Residential Night Counsellor

August 18, 2025 Posting # 1497
- **YouthLink believes in the potential of every youth. We are dedicated to providing them with the support, guidance and opportunities they need to make positive life choices. We provide youth with brief and ongoing counselling, in-home wraparound support, shelter, housing, educational support, and safe drop-in spaces. YouthLink works towards equitable outcomes for youth in our community and, as such, is committed to equity-based hiring practices.**_

**Resident Night Counsellor**

**(Temporary Contract, Full-time, 40 hours/week)**

**Starting ASAP - October 31, 2025**

**(Bargaining unit position)**

This position is responsible for providing high quality residential care for 9 female identified youth (14-18) and youth who are gender fluid, non-binary and transitioning from male to female and female to male in a live-in treatment home. The program is committed to fostering an environment which promotes safety and security for youth who have experienced any or all of the following. Traumatic events, abuse, parental/family conflict, neglect, and/or issues with attachment that more than likely are contributing to a deterioration of their mental health, sense of self and low self esteem. This position provides direct care and case management, as well as administrative and household functions of the residence.

**Highlights of Your Role**

**Client Care-Awake Care**
- Ensures home environment fosters a therapeutic milieu by creating a home like atmosphere. Models a calming and nurturing presence. Navigates peer dynamics, building self-esteem, creating a safe and positive environment.
- Conduct hourly bedroom checks to ensure client safety and well-being.
- Participates in treatment planning or provides observation feedback to team, ensures the continuity of service,

**House Care**
- Maintains the residence; including cleaning, maintenance tasks, garbage removal, snow removal, fire drills and fire safety checks and other routine tasks associated with the care of the residence such as menu planning, grocery list. Wake-ups and night checks, laundry support and settling in routines. Ensures daily census is current.
- Performs daily Counts: Petty cash, razor, sharps, knife, and daily safety checks of the house including fire exits. Conducts routine cleanliness checks (e.g. Expired food or unlabelled food)

**Medication and Safety Planning**
- Dispenses and documents medications.
- Accompanies residents to the hospital.
- Monitors substance use and promotes safety, and use of coping skills.

**Report Writing, Documentation and Health Record Management**
- Writes reports serious occurrence and incident reports in compliance with ministry guidelines and Youthlinks policies and procedures Completes daily logs, medical logs, and missing person reports. Conducts risk assessments and completes safety plans in accordance with ministry guidelines and Youthlink’s policies and procedures
- Ensures file audits licensing standards, completes daily reports, and Handles crisis situation and implements treatment plan.

Any other duties as assigned.

**Highlights of What You Bring**

**Education (degree/diploma/certifications)**
- Child & Youth Worker Diploma, Child and Youth Care Diploma, Bachelor of Social Work, Psychology or a directly related discipline
- EMHware system navigation, Teams, Trauma Informed training
- CPI nonviolent crisis intervention, First Aid and CPR is an asset.
- Membership in the OACYC is an asset.

**Experience**
- Minimum 2 years of experience working with adolescent youth with complex needs from a strength based, relational approach. Experience working with youth in a mental health setting.
- Two (2) years’ experience working in residential group treatment with adolescent youth and with their families/caregivers is an asset.

**Knowledge/Skill/Ability**
- Trauma informed lens and utilizes a strength-based approach to the work.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Experienced in conducting risk assessments and safety planning.
- Ability to perform tasks involving physical activity, including lifting, bending and prolonged standing.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills is an asset.
- Comfort and proficiency in using technology to engage youth and families (e.g. phone, text) and in completing client contact documentation (e.g. EHR, Microsoft Word, Adobe, and Outlook) is an asset.
- Ability to prioritize responsibilities is an asset.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team is an asset.
- Knowledge of community services, relevant CYFSA legislation, Quality Service Framework (QSF) and social justice issues is an asset.
- Familiarity with suicide/risk assessment and crisis support services is an asset.
- Familiarity with operating from an Anti-Black Racism lens and knowledge of working with black youth and their families/caregivers is an asset.
- Experience with substance use/harm reduction theory and practice as applied to youth and fami