Young Parent Support Worker

**LOWER MAINLAND PURPOSE SOCIETY**

**Position: Young Parent Support Worker - Full Time**

**Location**: 40 Begbie Street, New Westminster

**Salary**:$24/hour

**Hours of Work**:35 hours per week

**Job Summary**:
The Purpose Young Parent Program provides an array of support services to mitigate the risks for young parents and improve life outcomes for both the young parent and their child(ren). Young parents (parents under the age of 25 with children between 0-6 years of age) are vulnerable to an increased number of risks due to their age and overall emotional, intellectual and physical development. These factors create the potential for a variety of negative outcomes. Young parents are faced with a myriad of issues atypical for other youth their age, resulting in the need for exceptional supports in order to achieve positive life outcomes.

These risk factors include, but are not limited to:

- Mental health issues (anxiety, depression, post-partum depression, PTSD, self-harm, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, etc.)
- Addiction
- Abuse history
- Lack of healthy parenting role models
- Relationship violence
- Lack of basic needs (housing, food)
- Limited education
- Unemployment

All Purpose Society employees must adhere to the Society Policies and Procedures, Operational Guidelines, and manuals.

**Reports To**:
The Young Parent Support Worker reports to the Program Director for Families. In the case of an emergency and the Program, Director for Families is unavailable, the Young Parent Support Worker can report to the Executive Director.

**Qualifications**:
**Education, Training, and Experience**:

- A bachelor’s degree or diploma in the social sciences field.
- A certificate in Early Childhood Education is beneficial.
- 1-3 years of previous work with young parents or youth in general.

**Job Skills and Abilities**:

- Excellent ability to integrate child development theory and practice into work.
- Ability to establish positive working relationships with young parents/youth. Ability to establish caring and nurturing relationships with children.
- Strong ability to resource services and information offered in the community.
- Demonstrate skills in community development and organization.
- Strong ability to work effectively independently and within a team.
- Professionalism when collaborating with outside agencies and professionals.
- Well-developed written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Good organization, time, and general management skills.
- Ability to perform moderate physical activity including walking, standing, bending, lifting children, and housekeeping duties.
- Strong professional boundaries.

**Key Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Engages with pregnant or parenting youth in the community on outreach and one-to-one basis.
- Create a service plan of goals for service with the client and assist in the attainment of said goals.
- Act as an advocate for the client.
- Provide support throughout involvement in educational programs, youth agreements, agreements with young adults, and other services clients’ access.
- Accompany clients to appointments.
- Follow up with clients upon completion of programs.
- Maintain accurate and complete file management documents for each new client and ensure all paperwork is up to date and meets professional standards.
- Collect statistical data as required.
- Provide support and educational groups to young parents.
- Liaise with community services and engage in consultation and case planning with relevant service providers as required (Integrated Case Management).
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of community resources and services while identifying and assessing the immediate needs of clients and referring them to appropriate community resources.
- Keep current on issues affecting young parents and the trends in young parenting programs.
- Facilitate client participation in evaluating activities.
- Is knowledgeable of, and adheres to pertinent legislation regarding the protection of children.
- Maintains strict confidentiality of all information related to the organization’s clients and staff.
- Attend regular peer supervision and staff meetings.
- Attend quarterly Young Parent Program meetings. Times/locations to be determined.

**Additional Information**:

- The position requires 35 hours per week. Some evening and weekend work is required.
- This position is primarily outreach work and time and task management are essential.
- This position requires the use of a vehicle, having your own vehicle is a must.
- Holding a Class 5 Driver’s license is mandatory.
- A valid First Aid certificate is an asset.
- Food Safe certification is beneficial.
- As a condition of employment, all employees must pass a Criminal Record check.
- As a condition of employment, all employees must participate in Non-violent Crisis Intervention training.

**Please send resume and cover letter to: Michelle Saldeba, Director of Family Programs.**

**Salary**: $24