JOB OPPORTUNITY: Indigenous Outreach Worker

Indigenous Outreach Worker Competition #82-24

About this Role

Directions Youth Services is a division of Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV), which for more than 90 years has provided a variety of essential resources for children, families and individuals in the Greater Vancouver community.  We believe in the resiliency of Vancouver’s youth who are at-risk, homeless, and street-involved. We assist youth under the age of 25 to get counselling for trauma, mental health or substance issues. Our teams strive to create spaces and build connections with youth who are facing challenges of street life, substance use, mental health concerns, and disconnection from their communities. Directions inclusive programs of shelter and drop-in, safe houses and other unique programs are committed to being a community leader in harm reduction work and fostering low-barrier spaces where all youth are welcome. 

Working within the mission, vision, values and person-centred philosophy of the Agency, the Indigenous Outreach Worker’s position works to improve and promote the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness of individuals, focusing on the Indigenous youth community. The practical aim of this position is to promote awareness of, and connect Indigenous youth to appropriate services, resources, and cultural connections to reduce the harm in their lives. This position consists of working with a variety of at-risk, homeless and street entrenched youth 24 years and under (prioritizing youth 18 and under) struggling with addiction, intellectual, emotional and social challenges, mental health issues, concurrent issues, and sexual exploitation. The Indigenous Outreach Worker provides culturally based services to homeless and at-risk youth, and supports Indigenous youth in connecting to cultural resources and programming. It actively supports the agency’s awareness and goals around diversity, inclusion justice and equity.

About our Opportunity:

Our Valued Benefits:

•       Flexible scheduling

•       Starting at 3 weeks’ vacation for full-time staff

•       3 paid household leave days a year

•       2 paid Wellness Days a year

•       Paid sick days

•       2 1/2 paid Agency days for full-time staff

•       5 paid days for education leave/year

•       1 paid Moving Day/year

•       Subsidized professional association annual dues (if applicable)

•       A work culture that values transparency, teamwork, learning, fairness and integrity

Health and Wellness Resources:

•       Generous health/dental benefits after 3 months.

•       3 flex benefit options to meet your individualized needs

•       Option of psychological/counselling services (up to $1500/year)

•       Employee Assistance Plan

•       Long Term Disability Plan

•       Manulife Insurance, Travel insurance, ++

Pension: Municipal Pension Plan enrollment for eligible employees

Work Hours: 35 hours per week, Tuesday-Saturday 12pm-8pm (1 hour unpaid meal break)

Salary: GS9 Step 1 $28.81 per hour

Location: Directions Youth Services, 1138 Burrard Street, Vancouver BC

Posting End Date: Posting will remain open until filled

What you bring:

•     Collaborative Communication, including teamwork & cooperation, interpersonal communication, diversity and cultural agility

•     Personal Effectiveness, including integrity and ethical behavior, personal resilience, adaptability/flexibility, commitment to learning

•     Personal Leadership, including influence, initiative, judgment and decision making, creativity and innovation

•     Commitment to Excellence, including results focus, client-centered service, planning and organizing, professional expertise and technological proficiency

Education, Training, Experience

•     Two years’ post-secondary course/diploma in social work or youth care/certificate in related field

•     Minimum 1 year experience working with high-risk Indigenous youth

•     Experience with adolescent development and issues involving sexually exploited youth, mental health, drug and alcohol misuse, concurrent issues and poverty

•     Lived/living experience is considered an asset

•     A combination of education/experience can be considered

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

•     Knowledge of Indigenous and other community, social, and health resources

•     Knowledge of the systemic issues that affect low income and marginalized people, especially Indigenous youth

•     Knowledge of substance misuse, adolescent development and the problems encountered by chemically dependent individuals; basic understanding of behavioural management

•     Knowledge and understanding of the intergenerational trauma caused by colonization, integration and assimilation

•     Knowledge and awareness of issues that may affect sexually exploited youth

•     Basic knowledge of mental health issues and treatment

•     Knowledge of and belief in the Harm Reduction model

•     Ability to observe and recognize change in clients

•     Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients

•     Ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients

•     Ability to deal effectively with conflict situations, manage aggressive behaviour, and use non-violent crisis intervention and behavioural management techniques

•     Ability to establish/maintain satisfactory work relationships with the public and other employees to deal tactfully and effectively with co-workers, public and other agencies and to maintain confidentiality

•     Basic computer literacy

Additional Requirements

•     Successful completion of a Criminal Record Check

•     Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training

•     Valid class 5 BC driver’s licence

•     Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position (carrying a full back pack containing harm reduction supplies, water and snacks)

How to apply:

If this describes you, please submit your application to us through our website, https://fsgv.ca/careers/

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. Thank you for your interest.

We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the communities we so proudly serve, while encompassing the principles of equity, inclusion and diversity. We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, people of all gender expressions and sexual orientations including queer, trans, and two-spirit people. In our words and actions, we recognize the challenges for those facing inequalities, while acknowledging our privilege, as we continuously strive to remove bias and reduce barriers that individuals may experience in the hiring and job-seeking process. We invite feedback from all applicants who apply for roles with the Agency.

If you require a disability-related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please email your resume and cover letter (indicating the competition number #82-24 in the email subject line) outlining your interest and relevant experience to your contact information to   for follow-up. **If you are an internal candidate, please indicate “Internal Candidate” in the Comments section at the bottom of the online application**

Our programs are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unseeded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil Waututh), Qayqayt, Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwekwetlem, Semiahmoo, Matsqui, and Tsawwassen First Nations. Huy ch q’u.