Youth Worker

The John Howard Society has an exciting opportunity for you. If you have a passion for engaging with youth, promoting positive youth development, and would like to work for JHS Durham, we encourage you to apply.

**Clarington Youth Centres - Youth Worker**

**Division**: Clarington Youth Centres
**Work Status**: Relief/casual
**Location**: Clarington

**About the Agency and the Clarington Youth Centres (CYC)**:
We are a multi-service agency that is closely connected to the communities in which we work. We have great respect for your strengths, perspectives, opinions and lifestyle - just as we do for our youth. We value learning and encourage you to take advantage of training opportunities so you continue to grow in your work with youth. We work as a larger team to support each other to accomplish our individual and program goals.

The 3 CYC locations are within the Municipality of Clarington:
The Loft - Courtice

The Firehouse - Bowmanville

NYC - Newcastle

The CYC offers a wide range of programming tailored to the diverse youth and needs within the Municipality of Clarington. The CYCs operate as a free after-school drop-in program for youth between 12-19 years old with a fun and encouraging environment designed to foster social and recreational development as well as enhance self-confidence and life skill development. You can expect your work hours to be scheduled around the operational hours of the Centre which is currently Tuesday to Saturday.

Our services and support are based on our 5 Pillars of Programming: Social/Leisure, Sports/Recreation, Life skills, Creative/Arts, and Volunteer/Civic Engagement. We offer a variety of activities, keeping the voice of youth and developmental experiences at the centre of our programming.

**About the Role**:
As a Youth Counsellor, you will work closely with the CYC team which includes the Co-ordinator, the full time Youth Counsellors and the other casual staff. Primarily, you will work alongside the full-time counsellors to implement the day-to-day programming and engage youth to maintain a supportive, safe and fun atmosphere within the Centre. You will share your ideas for the programming and operation of the youth centres. Your strong listening and communication skills, genuine care for youth and their development, along with your energy, creativity and enthusiasm will serve you well in this role.

**Your job includes things like**:
**_
Youth Work_**
- Use your versatile communication skills to support the youth in the Centre by listening to their problems and solutions, offering alternative options, providing choices, reframing situations, etc
- Reflecting on your own practice with youth to grow your skills
- Be a positive role model, engage all youth and ensure a safe supportive space for everyone
- Introduce new activities; sometimes to challenge the youth to get out of their comfort zone and sometimes to provide an opportunity to show their talents
- Connecting youth to other youth or connecting them to other community supports building healthy relationships
- Understanding boundaries: maintaining confidentiality, reporting incidents

**_ Administrative Work_**
- You will ensure program policies and procedures are followed for many reasons including safety, reporting on the great work we do, etc.
- Use your amazing communication skills for professional and timely correspondence with your colleagues
- Attend program meetings, as required, to contribute your support and ideas for the development of the CYC
- Maintain a clean and safe work environment

**If you have the following we want to hear from you**
- Post-secondary diploma or degree related to social services or child and youth work.
- Recreation experience a valuable asset.
- And _
- Experienced in support, de-escalation and crisis intervention skills
- A passion for working with youth and youth programming relevant to youths needs and current trends
- Ideas for leveraging social media for our work with youth
- Able to take initiative and work as part of a team
- Experience being an amazing role model and/or mentor for youth
- Organized yet flexible, creative, and fun
- Strong sense of community and understanding the challenges youth face in the society in which we live
- Valid Class G driver's license with appropriate 2 million liability insurance is an asset
- Valid Standard First Aid/CPR Certification
- Crisis Intervention training and certification
- ASIST Certification is an asset
- Satisfactory Police/Vulnerable Sector Check, if selected for the position

**_ ~ Group Dynamics_**~**_Gender Expression and Identity_**_~ Racism_**
**_~ Cultural or Religious Prejudices_**
**_~ Substance Use_**
**_~ Family Dynamics_**
**_~ Healthy Relationships_**
**_~ Education and learning challenges_**
**_~ Life Skills_**
**_~ Support network development_**
**_~ Systems Experiences (ie: Child Welfare, Criminal Justice)_**
**_~ Confidence/Self Esteem_**

**Status: Casual/On Call
**Duration: Continuous**

**Hours: S*