Residential Counsellor

YouthLink believes in the potential of every youth. We are dedicated to providing them with the support, guidance and opportunities they need to make positive life choices. We provide youth with brief and ongoing counselling, in-home wraparound support, shelter, housing, educational support, and safe drop-in spaces. YouthLink works towards equitable outcomes for youth in our community and, as such, is committed to equity-based hiring practices.

**Residential Counsellor**

**(Contract Full Time, 40 hours/week)**

**(Starting Asap: - August 30, 2025)**

**(Bargaining unit position)**

This position is responsible for providing high quality residential care for 9 female identified youth (14-18) and youth who are gender fluid, non-binary and transitioning from male to female and female to male in a live-in treatment home. The program is committed to fostering an environment which promotes safety and security for youth who have experienced any or all of the following. Traumatic events, abuse, parental/family conflict, neglect, and/or issues with attachment that more than likely are contributing to a deterioration of their mental health, sense of self and low self-esteem. This position provides direct care and case management, as well as administrative and household functions of the residence.

**Highlights of Your Role**

Client Centered Approach: Creates (in consultation with youth/placing agency/parents) specialized plans of care with individualized goals for youth assigned on your case load; including but is not limited to development of self-esteem, healthy relationships with both self and others, self-regulation in stressful times and problem solving, Provides case management progress reports internally and externally as required.

Documentations and report writing: Writes reports and other administrative tasks: serious occurrence and incident reports, daily logs, medical logs, missing person, etc. Orients new residents. Works with student placements.

Maintain daily functions of the Residence: Maintains the residence, including cleaning, maintenance tasks, garbage removal, snow removal, fire drills and fire safety checks and other routine tasks associated with the care of the residence.

Supports Organization’s Strategy: Actively contributes to the Agency’s Strategic Plan by participating in initiatives and committees to support the overall plan. This includes continual learning and growth in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

**Any other duties as assigned.**

**Highlights of What You Bring**

**Education**:

- Child and Youth Worker Diploma or Degree, Social Work, Psychology or a directly related discipline
- Specialized training in attachment theory, developmental lifespan stages, neurobiology of the brain and the impact of trauma.
- Specialized training in relevant interventions to address behavioural issues from a trauma informed attachment lens is an asset.

**Experience**:

- Two (2) years experience working with at-risk adolescents.
- Experience working from a strength-based, relational approach.
- Knowledge of community services, relevant legislation, and social justice issues.
- Familiarity with suicide/risk assessment and crisis support services.
- Familiarity with operating from an Anti-Black Racism lens and knowledge of working with black youth
- Experience working in residential group treatment with adolescent youth is an asset.
- Experience providing Afrocentric programming an asset.

**Skills**:

- Ability to perform tasks involving physical activity, including lifting, bending and prolonged standing as well as the ability to be trained in CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) techniques or any ministry approved physical restraint training program.
- Ability to work within a staff team that provides high quality care for female identified youth (14-18) and youth who are gender fluid, non-binary and transitioning from male to female and female to male who have diverse needs and experience, including knowledge of diversity issues
- Knowledge of working with a diversity of black youth.
- Understanding that team dynamics are an important factor in working with vulnerable people and a necessity for team collaboration.
- Display the capacity and capability to be open to both giving and receiving feedback.
- Demonstrated ability to write clear and concise reports in a scheduled time frame including maintaining complete and confidential electronic case records and required paperwork.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent organizational and administrative skills. Ability to multi-task and prioritize responsibilities.
- Effective interpersonal skills.
- Proven ability to case-manage and access appropriate community resources for the young person and provide educational support.
- Bilingualism is an asset.

**Key characteristics**:

- Non-Judgmental, open minded, client centered, clear understanding of harm reduction, trauma informed, team player, advocate, adaptable to ongo