Director of Clinical and Healing Services

Director of Clinical and Healing Services

About The Link: Youth and Family Supports 
For more than 90 years, The Link has helped youth and families on a journey to healing, hope, and better lives. The organization is dedicated to walking alongside children, youth, and families as an inclusive community, strengthening and empowering a sense of being, pride, and purpose. With over 15 diverse programs, The Link has a community of caring staff that works together to provide support through a 24-hour crisis line, youth resource centers, emergency shelters, mobile crisis teams, specialized foster care, healing homes, job readiness support, and Skills4Life. With a strong foundation within the community and a focus on connection, unity, and compassion, the organization provides a vital link for youth and families in the province of Manitoba.    

About the Opportunity 

The Director of Clinical and Healing Services provides strategic leadership and clinical oversight for The Link’s integrated continuum of crisis response, healing, and therapeutic care. Anchored in The Link’s strategic plan and guided by the First Nations approaches to healing and wellness, the Director advances an evidence-based, trauma-informed and culturally safe model of service that strengthens the well-being of children, youth, adults, and families. The role unifies the Mobile Crisis Team, Heartberry Lodge, and Clinical Services into healing pathways grounded in relational safety, Indigenous worldviews, and clinical excellence. 

POSITION SCOPE/IMPACT OF ERROR

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Clinical and Healing Services is a member of the senior leadership team and works closely with program managers, clinical staff, Elders and Knowledge Carriers, families, health authorities, and provincial partners. The position carries accountability for clinical standards, service experiences, program budgets and the safe integration of cultural and clinical practice. Errors in this position may affect client safety, clinical risk, regulatory standing, funder relationships, and the trust of families and communities. Sound clinical judgment, cultural humility, and discretion are essential. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Leadership and Supervision

• Ensure assessment, case formulation, treatment planning, and risk management are evidence-informed, trauma-responsive, and culturally grounded. 
• Uphold ethical and professional standards for clinical and healing services. 
• Lead critical incident response and clinical debriefing, supporting staff wellness and learning. 

Cultural Safety and Indigenous-Led Practice

• Embed First Nations approaches of healing and wellness into program design, supervision, and service delivery. 
• Partner with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and cultural advisors so that ceremony, language, and land-based practice are integrated alongside clinical intervention. 
• Champion anti-racist, decolonizing, and two-eyed seeing approaches in policy, practice, and team development. 
  

In-Home Clinical Practice Development

• Co-develop, with Healing Home Supervisors, an in-home clinical service model that is responsive to the unique strengths, histories, and needs of children, youth, and families receiving community-based supports.  
• Provide consultation and guidance to Healing Home Supervisors on integrating clinical interventions into everyday caregiving practices that promote healing, emotional regulation, and relational safety.  
• Support the incorporation of First Nations healing approaches, including connections to Elders, Knowledge Keepers, ceremony, language, land-based activities, and cultural identity, in collaboration with children, youth, families, and communities.  
• Develop practical tools, resources, and practice guidelines that strengthen trauma-informed, culturally grounded care within Healing Homes.  

Workforce Clinical and Cultural Wellness

• Promote a culture of clinical excellence and staff wellness by supporting reflective practice, clinical consultation, and opportunities for ongoing learning.  
• Collaborate with leaders to identify and implement practical strategies that support employee resilience, psychological safety, and cultural wellness across programs.  
• Facilitate regular clinical case consultation, peer learning, and culturally grounded debriefing following complex situations or critical incidents.  
• Support access to cultural teachings, Elder and Knowledge Keeper guidance, and wellness opportunities that strengthen staff capacity to provide safe, compassionate, and culturally responsive care while recognizing the importance of self-care and vicarious trauma prevention. 

Service Management and Operations

• Oversee day-to-day operations, service continuity, staffing, and scheduling for the Mobile Crisis Team, Heartberry Lodge, and Clinical Services. 
• Manage program budgets, contract deliverables, and funder reporting in collaboration with teams. 
• Coordinate with other directors to align clinical, residential, and community-based pathways into a cohesive continuum of care. 

Quality, Risk, and Strategic Partnerships

• Develop and monitor policies, procedures, and outcome measures aligned with accreditation, regulatory, and funder standards. 
• Lead critical incident review, continuous quality improvement, and performance reporting linked to community-defined outcomes. 
• Represent the organization with community partners, building reciprocal relationships that strengthen care pathways for children, youth, and families. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Master's degree in social work, Counselling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related clinical discipline. 
• Current registration in good standing with a Manitoba regulatory college (e.g., MCSW, CPMB, MAMFT) with authorization to provide clinical supervision. 

Experience

• Five to seven years of progressive clinical and service management experience in mental health, crisis response, child and family services, or Indigenous wellness settings. 
• Demonstrated expertise in trauma-informed, attachment-based, and resilience-based practice (e.g., Circle of Courage, ARC, polyvagal-informed approaches). 
• Working knowledge of the First Nations approaches to healing and wellness, and sustained relationships with First Nations, Métis, or Inuit communities; lived experience is an asset. 
• Proven leadership of multi-disciplinary teams across 24/7 operations, including budget, labour relations, and accreditation responsibilities. 
• Experience working within a non-profit, community-based, or Indigenous-led organization, ideally during a period of transition or transformation. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong clinical judgment and the ability to provide ethical supervision across complex, high-risk situations. 
• Familiarity with Manitoba legislation (CFS Act, Mental Health Act, PHIA) and accreditation standards. 
• Understanding of First Nations community experiences and a commitment to cultural humility, reconciliation, and decolonizing practice. 
• Strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills with the ability to carry multiple priorities, programs, and relationships at once. 
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and handle sensitive information with care. 
• Fluency in a First Nations language is a strong asset. 

Key Competencies

• Clinical excellence and ethical leadership 
• Cultural humility and protocol awareness 
• Relational leadership and reciprocity 
• Strategic thinking and initiative 
• Risk management and sound judgment 
• Accountability and follow-through 
• Staff development and team wellness 

WORKING/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• Operates across office, residential (Heartberry Lodge), and community settings, with regular collaboration with staff, clients, families, partners, and community members. 
• On-call availability is required to support 24/7 crisis response and clinical escalation. 
• Travel within Winnipeg and across Manitoba may be required for community engagement, partner meetings, and First Nations communities. 
• Evening and weekend work will be required at times to support service continuity, community gatherings, and ceremony. 

PHYSICAL, VISUAL AND AUDITORY REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to sit for extended periods of time and use a computer. 
• Some light physical effort may be required across office, residential, and community settings. 
• Ability to read and interpret clinical documents, legislation, accreditation standards, financial reports, and program materials. 
• Strong computer skills and the ability to work extensively with electronic case management systems, documents, and spreadsheets. 
• Communicate effectively in person, by phone, and through digital channels, including under crisis or high-stress conditions. 

EQUIPMENT USED

Computer, Cellular phone, Software: Microsoft Office Suite, email, electronic case management/clinical documentation systems 

• Approvals for deposits and payments 
• Adherence to internal financial policies 

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities upon request. If you are contacted by The Link regarding a job opportunity, please know that you are welcome to request accommodation at any point in the process. All information received regarding accommodations will be kept confidential.  

Posting End Date: Posted until filled 

Hours of Work: Full -Time permanent 35 hours/week. (with on-call expectations) periods  

Site: The Link: Youth and Family Supports 

Work Location: 175 Mayfair Avenue  

Salary: Dependent upon qualifications  

To apply to this opportunity, please visit

The Link is an equal opportunity employer, Indigenous people, women, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The Link is committed to developing and retaining a diverse workforce. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

To apply to this opportunity, please visit