Shelter Case Manager

Shelter Case Manager

Case Management Services Department

On Site

Full Time, Permanent

Level 8

Requisition Number: CMS-2026-006

Covenant House helps youth ignite their potential and reclaim their lives. As Canada’s largest agency serving youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk, we offer the widest range of services to hundreds of young people every day.

More than a place to stay, we provide life-changing care with unconditional love and respect. We meet youth’s immediate needs and then we work together to achieve their future goals. We offer 24/7 crisis shelter transitional housing options on-site and, in the community, health and well-being support, training and skill development, and ongoing care once youth move into the community.

For over 40 years, Covenant House has been dedicated to its mission of serving youth on the street and to protect and safeguard all youth with absolute respect and unconditional love. Since 1982, Covenant House has supported more than 100,000 young people.

Overview:

The Shelter Case Manager is responsible for developing, coordinating, and overseeing comprehensive case management services for youth, while providing leadership within the Case Management Team and each youth’s circle of care. This position is accountable for all aspects of the case management process, including relationship building, assessment, collaborative service planning, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy, and system navigation across internal and external services and resources.

The Shelter Case Manager delivers case management support and counselling services using a range of evidence-informed therapeutic approaches, while providing expertise, guidance, and support to team members to promote consistent, high-quality service delivery and positive youth outcomes. This role provides case management support to youth accessing the Winter Respite program who are interested in engaging in services, as well as to youth transitioning from Winter Respite into shelter programs.

Working collaboratively with staff across the organization's continuum of services, the Shelter Case Manager employs an integrated Client-Centered, Trauma-Informed, Harm Reduction, Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP), Housing First for Youth, and Strengths- and Resiliency-Based approach. The role supports youth in developing individualized, developmentally appropriate wellness and transition plans that promote stability, well-being, successful service engagement, and sustainable exits from homelessness.

We are currently recruiting for 1 Full-time, Permanent Shelter Case Manager. This is a new position within the organization.

Responsibilities:

• Provide intensive case management services through a trauma-informed, client-centred, strengths-based, and community-focused approach that promotes stabilization and increases access to housing, income supports, primary healthcare, mental health services, and community connections.
• Deliver counselling supports and interventions using a range of therapeutic modalities, ensuring high quality, youth centered, and ethically grounded practice.
• Foster a supportive, collaborative, and accountable team environment grounded in trauma informed, anti oppressive, and harm reduction principles.
• Develop and maintain therapeutic relationships with youth, fostering trust, engagement, self-determination, resilience, and positive youth development.
• Collaboratively assess youth strengths, needs, goals, and preferences, and develop individualized case plans that reflect youth voice, support informed choice, and promote sustainable outcomes.
• Ensure ongoing engagement with youth assigned to the Case Management Team, providing consistent support, advocacy, and service coordination throughout their service journey.
• Facilitate access to community resources through assessment, referrals, service navigation, counselling, follow-up support, and coordination of internal and external services.
• Provide leadership within the Case Management Team by overseeing the implementation of case plans, mentoring staff, supporting effective interventions, and promoting consistent, high-quality service delivery.
• Assess risks and collaboratively develop trauma-informed safety plans with youth, addressing concerns related to relationships, mental health, substance use, housing stability, immigration, and other identified needs; coordinate proactive risk mitigation strategies with internal and external supports.
• Support youth in strengthening self-advocacy skills, building natural support networks, fostering peer connections, and enhancing their capacity for independence and long-term well-being.
• Apply a social work lens in providing emotional support, crisis intervention, and practical strategies such as grounding and emotional regulation techniques while recognizing the impact of systemic and social factors on youth well-being.
• Coordinate access to appropriate resources, clinical supports, and specialized services to address physical health, mental health, substance use, cognitive, developmental, and other identified needs.
• Collaborate with housing providers and support services to facilitate access to supportive housing options and appropriate housing pathways as part of individualized case planning.
• Work closely with community partners, multidisciplinary teams, and members of the youth’s circle of care to ensure coordinated, integrated, and responsive service delivery.
• Chair case conferences, case reviews, and consultations with internal and external service providers as required to support coordinated care planning and decision-making.
• Conduct regular case plan reviews with youth and members of their circle of care, evaluate progress toward goals, revise plans as needed, and ensure timely documentation of outcomes and next steps.
• Maintain accurate and timely case notes, client files, program documentation, data collection, and reporting in accordance with agency, funder, professional, and legislative requirements.
• Maintain current knowledge of community resources, including mental health, substance use, housing, supportive housing, shelter, healthcare, income support, and other relevant services.
• Contribute to evidence-informed practice, quality improvement initiatives, program development, and ongoing evaluation of service effectiveness.
• Actively participate in supervision, professional development, interdepartmental collaboration, team meetings, and continuous learning opportunities to enhance clinical and case management practice.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and contribute positively to the goals and operations of the broader program and organization.
• Adhere to the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) Code of Ethics and maintain registration standards in accordance with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), ensuring ethical, professional, and accountable practice.
• Other additional duties as assigned

Qualifications

• BSW or MSW degree; with 5 years related experience, two of which must be working with street involved youth
• Registration in good standing with the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or ability to register with OCSWSSW
• Strong commitment to integrated model of practice (client centered, AOP/ABR, trauma informed, harm reduction, Housing First for Youth, strengths/resiliency model based).
• Demonstrated expertise in case management and effective crisis intervention with youth who are experiencing complex challenges related to homelessness such as equity and access needs, harm reduction strategies, mental health support, in addition to their basic needs.

Don’t meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet all qualifications. If you are excited about the role but your resume doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the description, apply anyway. You may still be the right candidate for this or other roles.

What we Offer:

• Meaningful work.
• Competitive compensation.
• Benefits such as Health, Dental, Vision, Personal Days, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement and more.
• Employee perks which include discounts on gym membership, city bike rentals, auto & home insurance and more.

Use of AI and Technology in the Hiring Process

Covenant House Toronto does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to make or inform hiring decisions. However, we do use an external applicant tracking system (ATS) to help manage applications efficiently.

While our ATS may apply automated filters or sorting functions, all applications are reviewed and evaluated by human recruiters. No hiring decisions are made by AI.

Commitment to Equitable Recruitment

At Covenant House Toronto we believe in a workplace culture of inclusion that is welcoming, respectful and safe for all staff. It is critical to Covenant House Toronto success to eliminate barriers and promote the inclusion of equity groups. Equity groups have been, and continue to be, underrepresented and marginalized in the workforce, leadership roles, and in some specific occupations. Equity groups include but may not be limited to Indigenous persons, racialized people, gender diverse people, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Covenant House Policy on Accommodation, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the Covenant House recruitment process.