Youth Worker, Step Up Step Down

**Location**: Ottawa, Ontario

**Reports to**: Coordinator, SUSD

**Employment Status**: Full-Time Temporary (September 2025 until April 2026)

**Bargaining Unit Status**: Included (Youth Worker)

**Annual Salary**:$60,340.80 - $72,446.40

**Language requirements**: English is essential, French is an asset

**Bona Fide occupational requirement (BFOR)**:N/A

**Schedule**:Rotational; Schedule includes days, evenings, overnights and some weekends

**Reference Number**: 25-087

**Closing Date**: August 21st, 2025

**Vacancy**:Yes

**Posting Stage**: Internal and external

**About us**:
Founded in 1960, the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB) is one of the largest and most comprehensive non-profit agencies in Ottawa and a registered charity. It provides mental health services, employment programs, emergency shelter, community, health and housing services, and justice programs to youth in the Ottawa area, serving between 2,500 and 3,000 at‑risk individuals aged 12+ and their families every month. YSB employs 350 caring professionals in a unionized environment in over 26 locations across Ottawa.

Under the general direction of the Director of Mental Health Services and immediate supervision of the Coordinator of Step up Step Down Residential Crisis services, the Youth Worker is responsible to provide direct services to clients in accordance with policies and directives established within the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB).

**What you will do**:

- Provide unit coverage on a rotational shift basis ensuring the safety and security of staff, clients and program’s facility.
- Participate in inter-disciplinary meetings for the purpose of identifying clients’ needs, progress and discharge planning
- Provide milieu-based interventions as established by the Step Up Step Down inter-disciplinary team to support clients and families in the achievement of established goals
- Provide support and crisis intervention to clients accessing YSB’s 24/7 telephone and online chat support services during designated periods; provide support to YSB’s Mobile Crisis when needed
- Ensure that documentation is maintained according to unit policy and procedures including client files and admission forms, plans of care (including goals/action), daily logs and summary reports.
- Comply with all mandating legislative requirements, Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB) policies and procedures.
- Safeguard client confidentiality, rights and responsibilities.
- Support the stabilization of clients accessing the program and coordinate with other YSB services as appropriate.
- Prepare, cook and serve meals daily for clients in the program.
- Responsible for cleaning the kitchen and food preparation areas after meals, maintaining a high standard hygiene and safety
- When required, engage with clients during mealtime by providing supervision and support to the clients that struggle with eating, to encourage meal consumption.
- Advocate for clients and facilitate access to community resources and services.
- Represent Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa in a professional manner. Maintain positive working relationships with the community, other services providers, and collaterals.
- Participate in training to ensure ongoing development of skills and abilities, including Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa required training
- Attend and participate in supervision
- Participate in on-going supervision of part-time/students
- Follow safe work practices as established by the Bureau and the program

**This opportunity may be right for you if you have**:

- Diploma in child and youth work or related field; or degree in the social sciences or related field
- Two years of experience providing support to clients experiencing mental health challenges
- A minimum of 1 years’ experience working in a residential setting
- Experience working directly with vulnerable youth considered an asset
- Demonstrated crisis intervention skills
- Proven written & verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work autonomously and as an effective member of an interdisciplinary team.
- Must be able to work rotational shift work and be available weekdays, nights and weekends
- Must be able to physically restrain clients when necessary
- Current Non-Violent Crisis Intervention and Physical Intervention certification (NVCI /CPI) is an asset
- Current First Aid/CPR/AED is an asset
- Food handling certificate is an asset
- ASIST or other recognized crisis or suicide intervention training considered an asset
- English is essential, French is an asset

**Additional Qualifications**:

- Successful applicants will be required to provide a clear Criminal Record Check, Vulnerable Sector Check or Broad Police check obtained within the past six (6) months, as a condition of employment with YSB.
- Successful applicants will be required to provide YSB with satisfactory Pre-employment medical testing including up-to-date immunizations and TB test

**Disclaimer**:
This job description indicates the g