Youth Advocate

**Youth Advocate Job Posting (Part-time, weekends)**

As a Youth Advocate for Durham Youth Services your priority is to uphold the organization’s vision to end youth homelessness in the Durham Region. Our mission is to provide programs for at-risk and homeless youth in the Durham Region to prevent homelessness, provide shelter and other opportunities that will support their success and end the stigma of homelessness.

Our values are to be:

- Forward-Thinking_ - We are dedicated to identifying and implementing innovative and progressive solutions to ending youth homelessness.
- Connected_ - We are focused on building and maintaining strong relationships with our partners and our community to support youth.
- Collaborative_ - We work with youth to develop the tools and resources that will enable their success and contribute to a thriving community

**TERMS OF POSITION This is a part-time position with an hourly wage of $19.**

**This position is within the bargaining unit between Durham Youth Services and LiUNA Local 3000.**

**DEMEANOR**
- Be positive, supportive, kind, caring, empathetic, gentle, respectful, and compassionate to all youth, staff, students, volunteers, and other community members that you come in contact with.
- Uphold the philosophy of the Housing-First model
- Provide unbiased, non-judgmental support to residents
- Provide an environment that exudes safety and security to all residents, staff, students, and volunteers
- Build positive, professional rapport with residents, staff, volunteers, students, and other members of the community
- Communicate openly and honestly with the Program Supervisor, Director of Housing and Outreach Programs, Executive Director and/or Board of Directors regarding any concerns
- Optimize team performance by contributing to positive and supportive work environment
- Do not yell, degrade, harass, belittle or undermine any residents, staff, students or volunteers
- Value diversity by understanding and respecting the practices, customs and values of other individuals and cultures.

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Shelter Diversion, Intakes, Orientation and Discharge_
- Complete shelter diversion, intakes, and discharges according to the organizations policies and procedures
- Practice the Housing-Focused model to explore and discuss past housing, barriers to housing, assistance required, current resources, and housing plan
- Encourage residents to enroll in school and/or obtain employment
- Using HIFIS/Apricot consistently and in a professional manner
- Keep accurate hard copy files and notes on each resident
- Make sure that all files and notes are accurate and complete at discharges
- Case Management_
- Uphold a housing-focused philosophy of self-resolution among residents
- Search for and print out room/apartment rental listings
- Engage in housing conversations/planning with residents
- Provide life skills training for all residents on areas (such as cooking, budgeting, grocery shopping, etc.)
- Update resource list (employment, mental health, addiction, etc.)
- Advocate for residents throughout various community partners that will benefit and assist clients with their housing needs
- Provide counselling support to residents and their families when needed
- Documentation of all client interactions
- Strong crisis intervention skills

**SHELTER SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Shift Specific Responsibilities_
- Reading and updating all HIFIS notes and Communication Log every shift
- Give out medication when required
- Conduct hourly room checks
- Conducting and documenting house meetings
- Ensure all resident chores are completed
- Conducting room searches and safety checks
- Training new staff members, placement students and volunteers
- Supervising placement students and volunteers
- Follow all policy and procedures regarding confidentiality, workplace harassment, health and safety, Emergency Shelter Standards
- Attend all staff or individual meetings that are requested by the Program Supervisor, Director of Housing and Outreach Programs and/or Executive Director
- Shelter Maintenance_
- Assist in keeping the shelter clean, including doing laundry, emptying garbage and recycling, cleaning out fridge and freezer
- Lifting, moving items up to 20 pounds
- Tear down and clean out of rooms after discharge
- Grocery shopping
- Picking up and unloading orders from Feed the Need
- Cooking meals and making lunches
- Report any needs for supplies to the Program Supervisor
- All staff are required to take Bingo training and sign up for Bingo shifts when available
- Safety and Risk Management_
- Ensures that personal safety and emergency plans are in place for each resident
- Manages risk and adheres to safety and crisis protocols and policies
- As part of the roles of Youth Advocate you will be exposed to infectious diseases.
- Responsible for reporting any health and safety concerns
- Responsible for completing the proper cleaning procedures associated with