Indigenous Support Youth Worker, Full-time

**The Program**

Taproot Community Support Services (formerly WJS Canada) works to improve the lives of persons in their communities through a variety of programs and services.

Spirit of Our Youth provides Indigenous culturally-based programming in multiple home-based programs in Edmonton. The Youth Worker will be assigned to a program but may be called to work at any of the other sites during their shift to assist with duties or to provide support in urgent situations.

Through positive role-modeling and a trauma-informed approach to care, our youth workers focus on supporting youth in planning for their future and in creating healthy relationships with their families & communities.

Each youth (between ages 3 to 17 years) has opportunities to access traditional Indigenous teachings, cultural opportunities including sweats, sharing circles, smudging, pipe ceremonies, feasts, round dances, languages and access to community Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

**In Your Role You Will**

The Indigenous Support Youth Worker will promote and celebrate Indigenous culture, traditions, and values within the home environment. Facilitate culturally relevant activities, workshops and events that enhance identity, pride and connection to the community.

Additional Youth Worker supports of this role include:

- Prepare and serve/eat meals family-style with the kids
- Help kids with daily chores, homework, etc.
- Transport youth to/from school, and accompany on recreational or cultural outings and to appointments as needed.
- Work with individual or groups of youth to develop living/life skills and healthy routines (assisting younger kids with bathing, brushing teeth/hair, dressing, etc.)
- Housekeeping duties such as laundry, cleaning, dishwashing, and changing of linens as needed.
- Encourage, promote and enable youth to develop age-appropriate skills, including: healthy individual coping, problem-solving skills, and cultural knowledge and experience.
- Full job description available upon request.

**The Position**

The Indigenous Support Youth Worker is the key worker responsible for leading the day-to-day operations and cultural supports in the group home. This position involves providing culturally sensitive support and guidance to Indigenous youth residing in a group home setting. The primary objective of the role is to empower and assist these young individuals in achieving their personal, emotional, spiritual, mental, physical, and educational goals while promoting their cultural identity and overall well-being.

Hours are set by the employer and are not negotiable.

One (1) Permanent full-time position with a schedule of 32+ hours per week
- Sunday and Monday 0800-1600
- Tuesday through Thursday 1600-2300

**Mandatory Pre-Employment Screenings and Checks**

** Prior to confirmation of employment, all applicants must provide a copy of a current Criminal Record Check and/or Government Screening Letter. These checks vary depending on province and sector and will be communicated by the Program Hiring Team.**

For this specialized Indigenous Support Youth Worker role, we are seeking individuals with:

- Cultural competence in working with other Indigenous people, particularly within the Treaty 6 and 8 communities
- In-depth knowledge and understanding of Indigenous culture, traditions, and history.
- Sensitivity to the needs and experiences of Indigenous youth
- Knowledge/ability to speak an Indigenous language is an asset
- Prior Youth Work experience working with children and youth in a group home and/or community setting
- Experience supporting/teaching Indigenous children/youth, is an asset
- Diploma or Bachelor Degree in Social Work, Child and Youth Work, other human services, Education, Sociology or Psychology, Criminology, etc.
- Valid Class 5 Driver’s License and clean driver’s abstract with 3 years of driving experience
- Must be able to handle crisis situations.
- First Aid/CPR Certificate
- Suicide Intervention, Self-Harm Awareness, Crisis Intervention and Medication Administration training

**What Taproot Community Support Services Does**

In 2013, Spirit of our Youth became part of Taproot Community Support Services, the largest privately-owned national social services company in Canada. While operating autonomously, Spirit has full access to the extensive Taproot Community Support Services resources. Each day 600 dedicated Taproot employees provide a wide range of proven and innovative services to more than 1300 people in three provinces. Taproot serves many First Nation and Métis communities in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, emphasizing cultural diversity and respect.

Spirit of Our Youth was started in 2000 out of a passion for helping Indigenous youth. From one home in Central Edmonton we have grown to operate five Group Homes as well as a Drive and Supervised Visits program.

**Our Employees Enjoy**
- Work/life balance
- Learning and career development opportunities
- Competitive wages and salar