JOB OPPORTUNITY: Directions Youth Shelter Worker

Directions Youth Shelter Worker Competition # 73-20

ABOUT DIRECTIONS YOUTH SERVICES

Directions Youth Services is a collection of services and locations supporting vulnerable youth. This includes a 24-hour drop-in centre, outreach teams, pre-employment programs, two safe houses, and a youth detox centre. The trauma-informed and client centred philosophy creates safety for youth to access a full spectrum of supports including primary care, mental health and substance use resources.

Directions is a division of Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV), which for over 90 years has provided trauma counselling and essential resources for children, families and individuals facing life’s challenges.

HERE’S WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER

This salaried position will serve homeless youth aged 19 to 24 in accessing a temporary 12 bed shelter offered within Directions Youth Service Centre. This shelter will be open seven nights a week until March 31, 2021. This position works to promote safer, healthier alternatives, and where possible, to assist in the transition of youth from the street to residences and providing referral information where possible to clients. The position will consist of working with a variety of at-risk and homeless youth struggling with addiction, including those with intellectual, emotional/social challenges and concurrent disorders. This position reports to the Afterhours and Peer Support Supervisors.

Hours of work: (Eight paid hours, 1-hour unpaid break)

24-hour salary per week.

#1 - Sunday-Tuesday 12am-9am (starting Saturday night 11:59pm)

32-hour salary per week.

#2 - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 12am to 9am (Starting on Tuesday night at 11:59pm-Wed 9am)

YOUR KEY CONTRIBUTIONS

• Initiate contact with all youth referred to shelter and build trusting, supportive, therapeutic relationships and assess youth eligibility to access the shelter.
• Identify individual needs for youth accessing the program through intake process and provide support, encouragement, collaboration and education to clients in matters related to crisis intervention, harm reduction, conflict resolution, community resources, alcohol and drug information, and advocacy to clients and referral calls utilizing youth social work best practice.
• Monitors youth in shelter, ensuring the safety and comfort of clients, by observing client behavior, document and informing supervisor and co-workers as required.
• Monitors the overall safety of the Centre/ shelter through enforcing Centre guidelines by observation to detect inappropriate behavior, drug use, and contraband.
• Participates in the management of emergency situations by initiating first aid, calling emergency medical services, and /or police and defusing situations.
• Responsive to inter-program integrated case management plans, other service agencies and health care professionals in the implementation and revision of client service plans/ terms of service or service restrictions.
• Ensures maintenance of the facility and care of clients by performing daily cleaning, outdoor clean up, minor repairs, preparation of meals, and or snacks for clients.
• Performs clerical duties as required such as answering phones, filing, sorting, and entering information on data bases and monitoring email.
• Maintains daily client logs, notes, documents, forms, reports, shift change and complete/enter daily statistical information.
• Actively participate in staff meetings, performance development, and continuing education and/or agency initiatives.
• Ensure adherence to all program and agency policies and procedures, and accreditation standards.

WHAT YOU BRING

Education and Experience:

• Two years’ post-secondary course/diploma in social work or youth care/certificate in related field
• Food Safe Certification and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training an asset
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working with youth, preferably in support of homeless/marginalized youth
• A combination of education and experience may be considered

Knowledge/Abilities:

• Knowledge of the systemic issues that affect low income and marginalized youth
• Knowledge of substance misuse, adolescent development and the problems encountered by chemically dependent individuals; basic understanding of behavioral management
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients
• Ability to communicate proficiently both verbally and in writing, and basic computer literacy
• Ability to work independently and a part of a team

WHAT WE OFFER YOU

Directions Youth Services offers purposeful careers, serving the most vulnerable members of our community. This role offers you the opportunity to make a positive impact in our community.

We support career development and training for staff to reach their potential, and offer mentorship and professional advancement in a supportive environment. We recognize the importance of work-life balance, wellness and a safe, inclusive and welcoming workplace that values diversity and respect for all.

Salary/Pay Grade: GS6, Step 1 - $1,343.36 gross bi-weekly for 32 hours per week

                                                       $1,007.52 gross bi-weekly for 24 hours per week

Start Date: ASAP

Term Ends: March 31, 2021

Location: 1138 Burrard St Vancouver BC

HOW TO APPLY

If this describes you, please submit your application to us through our website through this link:

https://fsgv.ca/careers/?gnk=job&gni=8a7883a8766d9a530176b5daebc21da9&gns=Work+In+Non+Profits 

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

FSGV is committed to the principles of diversity. We encourage applications from qualified people of all genders expressions and identities, sexual orientations, visible minorities, Indigenous persons and persons with disabilities.

Post End Date: January 14, 2021

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 #73-20 in 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**