 48 hours. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
The Ontario Public Service is an inclusive employer. Accommodation will be provided in accordance with Ontario’s Human Rights Code.
Pay: $34.53-$43.66 per hour
Work Location: In person
