Pine River Institute
Ontario, Canada

Pine River Institute is a residential treatment centre and outdoor leadership experience for youth 13 to 19 struggling with mental health issues, and specifically, substance abuse. Their campus is located on a 200-acre site 100 kilometers northwest of Toronto, Ontario, and includes a residential program for 36 adolescents, an 8-bed therapeutic wilderness program near Algonquin Park, an aftercare program, and a head office in Toronto. Its family-centered program is innovative and highly structured, and creates opportunities for troubled teens to engage in a focused transformation process through a fusion of education, therapy, recreation, and life skills. The majority of its students are from Ontario, and are funded by the Ministries of Health and Education.  They also work with families from across Canada, and internationally.

The organization has been in operation for four and a half years, and has achieved stable funding from the Ministries of Health and Education.  Its current CEO, Dr. Karen Minden, has led this organization through its start-up and growth success.  With the support of a talented and deeply committed Board of Directors, she has been the driving force behind this unique Canadian initiative.  

A great deal has been achieved, and the organization has a solid foundation on which to build.  The current CEO and the Board have developed a 10-year developmental trajectory (strategic plan). They are now ready for new leadership to take on the challenge of implementing this plan.  Karen will now put all her energy into leading the organization’s Foundation and be a strong partner for the new CEO of the Institute.

A collaborative, relational therapeutic milieu culture has been achieved, and the new CEO will implement the growth strategy within the context of ensuring the integrity of the Institute’s integrated educational and therapeutic program (the Pine River Model-- comprehensive developmental-systemic approach).

Reporting to the Board of Directors, and working collaboratively with the Institute’s Executive Director, Clinical Director, and staff, the new CEO will lead the organization through its next stage of growth and success.

To meet the challenges of this position, candidates should meet the following criteria:

• Relevant graduate degree (Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health, Health Sciences, Public Policy, etc.).
  
• Professional affinity with the Pine River treatment model;
  
• Proven ability to build organizational capacity with clinical and service excellence, and ensure accountability for such; an excellent manager and coach for staff;
  
• Demonstrated ability to develop, foster and nurture strong working relationships with external stakeholders (local community, government(s), other leading clinical/professional organizations, relevant community organizations, business, key funders/donors) to advance an organization’s mission, and plans.  Proven ability to be an effective champion and advocate for an organization, its plans and its people; become a valued “go-to” thought leader;
  
• Proven senior leadership/management experience in a mental health, addiction treatment, adolescent health organization.
  

To explore/apply for this wonderful leadership opportunity, please forward your resume, in confidence, to Heather Connelly, Managing Director, Kinley & Connelly, Stanton Chase International (Toronto), 220 King Street West, Toronto ON, M5H 1K4, 416 593-5550, hconnelly@kinleyconnelly.com or Cheryl Lai, clai@kinleyconnelly.com

• Work in conjunction with the Director of Admission, to serve as a resource in assessment of the potential suitability of students and families applying for admission into the program
• Provide individual therapy within a personal caseload as required
•  
• Serve as a liason for parents whose children are in the wilderness, providing weekly phone support and written updates to parents within 48 hours of each clinical session with the student.
• Provide on-call back-up to the wilderness team as part of a rotating schedule, as determined by the Program Manager.
• Collect weekly and daily progress notes from field staff, and use this information as part of the OLE Summary Report.
• Prepare, ideally within a few days of transfer to the school, an Outdoor Leadership Experience Summary Report which provides background information on the student, summarizes his/her behaviours and experiences while in the wilderness, identifies any areas of emotional concern and noted areas of strength, as well as offering treatment recommendations for continued progress at the school.
• Serve as a resource and support to field staff and the Program Manager regarding the emotional and behavioural management of students in the wilderness.
• Assist as a resource in the provision of professional development activities for OLE Field Staff
• Contribute as part of the senior clinical team to ensure the therapeutic goals of the program in general and the individual therapeutic plan for the students and their families are realized.
• In collaboration with the Senior Team, ensure the alignment of each student’s individual program with the overall therapeutic and academic objectives, values and philosophy of the school.
• Organize, lead and participate in student academic, recreational and therapeutic activities as required.
• Be prepared to accept on-call responsibilities, as assigned by the Clinical Director.
• Required to attend at least 1 staff meeting per month.
• Face to face contact with all OLE students on a weekly basis requiring 1-2 overnights per week in the field.

• Graduate degree in the relevant therapeutic field.
• PhD in Clinical Psychology or Social Work preferred.
• Previous experience with multi-disciplinary team treatment planning is essential
• A minimum of 8 years related experience, with at least 3 years in a residential treatment facility and/or wilderness program.
• Must have some experience in a wilderness setting.
• Some published work an asset
• Demonstrated track record of leading and working effectively with professional, collaborative groups.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively provide and interpret cognitive and psychological testing.
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Proven ability to make and sustain excellent interpersonal relationships
• Strong, flexible and results-driven management experience.