Location: Abbotsford

“In the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of witnessing two children with disabilities go through their teen years and into adulthood. In that time, I have been challenged, changed, and have grown. They have brought a sense of true joy into the everyday interactions and taught me that the simple pleasures in life are our greatest treasures and blessings.” Bethesda staff member

Is this you? Energized by children and teens? Motivated by seeing others thrive? An encourager that delights in the successes of others? Then this may be the job for you.

The residential child and youth worker provides support to children or youth who have moderate to severe behavioural challenges. You will be supporting one or more children or youth under 19 years of age in an attractive, home-like setting designed especially for day and overnight respite. The child or youth live at home with their families and come to the home every week. Attending respite gives them stimulation and growth opportunity and their families a break to recharge. The number of hours a child or youth attends respite varies with each family’s needs.

You understand the importance of building relationship with each young person as a friend and mentor to foster the trust and confidence for them to thrive. You will support and empower each young person to grow in their abilities, develop skills in all areas of their life, and help them to generally figure out life. During this pivotal and fast-changing stage of life, your influence on them will be great. You take that responsibility seriously, equipped as you are with maturity and good judgment and a high degree of Christian commitment.

It is important to ensure that you too are empowered and encouraged to grow in your role. You will be working with a team of people, including specialists from community resources, other residential child and youth workers, and an experienced, on-site manager. You will also receive on the job training so that you feel confident in your interactions and decisions. You will have the tools and skills to discover the interests, unique abilities, and the ways each child or youth you support communicates.

Your deep-seated love of children and youth and ability to connect to them on an individual level will be your foundation for developing into a confident and caring residential child and youth worker specializing in empowering a young person. You understand the need for confidentiality to protect the rights and safety of the children or youth and their families receiving our services.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Attend to the physical, recreational, leisure, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs of each child or youth.
• Help each young person grow in personal care skills and assist with personal care when needed.
• Assist each child or youth to use their language and communication abilities.
• Plan and lead developmentally appropriate crafts, games, activities and excursions.
• Help the young person in developing interpersonal skills to relate in a socially appropriate manner.
• Provide behaviour management counselling to the young person on a one-to-one basis by performing duties such as providing feedback on their behaviour, teaching coping techniques and adaptive behaviour and providing guidance and support.
• Provide emotional support and crisis intervention to a young person who may require non-violent physical interventions.
• Attend to daily health needs, reporting changes in status to the supervisor.
• Assist with dispensing of medications.
• Support each child or youth in their faith practice and system of beliefs.
• Document the care of the child or youth being supported.
• Complete vehicle, maintenance and safety documentation.
• Support household upkeep, cleaning duties, meal preparation and other household responsibilities.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• A desire and capacity to work with children and youth who have moderate to sever behavioural challenges, and a belief that the person receiving support is uniquely valuable.
• A heart to serve children and youth and their families.
• Availability to work a variety of shifts as needed over a 24-hour day period. Hours of work may vary.
• Report to and be assigned duties by the resource manager.
• Possession of Canadian citizenship, landed immigrant or legal working status.
• Standard requirements (criminal record check, medical clearance, Class 5 driver’s licence (Class 4 will be required upon hire), Tuberculosis screening, ICBC driving record, immunization records/history).
• Diploma in a related human / social service field an asset.
• Two years recent related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience an asset.
• Full COVID-19 immunization.
• A philosophy of care in line with Bethesda’s philosophy of Christian service and support for people with intellectual disabilities.

BENEFITS

• Competitive salary: $23.10-$26.91.
• Casual part-time, maximum 21 hours/week. Casual employees are eligible to apply for permanent, part-time positions once all job requirements are obtained.
• Training is provided.
• Benefits, including 3 weeks vacation, are provided to permanent positions with guaranteed hours of 20 or more/week.

At Bethesda, we’re about creating community among the people we serve, our staff and our surrounding communities. We are all interdependent as we experience life together, and all valuable for the abilities we share. We know we learn from and need each other to thrive.

Bethesda’s ministry is a Christian faith-based service. For more information about Bethesda, visit us at bethesdabc.com, Facebook or Instagram.