Family Services of Greater Vancouver 05-18 Directions Youth Shelter Worker Contract in Vancouver, BC

Overview

Family Services of Greater Vancouver

Branch Vancouver BC CA

Position:
05-18 Directions Youth Shelter Worker
Location:
Vancouver, BC

Performs clerical duties as required such as answering phones, filing, sorting, and entering information on data bases and monitoring email….

Directions Youth Shelter Worker

Directions Youth Services

Internal / External Job Competition – #05-18

Are you a strong advocate with a passion for supporting others?

Do you believe in the possibility for people to create change in their lives?

Would you enjoy working independently within a committed team?

Since 1928, Family Services of Greater Vancouver has been creating brighter tomorrows for people and families in our community. Last year we supported more than 13,000 people to create possibilities for themselves through professional counselling, therapy, education, advocacy, planning, employment support, and other community services.

Directions Youth Services provides Vancouver’s homeless youth and youth at-risk with entry points to access the tools, support, and guidance they need to go about making healthy, positive changes in their lives. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Directions Youth Services consists of:

Directions Youth Services Centre provides Vancouver’s homeless youth and youth at-risk with a range of services to assist them to access housing, and increase health, life-skills and wellbeing. DYSC also encompasses our housing, outreach and transition to adulthood programs.

Directions Youth Detox offers youth with a continuum of service, which includes outreach, drop-in and assessment counselling and referrals, in-house detoxification, education and groups.

Directions Youth Safehouse is a first stage emergency shelter to assist youth to return to family/extended family and/or access needed transitional supports to independence.

Job Summary

This is an hourly short term position that will serve the homeless, street-involved youth aged 19 to 24 accessing a temporary 12 bed shelter offered within Directions Youth Service Centre. This shelter will be open seven nights a week until March 31, 2018. This position works to promote safer, healthier alternatives, and where possible, to assist in the transition of youth from the street to residences and providing referral information where possible to clients. The position will consist of working with a variety of at-risk and homeless youth struggling with addiction, including those with intellectual, emotional/social challenges and dual diagnosis. This position reports to the Afterhours and Shelter Supervisors.

Hours of work: Shift one – 9pm to 6am

Shift two – 12am to 9am

Key Responsibilities

• Initiate contact with all youth referred to shelter and build trusting, supportive, therapeutic relationships and assess youth eligibility to access the shelter.
• Identify individual needs for youth accessing the program through intake process and provide support, encouragement, collaboration and education to clients in matters related to crisis intervention, harm reduction, conflict resolution, community resources, alcohol and drug information, and advocacy to clients and referral calls utilizing youth social work best practice.
• Monitors youth in shelter, ensuring the safety and comfort of clients, by observing client behavior, document and informing supervisor and co-workers as required.
• Monitors the overall safety of the centre/ shelter through enforcing centre guidelines by observation to detect inappropriate behavior, drug use, and contraband.
• Participates in the management of emergency situations by initiating first aid, calling emergency medical services, and /or police and defusing situations.
• Responsive to inter-program integrated case management plans, other service agencies and health care professionals in the implementation and revision of client service plans/ terms of service or service restrictions.
• Ensures maintenance of the facility and care of clients by performing daily cleaning, outdoor clean up, minor repairs, preparation of meals, and or snacks for clients.
• Performs clerical duties as required such as answering phones, filing, sorting, and entering information on data bases and monitoring email.
• Maintains daily client logs, notes, documents, forms, reports, shift change and complete/enter daily statistical information.
• Participates in training practicum students and trainees in a job shadow model.
• Assist youth in accessing community support by advocating, escorting, and transporting clients to outside referral locations as appropriate.
• Actively participate in staff meetings, performance development, and continuing education and/or agency initiatives.
• Ensure adherence to all program and agency policies and procedures, and accreditation standards.
• Perform all other duties as required

Required Qualifications

Education and training :

• Two years post-secondary course/diploma in social work or youth care/certificate in related field
• Current First Aid Certificate
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training an asset
• Food Safe Certification an asset

Experience :

• Minimum 2 years experience working with youth, preferably in support of homeless/street-involved youth
• A combination of education and experience may be considered

Knowledge/Abilities :

• Knowledge of community, social and health resources
• Knowledge of the systemic issues that affect low income and marginalized people
• Knowledge of substance misuse, adolescent development and the problems encountered by chemically dependent individuals; basic understanding of behavioral management
• Basic knowledge of mental health issues and treatment
• Ability to observe and recognize change in clients
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients
• Ability to deal effectively with conflict situations, manage aggressive behavior, and use non-violent crisis intervention and behavioral management techniques
• Ability to communicate proficiently both verbally and in writing
• Ability to organize, prioritize and meet deadlines
• Ability to establish/maintain satisfactory work relationships with the public and other employees to deal tactfully and effectively with co-workers, public and other agencies and to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work independently and a part of a team
• Ability to work in a culturally diverse population
• Basic computer literacy
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position

Working conditions : 24 hour crisis response program

• Ability to work shift work, awake overnights

Why Work Here?

· Friendly Work Environment

· Flexible Working Hours

· Support the Local Community

· Rewarding Experience

Salary/Pay Grade: 6, Step 1 – $19.98 per hour (plus an additional 4% in lieu of vacation)

Start Date: As soon as possible – TERM ENDS MARCH 31, 2018

Closing Date: January 23, 2018

Family Services is committed to the principles of diversity. We encourage applications from qualified people of all genders and sexual orientations, visible minorities, Indigenous persons and persons with disabilities.

Job Type: Contract

Required education:

• High school or equivalent

Required experience:

• working with youth: 2 years