Youth Mentor

**Youth Mentor Job Posting**

As a Youth Mentor for Durham Youth Services your priority is to uphold the organization’s vision to end youth homelessness in the Durham Region. Our mission is to provide programs for at-risk and homeless youth in the Durham Region to prevent homelessness, provide shelter and other opportunities that will support their success and end the stigma of homelessness.

Our values are to be:

- Forward-Thinking_ - We are dedicated to identifying and implementing innovative and progressive solutions to ending youth homelessness.
- Connected_ - We are focused on building and maintaining strong relationships with our partners and our community to support youth.
- Collaborative_ - We work with youth to develop the tools and resources that will enable their success and contribute to a thriving community

**TERMS OF POSITION**

**This position is within the Bargaining Unit between Durham Youth Services and LiUNA Local 3000.**
- This list is meant to act as a guideline for all duties and responsibilities and as such does not cover every aspect of the position._

**DEMEANOR**
- Be positive, supportive, kind, caring, empathetic, gentle, respectful, and compassionate to all youth, staff, students, volunteers, and other community members that you come in contact with.
- Uphold the philosophy of the Housing-First model
- Provide unbiased, non-judgmental support to clients
- Provide an environment that exudes safety and security to all clients, staff, students, and volunteers
- Build positive, professional rapport with clients, staff, volunteers, students, and other members of the community
- Communicate openly and honestly with the Program Supervisor and other members of the leadership team.
- Optimize team performance by contributing to positive and supportive work environment
- Value diversity by understanding and respecting the practices, customs and values of other individuals and cultures.

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**

**CASE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Promote and provide active support to youth using the Housing-Focused model to explore and discuss past housing, barriers to housing, assistance required, current resources, and housing plan
- Encourage clients to enroll in school and/or obtain employment
- Assist clients in obtaining secure and suitable housing through searching for room/apartment rental listings, engaging in housing planning conversations with clients and supporting life skills development specifically relating to communication with landlords
- This may include accompanying clients to appointments
- Using HIFIS consistently and in a professional manner
- Keep accurate files and notes on each client
- Uphold a housing-focused philosophy of self-resolution among clients
- Coordinate and lead “LifeSkills Mondays”, working with external vendors, volunteers and facilitators to ensure sessions delivered add value to clients. Work with clients to ensure their attendance and participation.
- Update and maintain resource list (employment, mental health, addiction, etc.)
- Advocate for clients throughout various community partners that will benefit and assist clients with their housing needs
- Thorough knowledge of community resources and local housing market
- Documentation of all client interactions
- Strong crisis intervention skills

**SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Manages risk and adheres to safety and crisis protocols and policies
- As part of the roles of Youth Mentor role you could be exposed to infectious diseases.
- Responsible for reporting any health and safety concerns
- The Youth Mentor may be exposed to clients who display aggressive and threatening behavior.

**ADMINISTRATIVE AND TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Reading and updating all HIFIS notes
- Training new staff members, placement students and volunteers
- Supervising placement students and volunteers
- Follow all policy and procedures regarding confidentiality, workplace harassment, health and safety, Emergency Shelter Standards
- Attend all staff or individual meetings that are requested by the Program Supervisor, Director of Housing and Outreach Programs and/or Executive Director

**QUALIFICATIONS**
- Lived experience considered an asset.
- Child and Youth Work diploma, Social Service Worker diploma or related degree such as B.S.W, and knowledge of and sensitivity to the life experiences and needs of youth. Post-secondary education in an unrelated discipline, combined with lived experience is considered comparable.
- Demonstrated skills, experience and passion working with at-risk, marginalized or street involved youth
- Ability to provide crisis intervention and exercise good judgement in emergency and/or crisis situations
- Ability to demonstrate awareness of diversity and cultural sensitivity
- Awareness and comfort level working with youth from the LGBTQ+ community
- Ability to work independently and take responsibility for all potentialities within an emergency shelter setti