Job Description

The Youth Empowerment Society (YES) is looking for an energetic and compassionate Support Worker for the Alliance Club youth drop-in program

The Youth Support Worker is responsible for providing the necessary services and support to youth accessing the Alliance Club drop-in program. Staff aim to meet short-term physical, emotional and psychological needs of youth by providing support, access to food and club facilities, crisis response and referrals.

Duties and Responsibilities

To perform the job successfully, the Youth Support Worker must be able to consistently perform each essential duty adequately. Other duties may be assigned.

Youth Engagement and Service Planning:

Work with youth and others when appropriate, to facilitate initial and ongoing check-ins of individual needs of youth accessing the program.

Facilitate referrals to appropriate community services as needed.

Provide direct on-site supervision and support of youth accessing the program.

Provide behavioural management skills, crisis response, intervention and risk reduction services to best support youth and families as well as create a safe and stable environment, especially around issues such as trauma, suicidal ideation, mental health and addictions.

Support youth to participate in their short-term goals as appropriate.

Provide recreational and social activities for the youth.

Demonstrate a level of cultural safety, sensitivity and understanding of the client population.

Form mutually respectful partnerships with persons served to address any issues and problems they face.

Support family relationships as appropriate.

Assists youth to develop personal management skills such as self-awareness, problem solving, assertiveness, anger management, conflict resolution, group dynamics, dealing with authority, well-being and nutrition, self-esteem, etc.

Accept the clients' rights to self-determination and individuality. Must not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, language, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age, abilities, socio-economic status, political affiliations, or national ancestry.

Demonstrate a youth centred strength based approach.

Maintain a positive conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.

Set appropriate boundaries, intervene appropriately and maintain a helping role to meet the needs of the persons served.

Recognize persons with special needs and make appropriate referrals.

Act as an advocate for youth and promote empowerment for youth to advocate on their own behalf.

Respond to youth overdose in the Alliance Club as required.

Program Development and Administration:

Maintain a collaborative and cooperative working relationship with other YES programs, agencies, professionals, ministries and the community.

Collect client and program feedback from youth and stakeholders.

Initiate on-going program evaluation with youth and referral agents.

Write reports and attend staff meetings as required by the Youth Empowerment Society.

Fulfill the requirements of health and safety policies and emergency procedures and protocols.

Work respectfully in partnership with other team members in the Agency.

Participate in supervision meetings with the Operations Manager as required.

Monitor and manage own attitude, behaviour, well-being, and professional development in relation to increasingly challenging client populations and complex or sensitive presenting issues such as trauma and abuse.

Participates in developing and implementing evaluation systems to assess the effectiveness of interventions. Modifies services as deemed appropriate.

Liaises and shares relevant information with MCFD, police, judicial system, families, etc. in an effort to help make knowledgeable, informed choices regarding mutual clients.

Assist in the orientation and supervision of new staff and volunteers.

Act as a full team member of YES staff in providing back up assistance in other programs.

Attend case management meetings as required.

Obtain groceries, laundry and office supplies as needed and pick up food or other donations.

Complete food inventory and meal preparation including the preparation of meat using best practice as outlined through valid Food Safety Certification

Perform light housekeeping and basic maintenance duties.

Fulfill the requirements of training needs to meet the standards of accreditation as established by Agency policy.

Manages and submits petty cash expenditures and remittance as required.

Participate on internal and community committees as required.

Professional and Personal Qualifications

The requirements listed below detail the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to perform the duties and responsibilities of the job.

The staff person will need to demonstrate a good standard in a number of the competencies listed within the agency's competency framework. The knowledge and skills required to demonstrate these competencies are integrated into the role of this position. The achievement of competencies is reviewed within the performance recognition and development plan.

Education:

A degree or diploma in Child and Youth Care, Social Work or in a related human services field is preferred.

Required Experience:

A minimum of two years experience which includes:

Knowledge and experience working with high risk youth and their families.

Experience working with high risk youth and families in a helping capacity.

Experience with community-based programs and related community support systems.

Knowledge:

Well established understanding of child and adolescent development.

Well established understanding of youth and family engagement skills, risk assessments and safety planning and intervention approaches.

Established practice in maintaining appropriate and confidential boundaries and other basic ethics.

Established practice involving families, foster care system, community, intervention programs, the MCFD and other systems in service planning with youth.

Demonstrated awareness of community resources for youth and families.

Skills and Abilities:

Demonstrated ability to work constructively and cooperatively in a team setting.

Demonstrated ability to use basic engagement techniques and evidence-based person centered approaches.

Skills to conduct and apply intake screenings, on-going assessments and crisis response.

Ability to apply professional ethics to the general work situation.

Ability to establish and maintain effective collaborative and constructive liaisons/relationships with a variety of individuals and groups, including clients and families, ministries, other agencies etc. and provide effective community referrals.

Maintains timely and accurate documentation, consent, confidentiality and duty to report practices.

Prepares and delivers appropriate, clear and concise oral and written communication

Ability to perform basic computer and Internet skills.

Conditions of Employment

The hours of work are 37.5 per week - Monday to Friday daytime hours

The first 6 months of employment constitute a probationary period, at the end of which a performance appraisal is conducted to determine the suitability of the employee for further employment.

Must have clearance from the Authorization for Criminal Records Search prior to commencing employment.

Must have a valid Emergency First Aid and Food Safe certificate.

Follows the Code of Ethics, Mission Statement, and Policies and Procedures of The Victoria Youth Empowerment Society and abide by the relevant rules and reporting guidelines as set out by the MCFD and other appropriate governing bodies.

Special Working Conditions

This position is required to work in a stressful environment often dealing with groups of youth and youth in crisis situations.

This position requires flexibility in work hours

There may be moderate exposure to undesirable environmental working conditions which may require certain safety precautions i.e. client aggression, exposure to client health issues etc.

Job Types: Full-time, Casual

Pay: $27.00 per hour

Expected hours: 37.5 per week

Benefits:

Casual dress Dental care Extended health care Paid time off Vision care
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2025-08-01
Expected start date: 2025-08-18