Provincial Youth Outreach Worker

**PURPOSE**:*

As one of Ottawa’s largest child and youth-serving charitable organizations, BGC Ottawa provides FREE, subsidized, and cost saving Community-based services, and life-changing programs to an annual average of 5,000 young Members each year. We provide safe, supportive places where all kids and teens, of all backgrounds, can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, and develop confidence and skills for life. From anti-Racism to Reconciliation to LGBTQ2S+, food security to scholarships to job readiness, our programs battle systemic issues with systemic solutions—equity, acceptance, support, opportunity.

As a growing team that embraces different ways of thinking, abilities, and experiences we aim to make our staff feel safe. We want you to feel heard, respected, and empowered. We believe in our diverse shared power as being the key to serving our members, volunteers, community, and each other with the utmost care.

BGC Ottawa is about building positive and inclusive environments for all.

**GENERAL SUMMARY**

This position carries responsibilities for prevention, early intervention and community outreach services under the auspices of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services ‘Youth Opportunities Strategy - Youth Outreach Workers’ program.

This is a front-line youth worker position which involves working in designated communities primarily during day, and evening/weekend hours.

**Responsibilities**:

- To initiate, develop, and implement community outreach activities in specified neighbourhoods
- To reach out and engage youth (12-25 years of age) in activities that promote assets, competencies and resiliency
- To carry out brokerage, advocacy, and resourcing functions as well as provide general information and referral services for designated youth
- To work collaboratively with youth, parents and service providers to develop effective service delivery plans
- To facilitate connections between youth and their neighbourhoods
- To participate in the facilitation of partnerships with community agencies, businesses, government and informal community groups to help foster programs
- To build an understanding of the needs, goals, aspirations, skills and abilities of youth
- To perform administrative record keeping and reporting as required

**Education/Experience**:

- University degree/College diploma in Child and Youth Development-related field
- Standard first aid/CPR certification
- 2-3 years’ experience in a youth-related field, preferably in an outreach and/or community development model

**Required knowledge, skills and abilities**:

- Ability to speak other languages in, French, Somali, or Arabic is an asset.
- Knowledge of and sensitivity to the needs of youth in Ottawa and the barriers they face.
- Knowledge of youth services in Ottawa
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to work co-operatively and negotiate effectively within a multi-disciplinary team of service providers
- Demonstrated youth mentoring skills
- Demonstrated organizational and planning skills
- Demonstrated knowledge of program evaluation and outcome measures
- Knowledge of anti-racism, anti-oppression, equity, diversity, and inclusion frameworks.

**_Please note: the following are required for this position:_**
- Valid Driver’s License
- Current police record check
- Regular evening/weekend hours of work

**WORKING CONDITIONS**

These are the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions.

Example: The majority of the work is performed in an environment that is mostly, clean and comfortable. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision on a computer screen for a large part of the working day. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

BGC Ottawa is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and to providing a workplace which is free from discrimination and harassment. This means that all job applicants, employees and volunteers receive equal treatment regardless of race, colour, ethnic or national origins, sex, marital status, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

**Salary**: $44,000.00 per year