Residential Worker

**Job Title**: Residential Worker

**Department**: Youth Transitional Housing Program

**Location**: Durham Region (Whitby and Oshawa)

**Posting Start Date**:September 12, 2024**

**Posting End Date: Continuous**

**Employment Group**: CUPE 2936.13, casual/relief

**Salary Grid Rate**: $22.22 per hour

**Travel**: Yes, as required (mileage reimbursement)

**Benefits**: No

**Start Date**: As soon as possible

**John Howard Society of Durham Region Mission Statement**:

- To reduce the impact of crime and its causes by providing a spectrum of effective prevention and intervention programs._

**Position Summary**:
The Youth Transitional Housing program offers a safe, structured, and supportive environment for female-identifying, male-identifying, non-binary, and gender-fluid youth, primarily (but not exclusively) within Durham Region. The program focuses on helping youth develop the skills necessary for independent living, including budgeting, time management, menu planning, job retention, food preparation, communication, goal setting, problem solving, and decision making, as well as informal counselling support tailored to individual needs. The program provides a stable living space, life skills development, 24/7 staff support, community integration through educational and employment opportunities, and involving youth in housekeeping and maintenance, helping them build the confidence to live independently.

**Responsibilities**:
As a Residential Worker, your responsibilities will include participating in intake, reference checks, and move-in and move-out duties, facilitating life skills development (e.g., budgeting, job retention, communication), and creating individualized service plans. The role involves maintaining accurate documentation, assisting with housekeeping, ensuring safety protocols, and completing administrative tasks. Additionally, you'll support daily activities, dispense medications upon request, collaborate with the team, represent the program in the community, and advocate for youth by liaising with community partners to ensure access to needed services.

**Key Relationships**:
Supervisors, youth, program staff, families and guardians, community partners, schools and employers, healthcare providers and mental health professionals, government agencies and social services such as: Ontario Works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), and Children's Aid Society (CAS), Local Law Enforcement.

**If you have the following, we want to hear from you**
- Related post secondary college or degree program of study such as psychology, counselling, or social work
- A solid understanding of the issues and trends that youth face
- Proven experience working with youth
- Valid Class G license with appropriate liability coverage (2 million liability coverage)
- Ability to work all hours that the residence is open, including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Valid Standard First Aid/CPR, Crisis Intervention, and ASIST certification is an asset
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality
- Ability to resolve conflicts and problems effectively
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to take initiative and work as part of a team
- Flexibility with an ability to adapt to changing situations and needs within the program
- Strong case management and organization skills
- Basic computer literacy and familiarity with software for documentation and communication
- If selected employment is conditional upon a satisfactory Police/Vulnerable Sector Check and a Children's Aid Society Child Protection Screening

**Work Conditions**:

- May be exposed to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc.
- Interacts with the public, clients, staff, visitors, and staff from other organizations
- Ongoing physical activity including walking, standing, sitting, lifting
- Some seasonal duties: (shovelling snow, salting driveway and walkways, taking garbage out to curb, yard work)
- Able to lift items as heavy as 35 lbs.
- Manual dexterity required to use desktop computer and peripherals
- Flexible hours as required

**Conditions of Employment**:

- The terms and conditions of employment are in accordance with the Collective Agreement between the John Howard Society of Durham and C.U.P.E. (Bargaining Unit Local 2936.13)._
- Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the recruitment and assessment process in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Applicants need to make their needs known in advance._