Program Leader, Alternative Suspension

**Date Posted**: November 4, 2024

**Position Title**: Program Leader, Alternative Suspension

**Location**: Sweeney Neighbourhood Centre (33355 Bevan Ave, Abbotsford, BC V2S 0E7)

**Terms**:Permanent, Full-time

**Start Date**:As soon as possible

**Hours**: 35 hours per week

**Schedule**: Mondays - Fridays, 8 am - 3 pm or depending on program needs

**Salary**: $56,082.00 per annum

**Reports to**: Supervisor, Youth Programs

**Benefit**:YMCA Staff Membership; Comprehensive group benefits; Discount on childcare services excluding Infant & Toddle

**Situation**:
YMCA BC is a charity dedicated to strengthening the foundations of community, by nurturing the potential of children, teens & young adults, promoting healthy lifestyles, fostering a sense of social responsibility and delivering lasting personal & social change to grow in spirit, mind, and body.

Since January 2023, YMCA of Northern British Columbia, YMCA-YWCA of Kamloops and YMCA of Greater Vancouver are officially one association, with one mission to strengthen our impact for communities across British Columbia. We are YMCA BC - Even Stronger Together. This transition marks a new chapter in our long-standing history of building communities, transforming lives, and connecting people of all ages, stages, backgrounds and abilities, to unique opportunities to learn, grow, and reach their potential.

At the YMCA BC, people are our greatest asset, and we are proud to be an employer of choice. Working at the YMCA BC means you are part of a fun, positive team in an environment of honesty, caring, respect, responsibility, and inclusivity. We are committed to providing our community with the support it needs to thrive through employment, youth services, and programming for families and seniors. We believe a vibrant, healthy community is one in which everyone feels a sense of belonging and connection.

**Nature and Scope**:
The YMCA BC’s Alternative Suspension program in the Greater Vancouver region provides a supportive environment for students who are temporarily suspended from school. This program, available in Coquitlam and Abbotsford, aims to encourage school perseverance by helping students identify their strengths and develop strategies to overcome challenges. Referred by school districts, participants receive academic support, one-on-one meetings, and life-skills training, transforming their suspension period into a constructive experience that fosters personal growth and prepares them for a successful return to school.

The Program Leader is an important member of the local and national team delivering this program in their respective YMCA Alternative Suspension service site. Reporting to the Supervisor, Youth Programs, the Program Leader is responsible for providing services under the YMCA Alternative Suspension program and ensures its proper functioning for their service site. This position will interact directly with students in the program environment and help create a safe space for students struggling with school or emotional distress. The Program Leader performs the following functions: holds individual and group interventions with students, runs sessions and workshops, provides homework support, facilitates regular reintegration meetings amongst students, parents and school personnel, carries out administrative duties, representations, drafts reports and assessments and supervise special activities and outings.

**Major Responsibilities**:

- Leading and overseeing program site/location, must be able to manage time and day to day tasks
- Responsible for site security and oversite of any visitors, maintain safety of program participants at all times
- Maintaining program integrity and meeting program targets and outcomes.
- Maintains confidential case notes and database files on youth referred to the _Alternative Suspension_ program and monitors outcomes.
- Build and maintain community partner relationships to refer students to for additional support post program
- Reports any unexpected developments or difficulties encountered to the Supervisor Youth Programs
- Develops, revises and updates the various program tools.
- Ensures that various reports, annual financial targets, statistics and other information required are completed on schedule.
- Building and maintaining ongoing relationships with community partners, school administrators and staff
- Providing social and emotional support to students who engage in the program
- Build rapport and provide 1-1 coaching to program participants during a 3-5 day intervention. Intake, exit and follow-up meetings required throughout the youths intervention.
- Able to establish rapport quickly with youth while using a client centered and trauma informed approach
- Coordinating program intake schedule while understanding of the dynamics in the program to ensure success and safety for all students
- Build and maintain community partner relationships to refer students to for additional support post prog