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.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Link Youth and Family Supports is looking for a Youth Care Practitioner for a full-time overnight position, within the Youth Resource Centre (YRC). The Youth Care Practitioner is responsible to provide shelter, crisis intervention, youth intake, and case planning as well as basic needs service provision to vulnerable youth and young adults in an emergency shelter setting, using a person-centered, non-judgmental, trauma-informed, strength-based philosophy. The Youth Care Practitioner is also responsible for collaborating across various systems to ensure that outcomes are in the best interest of the youth, and align with the overall mission and purpose of the program.

Duties are performed within a team environment that focuses on establishing collaborative and trusting relationships with youth and colleagues.  Providing culturally competent services and ensuring youth safety, choice, and control are priorities at The Link: Youth and Family Supports.  

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Duties and responsibilities of the Youth Care Practitioner

• Incorporates the seven sacred teachings in carry out task and daily activities
• Provide holistic mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual support based on the teachings of the Medicine Wheel
• Work with youth to problems solve, and navigate a variety of systems 
• Performs shelter intakes, assessments, and registration duties
• Provides support and crisis intervention
• Performs various administrative duties related to the care of the youth staying in the shelter
• Supervises, provides service and basic needs care to youth
• Performs general facility tasks, cleaning and cooking chores, and routines
• Attends staff meeting and training as required
• Works in collaboration with other teams and external service providers
• Occasionally takes on an in-charge role, overseeing the shifts and providing direction when needed in the Senior Youth Care Worker's absence
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Post-secondary education or a combination of education, work experience and lived experience may be considered.
• Experience working with vulnerable youth.
• Knowledge of trauma and resilience informed care.
• Strong relationship building skills and experience in de-escalation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C.
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search, a clear Child Abuse Registry check with acceptable Prior Contact checks and a clear Adult Abuse Registry check, all done within the last 3 months.
• ASIST Certificate (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) preferred.
• De-escalation training preferred.
• Mental Health First Aid & Safe Talk will be considered an asset.
• Knowledge of Indigenous customs, traditions, and beliefs will be considered an asset.

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 to $20.00 per hour. Dependent on qualifications

HOURS OF WORK: Monday - Sunday - Awake Overnights shifts)

NUMBER OF POSITIONS: One (1)

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

The Link is an equal opportunity employer, Indigenous people, women, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The Link is committed to developing and retaining a diverse workforce. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted. For further information about our other employment and volunteer opportunities please visit  

Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities