Location: Abbotsford

The 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.

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.

You will be working with a team of people, including specialists from community resources, other child and youth workers, and an experienced, on-site manager. You will also receive on the job training and tools to discover the interests, unique abilities, and the ways each child or youth you support communicates.

Bethesda is committed to leadership development at all levels and offers opportunities for emerging leaders to learn and practice through a unique Leadership-in-Training program, as well as leadership roles within your current position. For more information, see Bethesda’s Training Up Leaders webpage at https://bethesdabc.com/leadership-training.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Attend to the physical, recreational, leisure, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs of each 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 one-to-one behaviour support counselling by 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 severe behavioural challenges, and a belief that the person receiving support is uniquely valuable.
• A heart to serve children and youth and their families.
• A philosophy of care in line with Bethesda’s Christian foundations and guiding principles.
• 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.

BENEFITS

• Hiring bonus: $100 at time of hire, another $200 after 1 year of continuous employment and completion of all job requirements.
• Competitive salary: $23.10-$26.91/hr.
• 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 and support relevant to your position.
• Exclusive employee discounts on a range of products and services through Bethesda’s Perkopolis account.
• 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 on social media.