Employment Support Worker

This position includes a comprehensive 100% employer-paid benefit package, enrolment in our defined benefit pension plan (Municipal Pension Plan), and three weeks of paid vacation.

Applicants must be authorized to work in Canada and at our organization on an ongoing basis.

The John Howard Society of North Island is an employment equity employer.

This position is open to applicants of all genders.

This position requires union membership and the completion of two criminal record checks.

**_Job Title:_ Employment Support Worker
- Work sites:_ Courtenay
- Program:_ Foundry
- Benchmark:_**Unique, 631 Points
- Grid Level:_**Grid**12, JJEP
- Reports to:_**Program Manager

**Summary**:
The Employment Support Worker will work independently in a variety of settings, including outreach, to develop, implement, monitor, evaluate, and revise individualized case planning for high-risk youth experiencing significant barriers to employment.

**Key Duties and Responsibilities**:
To perform the job successfully the Employment Support Worker must be able to perform consistently each key duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be assigned.
- Assess clients with mental health concerns, dual diagnosis, substance use issues, and life circumstance barriers to employment to identify their employment readiness and placement suitability by identifying their strengths, interests, skills, and abilities through conducting interviews.
- Develops, with the participation of the clients, viable work, education, or training plans, including pre-employment skill development, designed to meet the clients’ goals in the areas of daily living, social skills, job readiness, and success in their placement. Implements, monitors, evaluates, and revises plans.
- Trains, supports, coaches, and monitors clients, as well as advocate and negotiate for when necessary, in a variety of work settings in areas such as works skills, proper hygiene, product quality/quantity and service expectations.
- Provides reports on clients’ skill level and progress to Program Manager and develops accommodation plans and modifications to the goals.
- Encourages client participation in community activities and encourages relationships and friendships in the community.
- Secures the cooperation of employers to participate in job placement.
- Follows up job placements by problem-solving, troubleshooting, and providing trauma-informed support and education to assist employers to work with clients.
- Liaises with community service providers in order to promote the program, represent the agency and maintain healthy relationships.
- Liaises with community service providers to provide referrals, facilitates service coordination, and promote the program.
- Work within a team model; however, program delivery warrants working independently.
- Work flexible hours including weekends and evenings to accommodate program and client needs.

**Qualifications**:
The requirements listed below detail the knowledge, skill and/or ability required to perform the essential duties of the job.

**Education and Experience**:

- Two (2) year diploma in a related human/social services field
- Driving is required to enable contact with youth at home or in the community. The worker must have a valid driver's licence and safe, reliable transportation, and must obtain appropriate insurance as per John Howard policy.
- Two (2) years’ recent related experience which should include:

- Experience with high-risk youth facing multiple barriers to employment
- Experience in providing crisis intervention

**Case Management Skills**:

- Demonstrated ability to work constructively and co-operatively in a team setting
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Knowledge and experience in involving families, community, and other systems in case planning with youth
- Knowledge and experience with case recording practices
- Knowledge and experience with referral, screening and case conferencing practices
- Knowledge of community resources and employment opportunities for youth

**Other Skills and Abilities**:
The Employment Support Worker must:

- Demonstrate a level of cultural sensitivity and understanding of the client population’s cultural and socio-economic characteristics.
- Have the ability to form a mutually respectful partnership with persons served and their families in which they are helped to gain skills and confidence to address any issues and problems they face.
- Have the ability to accept the differences they will find among their clients.
- Accept clients’ rights to self-determination and individuality, and must not discriminate on the basis of Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, socio-economic status, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age.
- Have a positive conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.
- Have the ability to work respectfu