Join Our Team

Imagine being part of an organization that adds value to our community, cares about its staff, and creates a supportive workplace environment. Starling Community Services (formerly Lutherwood) is a progressive, not-for-profit health and social service organization that strengthens people's lives by providing mental health, employment, and housing services to more than 22,530 people annually in Waterloo Region and Wellington County.

We need great people like you to help us realize our mission and support

communities where everyone experiences mental wellness, opportunities for employment, a place to call home, and a sense of belonging.

One full-time contract Service Coordinator (Front Door) position available, starting on September 08, 2026, and ending on April 30, 2027, working 37.5 hours per week.

*May include working up to 1-2 evenings per week to accommodate client schedules.

What’s In It for You?

•  Job Band H (hourly wages): Min - $30.11, Mid - $32.69, Max - $37.06.
• A positive work culture, inclusive workplace policies, and employee wellness initiatives.
• Eligible to join the HOOPP defined pension plan on a voluntary basis.
• Access to our Employee and Family Assistance Program which provides free and confidential counselling, resources and services.
• 3 Weeks paid vacation (accumulated bi-weekly).
• 15 hours of personal time per year.
• Paid sick time (accumulated monthly) to a maximum of 300 hours.
• 11 paid holiday benefits per year plus a floater day.
• Discounted GRT passes through membership with Travel Wise.
• Employee Referral Incentive Program.
• Professional development and tuition reimbursement opportunities.
• Staff appreciation events.

Your Role

In this role, you will be responsible for

• Engages with children, youth, and families in their journey into and throughout children’s mental health in partnership and through a collaborative approach to identifying strengths, needs and goals.
• Conducts community based mental health assessments for clients and families to determine the most suitable service options to effectively address needs.
• Knowledge of clinical models that support and inform needs for children, youth & their families (e.g., attachment, trauma, developmental, family systems, stages of change).
• Utilizes Stages of Change framework to assess, understand and respond to child, youth and family readiness and determine how best to support their journey (e.g., continued outreach, referral to community services or further assessment for more intensive support.).
• Completes Intake Assessment reports to facilitate referrals into the core funded child and youth mental health programs through Front Door.
• Implements and utilizes standardized assessment tools.
• Works with families to reduce barriers to service.
• Works with families to create coordinated service.
• Ensures navigation to best services available.
• Maintains a solid working knowledge of core funded child and youth mental health services and other community supports for our clients as well as eligibility and access criteria.
• Provides waitlist support to children and families while they await more intensive services (e.g., offering outreach, support coordination, transition into treatment).
• Provides psychoeducation to clients and families about mental health and related issues, as well as education about community resources and service systems.
• Identifies and evaluates available resources and supports.
• Engages in creative problem solving to address service gaps. Assists in referral and access of services.
• Attends case conferences and meetings to support clients as needed.
• Advocates for the client and/or family within the school, community, mental health, legal and other systems that they are involved in to ensure proper support is in place to assist them.
• Participates in crisis intervention and planning. Assesses clients’ potential risk in terms of suicide, homicide, violence, and sexual abuse and makes recommendations.
• Facilitates therapeutic and psychoeducational workshops and groups.
• Provides evidence-informed clinical guidance to others in support of clients.
• Acts as an ambassador for the children’s mental health system in the community.
• Keeps accurate client records and reports.
• Prepares for and delivers Front Door 101 community presentations to promote the Agency in a variety of locations such as hospitals, schools and community centers.
• Works in alignment with the Agency’s commitment to equity to further create a sense of belonging at the Agency.
• The above tasks are representative but not all inclusive.

Your Talents and Experience

• A relevant degree in psychology, social work, related discipline, or equivalent education combined with extensive relevant work experience.
• Minimum of five years’ experience in the children’s mental health field.
• Able to apply a strengths-based approach in the holistic collection of information and ensure ease of service navigation for clients.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability and desire to collaborate with the community and other services. Knowledge of and ability to work with community resources.
• Available to work flexible hours to meet client needs.
• Must have access to reliable transportation.

If you are community-focused and share our values and commitment to equity, we

want you to grow with us. Please submit your application in confidence, no later than 4 pm on August 18, 2026.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just

the technical requirements of a job. If you don't have every single requirement and the exact level of experience listed in our description, but the skills and experience needed for the role still resonate with you, please consider applying. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and quality; therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require any support submitting your application or during the interview process by contacting Human Resources at hr@starlingcs.ca or by calling 519-707-1958 ext. 1247.

Our Commitment to Equity

To better serve the diversity of our community, the agency is dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for both clients and staff, with particular attention to supporting BIPOC communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and other historically marginalized and underrepresented groups. We understand that addressing systemic inequities is crucial to fulfilling our mission and promoting the well-being of the communities we serve.

Our equity strategy is guided by core principles that emphasize celebrating

diversity, building strong partnerships, prioritizing client service, and recognizing equity is a shared responsibility.