Family Support Worker

**Family Support Worker**

**About The Link: Youth and Family Supports**

For more than 90 years, The Link has helped youth and families on a journey to healing, hope, and better lives. The organization is dedicated to walking alongside children, youth, and families as an inclusive community, strengthening and empowering a sense of being, pride, and purpose. With over 15 diverse programs, The Link has a community of caring staff that work together to provide support through a 24-hour crisis line, youth resource centers, emergency shelters, mobile crisis teams, specialized foster care, healing homes, job readiness supports, and Skills4Life. With a strong foundation within the community and a focus on connection, unity, and compassion, the organization provides a vital link for youth and families in the province of Manitoba.

**SUMMARY**: The Link requires experienced Family Support Workers for a full time positions within the new Mental Health Respite Home which will facilitate supervised overnight family visits for children and families involved with Winnipeg, Rural and Northern Child and Family Services. The unique home will provide 24/7 support for youth in a home like setting while providing families with break. Family Support Workers will be responsible for supervising youths, mentoring, supporting the youth to engage in healthy activities and develop a positive trauma informed, strength-based philosophy. Family Support Workers must work from a person-centered, non-judgmental, trauma-informed, strength-based philosophy. Family Support Workers are also responsible for collaborating across various systems to ensure that outcomes are in the best interest of the youth, and align with the overall mission and purpose of the program.

**PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES**:of the Family Support Workers include, but are not limited to:

- Provide holistic mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual support to families based on the teachings of the Medicine Wheel;
- Establish a trusting relationship with parents and their children;
- Support youths by way of mentoring, coaching and teaching to parent independently and meet the needs of their children;
- Work with children/youth to problems solve, manage conflict, maintain appropriate boundaries and expectations;
- Support families to access cultural activities and ceremonies if requested.
- Provide support and crisis intervention as needed;
- Communicate concerns, needs and observations to Team Lead and program supervisor
- Perform various administrative duties and keep accurate records and reports;
- Performs general facility tasks, cleaning and cooking chores, and routines;
- Attends staff meetings and training as required;
- Works in collaboration with other teams and external service providers;
- Other duties as assigned.

**QUALIFICATIONS**:

- _Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, and Humility & Truth_.

**Essential Requirements**
- Post-secondary education or a combination of education, work experience and lived experience may be considered;
- Experience working with families in a supportive manner;
- Experience working with youth with a mental health diagnosis
- Experience working with youth with substance use
- Experience working with vulnerable children and youth with an array of behavioral needs
- Knowledge of trauma and resilience informed care;
- Strong counseling skills and experience in Relational Care, as well as excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
- Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C;
- Satisfactory Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search, a clear Child Abuse Registry Check with acceptable Prior Contact Check outcomes and a clear Adult Abuse Registry check; all completed within the last 3 months.

**Preferred or willing to obtain within the first 3 (three) months**
- ASIST Certificate (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and/or any de-escalation training preferred;
- Mental Health First Aid & Safe Talk;
- The Link Commit 2 Kids Training;
- Certification in either DLE (The Purposeful Use of Daily Life Events) or TCS (Therapeutic Crisis Solutions).

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities upon request. If you are contacted by The Link regarding a job opportunity, please know that you are welcome to request an accommodation at any point in the process. All information received regarding accommodations will be kept confidential.

***Valid driver’s license and use of personal vehicle is a requirement for this position**

**HOURS OF WORK**:This position is required to work a variety of shifts including days, evenings, weekends and holidays.

**Salary**: $18.00 per hour with a benefit package, pension plan, paid sick leave, vacation and paid personal leave days

**APPLICATION DEADLINE**:Ongoing until filled.

**HOW TO APPLY**: Applicants must demonstrate in their resume and cover letter how they meet the requirements of the position.
**Please submit a cover letter and resume (in word of PDF).