Youth Outreach Worker

**About Our Opportunity**

If you love working with youth, we consider this to be one of the best jobs in Nova Scotia. We are seeking compassionate, engaging individuals, that are ready to journey with a young person as they take steps forward, face challenges, and find their place in their community. Through the work, you will have opportunity to display the uniqueness of who you are while partnering with youth from many backgrounds and experiences. We welcome your contribution amid the vision, goals, values, and guiding principles of the Portal Youth Outreach Association. Consider joining us in the adventure

The Youth Outreach Worker delivers the Youth Outreach Program of The Portal Youth Outreach Association. The Youth Outreach program is a relational and community-based program designed to improve the immediate and long-term social, educational/vocational, economic and health outcomes for vulnerable youth between the ages of 12 and 24 who are facing multiple challenges with limited supports. The Youth Outreach Worker would philosophically and functionally model a belief and lifestyle in keeping with the vision and values of the Portal Youth Outreach Association and Youth Outreach Program Core Outcomes.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:
The Youth Outreach Worker will provide support to vulnerable youth in the following core service areas: safe space, outreach, healthy relationships, personal, life skill development, youth engagement, concrete supports and services, family, and community connections.

1. Use creative strategies to meet, reach out to, and build relationships with vulnerable African Nova Scotian Youth in the identified communities.

2. Support youth to make connections to programs, services, and supports in the community. Those formal/informal supports and services that are related to health, sexual health, education, justice, social services, family supports, literacy, education, employment, parenting support, addictions services, recreation, and other services.

3. Provide relational support to youth leaving care to promote interdependence and help the youth develop a system of supports within the community.

4. Advocate for youth in accessing supports and services.

5. Ensure a meaningful connection with youth in the intake, referral, and ongoing case management process in a timely, effective, and relational manner.

6. Developing opportunities for youth group programs/workshops to identify strengths, gain life skills, access resources, and identify areas for development; either through direct facilitation or partnering with other service providers.

7. Give support to programming for youth to foster independence and healthy transition to adulthood by encouraging positive attitudes and reinforcing concrete daily living skills which are necessary for successful independent living.

**REQUIREMENTS**

1. Work Experience and a post secondary degree or diploma in social sciences (Community Development, Psychology, Human Services, Social Work/social services)

2. Recent and substantial experience in the direct delivery of outreach programs to youth at risk

3. Direct experience in managing difficult situations with clients and ability to work under challenging conditions with limited supervision, mobility to travel.

5. A grasp on their own personal story and experience, having worked through their own trauma, addictions or emotional challenges as it related to the work with vulnerable youth.

6. Knowledge and understanding of youth, family, community, social and historical factors, and its impact on youth development.

7. Knowledge and experience in motivational interviewing, mentoring, supportive counselling and moderating conflict and client crisis.

8. Ability to organize and manage the case load and data collection needed.

9. Knowledge, understanding and experience in working with culturally and socially diverse Youth.

10. Experience in working from a strengths-based and relationship-based perspective.

11. Passion for working with Youth, specifically in supporting Youth who may be facing multiple and complex challenges and working from a trauma informed lens.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

**Salary**: $40,000.00-$42,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Vision care
- Wellness program

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday
- Weekend availability

COVID-19 considerations:
The Portal follows Covid-19 Safety protocols for office and community activity.

**Experience**:

- youth support and care: 3 years (required)

Work Location: In person

Expected start date: 2023-08-01