Special Services Youth Worker

**Who we are**: Aunt Leah’s is a non-profit organization that helps prevent children in foster care from becoming homeless and mothers in need from losing custody of their children. To support youth on their journey to self-sufficiency, we provide supported housing, job training, and coaching on essential life skills.

**Job Summary**:Job Summary**:Reporting to the Program Coordinator, the Special Services Youth Worker works in a one-to-one capacity, developing reliable, consistent supporting relationships and assisting youth in the Support Link Program on their journey to growth and self-sufficiency with one of the many goals being that of preventing homelessness. Works within a semi-independent living residential setting to provide a variety of support services such as conflict resolution, counseling, crisis intervention, supervision, and transportation to youth with moderate to severe behavioral issues. Available on call (on a rotational basis) to respond to participants’ crises that may require short-term overnight staffing in a Support Link suite. From a strengths-based approach and intervention, the Special Services Youth Worker will work to identify strengths, issues, and areas of risk, and develop and implement short-term and long-term goals and strategies within program guidelines.

**Reports To**: Link Program Coordinator

**Salary**:$23.00/ hour

**Qualifications**:

- Post-Secondary Child and Youth Care diploma, or Social Worker Diploma or degree or, Diploma or certificate in Human/ Social Services
- A minimum of 1 year of experience working with high-risk youth or
- A relevant combination of education and experience combined with general suitability
- Undergo & maintain a satisfactory Criminal Record Check & Local Police Check
- Undergo & Maintain MCFD contracted agency caregiver clearance
- Valid Class 5 driver’s license and access to a vehicle
- Clean Driver’s Abstract
- Proof of vehicle business insurance of $5 million liability
- Overdose Rapid Response Training
- First Aid - Level C w/ CPR
- Mental Health First Aid
- Suicide Prevention Training
- Cultural Competency Training
- Addictions & Substance use Training
- Food Safe
- CPI - Non-violent Crisis Prevention Intervention Training
- Agrees and adheres to the Society’s Code of Ethics

**Knowledge & Skills & Abilities (KSA)**:

- Trauma Informed Practice
- Motivational Interviewing
- Person-Centered Approach
- Landlord Tenancy Acts
- Ministry of Children and Family Development knowledge
- Substance Abuse/misuse
- Youth development stages
- Knowledge of Indigenous culture
- Proven initiative, judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities
- Demonstrated ability to take action in a crisis management environment
- Ability to manage a solid self-care plan
- Suicide Prevention
- Documentation/Report Writing
- Organizational skills
- Time management
- Medication Management

**Key Duties and Responsibilities**:
**Direct Care (One to One Support)**: Supports, encourages and challenges youth, through developing a trusting relationship with the youth. Support will include:

- Household maintenance skills (housing search, basic cooking skills, menu planning, house cleaning, laundry, personal hygiene, shopping, keeping their suite secure etc.)
- Education/vocational upgrading (assistance and support in obtaining appropriate training, participating with the youth in making contact with appropriate community resources);
- Financial management (opening bank accounts, writing cheques, paying bills, budgeting, saving, obtaining social insurance numbers, paying rent, etc.)
- Interpersonal skills (developing and maintaining healthy relationships, conflict resolution, seeking assistance and support from friends and professionals as necessary, etc.)
- Health and personal habits (training and education in basic health care, development of responsible sexual practices, accessing additional services such as Mental Health/A&D Counseling & medication management, accompanies and /or transports youth to and from appointments)
- Leisure activities (identifies and participates in social and recreational activities in the community that meet the youth’s needs. Provide life skill, social and interpersonal skill-building and model appropriate behaviour through these activities)
- Cultural Connectivity (assistance and support around connecting with their heritage and participating in the cultural practices of their home (or identified home) communities

**Direct Care (Other Duties)**:

- Assists in the identification of social, emotional, and behavioral problems by reporting observations to the integrated case management team
- Support workers will provide direct support services such as conflict resolution and short-term crisis intervention
- Works with youth on strategies around anger and behaviour management. This may be on a one-on-one and/ or group basis by performing duties such as providing feedback on youth’s behaviour, teaching coping te