Youth Care Practitioner

**About The Link: Youth and Family Supports**

For more than 90 years, The Link has helped youth and families on a journey to healing, hope, and better lives. The organization is dedicated to walking alongside children, youth, and families as an inclusive community, strengthening and empowering a sense of being, pride, and purpose. With over 15 diverse programs, The Link has a community of caring staff that work together to provide support through a 24-hour crisis line, youth resource centers, emergency shelters, mobile crisis teams, specialized foster care, healing homes, job readiness supports, and Skills4Life. With a strong foundation within the community and a focus on connection, unity, and compassion, the organization provides a vital link for youth and families in the province of Manitoba.

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Youth Care Practitioners (YCP) in each Healing Home at The Link: Youth and Family Supports report to the Program Supervisor of the Healing Home and are responsible for implementing all aspects of the day-to-day functioning of the program. The YCP is expected to provide ongoing, culturally sensitive care while adhering to organizational policies and procedures. A major focus of their work with young people is to be a positive role model at all times and to intervene purposefully into the young people's daily life events in a manner which will help the young person reach the agreed upon goals of their time within the program. Youth Care Practitioners work from a needs-based, trauma informed, relational child and youth care approach as per the organization's expectations and standards.

**PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES**:
Responsibilities of the Youth Care Practitioner include, but are not limited to:

- Provide holistic mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual support based on the teachings of the Medicine Wheel
- Work with youth to problem solve, and navigate a variety of systems
- Perform shelter intakes, assessments, and registration duties
- Provide support and crisis intervention
- Perform various administrative duties related to the care of the youth staying in the shelter
- Supervise, and provide service and basic needs/care to youth
- Perform general facility tasks, cleaning, cooking chores, and routines
- Attend staff meeting and training as required
- Work in collaboration with other team members and external service providers
- (Occasionally) take on an in-charge role, overseeing the shifts and providing direction when needed in the Senior Youth Care Practitioner’s absence
- Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

- Certificate or diploma in Child & Youth Care or a combination of education, work experience and lived experience may be considered.
- Experience working with vulnerable youth
- Knowledge of Indigenous customs, traditions, and beliefs considered an asset.
- Knowledge of trauma and resilience informed care
- Strong counseling skills and experience in Relational Care, as well as excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C.
- Satisfactory Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search completed within the last three (3) months.
- Acceptable Child Abuse and Adult Abuse Registry Checks with acceptable Prior Contact Check; all completed within the last three (3) months.
- ** Valid Class 5F Driver's License**

Preferred/Asset, or willing to obtain within the first three (3) months:

- Mental Health First Aid & Safe Talk.
- Commit 2 Kids Training.
- Certification in either DLE (The Purposeful Use of Daily Life Events) or TCS (Therapeutic Crisis Solutions).
- ASIST Certificate (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and De-escalation training preferred.

**Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities upon request. If you are contacted by The Link regarding a job opportunity, please know that you are welcome to request an accommodation at any point in the process. All information received regarding accommodations will be kept confidential.**

**SALARY: $18.00.**

**HOURS OF WORK: Varied shifts including days, evenings, weekends, holidays and overnights**

**HOW TO APPLY: Please submit a cover letter and resume by the deadline; Applicants must demonstrate in their resume and cover letter how they meet the requirements of the position.**

**APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled