Youth Support Worker

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Youth Support Worker
PLEA Community Services Society of BC
Vancouver & Lower Mainland
Port Coquitlam, BC.

closes in 20 days (Fri, 25 Apr)
full time • $33.77/hour

PLEA Community Services is currently seeking two (2) Regular Full-Time Youth Support Workers for our U-Turn/U-Link team located in Port Coquitlam, BC. The proposed start date for these positions is as soon as possible. These positions require BCGEU membership.

The Youth Support Worker engages the youth in one-to-one activities, helping them reach their long-term goals around success, well-being, and healthy development. The youth in this program have complex care needs related to mental health, disability, addiction, and challenging behaviour. The employee will provide close supervision and attention to the youth’s needs to teach skills in education, recreation, and healthy living.

Hours of Work: The usual hours of work are different for each of these positions and are as follows:

• Schedule 1: Tuesday to Saturday based on a flextime scheduling arrangement, including days, evenings and weekends, of 35 working hours per week.
• Schedule 2: Sunday to Thursday based on a flextime scheduling arrangement, including days, evenings and weekends, of 35 working hours per week.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• A Bachelor of Arts in the social sciences or human services or a related discipline.
• One (1) year recent experience working in programs with youth who are deemed to be high risk and have complex needs, and/or are involved in the criminal justice system, and their families/caregivers.
• Work or volunteer experience in a residential care facility or foster home model program.

What You Will Do:

• Work closely with the Services Coordinator and Family Caregivers to support the goals identified in each youth's service plan. Develop and implement appropriate plans, strategies and activities that will address their complex needs, strengthen their protective factors and provide a sense of belonging and stability.
• Provide close supervision and support in the community that will assist youth to achieve their individual goals, maintain their motivation to make safer choices, improve their behavior, develop new interests and connections, and feel successful.
• Implement interventions that address the complex personal, social and healthcare needs of the youth, and recognizes the contextual dynamics they are experiencing. Provide opportunities to access and reconnect to available resources in the community that will enable and encourage youth to develop the necessary educational, personal, social, vocational and self-advocacy skills.
• Maintain ongoing positive relationships with Family Caregivers and participates as part of the team responsible for improving the quality of life for the youth.
• Teach life skills and community survival skills, provide emotional support and models acceptable behavior. Engage youth in acceptable recreational and social activities in the community.
• Develop collaborative relationships with youths' families/caregivers, significant others and informal support systems.
• Respond to critical incidents and emergencies in current placements. Recognize potential crises, analyze these situations accurately and implements strategies to deal with them.
• Maintain necessary program participant and program reports and statistics. Ensure that all records, reports and documentation pertaining to service delivery are accurate, complete and in compliance with PLEA’s policies and procedures.
• Establish strong connections to the community, including maintaining close working relationships with all formal and informal service providers.
• Protect and uphold confidentiality.
• Perform other related duties as required.

What You Will Bring:

• Strong interpersonal communication, and conflict management skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in teaching others and an ability to work collaboratively with families/caregivers.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with others, and can implement effective behavior management strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop supportive relationships with youth and their families/caregivers.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong collaborative relationships, work effectively as part of a team, use good judgment and manage conflicts constructively.
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective relationships based on mutual respect and trust with a range of different individuals and groups in the community.
• Strong organizational, time and general management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative, make sound decisions and be held accountable for results.
• Demonstrated ability to be sensitive and understanding of individuals’ social realities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of issues and trends related to the program.
• Knowledge of theory, principles and best practices with respect to providing services to youth who are high risk.
• Knowledge of relevant Criminal Justice Legislation and policies.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and database systems.

PLEA Benefits and Perks:

• Eligibility to enroll in health/welfare benefits on the first day of the month following the completion of the probation period.
• Enrollment in the Municipal Pension Plan, as per the plan's criteria.
• An education and training fund.
• A physical activity fund.
• Access to an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).
• Discounted Membership Fees for Club 16 Trevor Linden and She's Fit.
• Agency-Sponsored Social Events.
• Perkopolis Membership.

Note: PLEA conducts primary source verification of applicant's credentials including education, training, work history, and licensure.

How to Apply

Please make sure that you quote job code FULLT001102 in your application and mention that you saw this posting on WorkInNonProfits.ca.