Community Homes for Children

**COMMUNITY HOMES FOR CHILDREN - Direct Support Worker (Term)**

New Directions is a social service agency offering a wide range of resources and services that foster people’s hopes and dreams in their communities**.**

**Child Home Services (CHS)**is one of the many programs offered by New Directions. This service area offers a range of home supports (i.e., family supports, foster home, group care homes, individualized homes, independent living, mentored living) to children, youth, and families who are dealing with challenges related to the experience of trauma and/or living with a disability. Our community-based resources are designed to support connection with family and community, a sense of belonging, and provide opportunities to engage in a meaningful life.

We are currently seeking Direct Support Workers for a specialized home that is designed to assist children and youth to develop life skills, social skills and/or access community resources. Individual care and guidance is provided to align with the needs of the child/youth to assist with mental health issues, behavioral challenges, or addictions. We provide stabilization through predictable structures, clear expectations and positive behavior support.

Position details as follows:
**Saturday**

**Sunday**

**Monday**

**Tuesday**

**Wednesday**

**Thursday**

**Friday**

**Week 1**

**9am-9pm**

**9am-9pm**

**11pm-7am**

**11pm-7am**

**Week 2**

**9am-9pm**

**9am-9pm**

**11pm-7am**

**11pm-7am**

**Responsibilities Include** (but are not limited to):

- Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team
- Demonstrate skills in basic counselling, crisis intervention, conflict resolution and problem solving
- Provide support with daily life skills, social skills and /or behaviour management.
- Assist with building skills in basic cooking, money management, shopping, and safety skills.
- Facilitate physical, recreational, educational, social and vocational activities, and maintain liaison with other agencies, professionals, government officials and the community.
- Accompany and/or transport individuals to activities such as appointments, shopping, school, employment or leisure activities.
- Recognize, analyze and deal with potential emergency situations such as individuals’ aggressive behaviour to minimize potential harm to the person and/or the public.
- Administer medication to individuals in accordance with established policies and procedures.
- Actively engage in harm reduction approaches
- Ensure health and safety standards are maintained
- Attend to the physical, emotional, and medical needs of the children or youth
- Assist with personal care routines and be comfortable with changing briefs
- Ensure that all required documentation is complete and accurate

**Qualifications**:

- Minimum two (2) years experience working with individuals with intellectual and/or cognitive disabilities. Varying experience and education may be considered
- Health Care Aide certification would be considered an asset
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- ASIST and/or Mental Health Training considered an asset
- Demonstrated understanding of Trauma Informed Care
- A valid Class 5 driver’s license is a requirement for this position
- Scheduled hours can include days, evenings, weekend and overnights

The salary range for this **one-year Term,** 80-hour bi-weekly position is $17.11 to $23.10 per hour, dependent upon education and/or experience.
- We thank all applicants for their interest in New Directions, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Unfortunately, we cannot accept telephone inquiries._