Deborah Smith
Ajax,ON
Summary
Dynamic leader with extensive experience at Children's Aid Society of Toronto, adept in operational excellence and team leadership. Excelled in enhancing cross-functional collaboration and driving continuous improvement, supervising teams in high-stakes environments. Skilled in organizational development and operations management, achieving key performance indicators and fostering stakeholder relationships. Committed to ensuring compliance with AODA, as well as staff development as it pertains to Signs of Safety and DEI Policies and Frameworks.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
EAHS and Shared Services Manager
Children's Aid Society of Toronto
01.2016 - 03.2025
- Managing Emergency After Hours Program for CAST as well as several other local CAS' as part of Shared Services
- Supervising a team of 30 staff who respond to concerns related to child abuse and neglect
- Overseeing clinical supervision of staff as it relates to Signs of Safety, ABR and DEI policies in a variety of formats such as individual and group supervision, as well as team meetings
- Achieved service level agreements, monitoring KPIs, Ministry Standards and driving continuous improvement initiatives
- Improved cross-functional collaboration through effective communication and team-building initiatives
- Developed strong relationships with stakeholders to align shared services with CAST Vision and Mission Statement
Intake Supervisor for Domestic Violence Team
Children's Aid Society of Toronto
01.2003 - 01.2016
- Supervised a team of Child Welfare workers who specialized in Domestic Violence Investigations and Assessments
- Liaised and collaboratively worked with the VAW sector to develop relationships to meet end service goals as it relates to child abuse investigations
- Provided consultation to internal programs and external service providers as it relates to IPV programs such as Caring Dad's and Mothering in Mind
- Ensured accurate data collection and reporting by implementing strict quality control measures
- Established clear expectations for staff performance through comprehensive employee orientation programs and ongoing professional development opportunities.
- Conducted regular meetings with the intake team to discuss performance metrics, identify areas for improvement, and develop action plans accordingly.
Intake and Investigation Child Protection Worker
Children's Aid Society of Toronto
01.2001 - 01.2003
- Conducted child protection investigations (jointly with police) with respect to children abuse and neglect
- maintained detailed documentation of all case activities, ensuring accuracy and compliance with agency policies and procedures, as well as Ministry Standards
- Promoted awareness about available child protection services within the community by participating in various outreach and public education initiatives
- Strengthened communication among team members through regular meetings, case reviews, and information sharing sessions
Education
Ph.D. - Social Work
Massey University
Palmerston North, New Zealand04-2001
Master of Arts - Social Work
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario06-1994
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario06-1992
Skills
- Operational excellence
- Organizational development
- Operations management
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Team leadership
Websites
Accomplishments
- Co-authored two children's books with my son, Elliot Smith, called Mateo's Mixed Ability Match and Elliot's Excellent MARIs Match
- Subject of a film documentary called Advantage Gained through anewstory.com about the success of my son overcoming barriers due to his disability
- Participated on the Family Advisory Council for two years to help advocate for improved services to families with children who have disabilities; current volunteer at Grandview Children's Centre
- Full contact Mixed Ability Rugby Player who will be going with the first Women's Mixed Ability Team representing Canada at the IMART International Mixed Ability Tournament in Pamplona, Spain June 2025
Timeline
EAHS and Shared Services Manager
Children's Aid Society of Toronto
01.2016 - 03.2025
Intake Supervisor for Domestic Violence Team
Children's Aid Society of Toronto
01.2003 - 01.2016
Intake and Investigation Child Protection Worker
Children's Aid Society of Toronto
01.2001 - 01.2003
Ph.D. - Social Work
Massey University
Master of Arts - Social Work
University of Toronto
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Queen's University
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