PLEA Community Services is currently seeking two (2) Regular Part-Time Youth Care Workers for our Lighthouse team. The proposed start date for these positions is June 12, 2023. These positions require BCGEU membership. 

The Lighthouse program provides care to youth with moderate to severe behavioural challenges and assists them to live successfully in residential settings. The Youth Care Worker ensures that the youth's physical, emotional, social, educational, and medical needs are met. The Youth Care Worker assists youth to enhance quality of life with activities of daily living and the development of life skills. 

Please submit a resume and cover letter referencing the competition number 2023086YCW2. Closing date for Internal Applications: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 4:30PM. If the positions are not filled internally, they will remain open until filled.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

1. Monitors youth in residential settings and ensures their safety and well-being. Recognizes, analyses, and deals with potential emergency situations such as aggressive behaviour to ensure no harm comes to the youth and/or the public. Identifies and reports critical incidents to their manager. Complies with youth safety plans.
2. Ensures effective communication and coordination between the Family Caregiver, internal staff, and the youth. Liaises with external stakeholders such as the school, family, and the community, where appropriate.
3. Provides feedback to the youth on their behaviour, teaches coping techniques and adaptive behaviour strategies, and provides guidance and support to youth on a one-to-one and/or group basis.
4. Teaches youth to relate in a socially appropriate manner through the use of daily routines and activities. Provides life skills training such as meal preparation, housekeeping, personal care skills and personal finance as required by their service plans.
5. Participates in various youth-focused activities in accordance with the youth’s service plan.
6. Participates in the assessment, goal setting and program planning (service plan) for youth living in a residence. Documents, implements and provides input into the evaluation of the youth’s progress.
7. Provides crisis intervention and emotional support to youth in accordance with established policy.
8. Coordinates, schedules and accompanies youth to appointments and community outings.
9. Performs residence/program maintenance and housekeeping duties such as laundry, sweeping, mopping floors, mowing lawns, inventory, shopping, cleaning equipment and meal preparation.
10. Maintains reports such as statistics, logbooks, and case notes on daily activities with youth.
11. Assists the youth in self-administering medication in accordance with established policy.
12. Protects and upholds confidentiality.
13. Performs other related duties as required.

Skills and Abilities: 

1. Effective interpersonal skills and the demonstrated ability to build trusting and effective relationships with youth, Family Caregivers, internal staff, professionals and families.
2. Effective de-escalation, crisis management and problem-solving skills.
3. Demonstrated teamwork and collaboration skills.
4. Demonstrated ability to work independently and take initiative, make sound decisions and follow service and safety plans in high pressure situations.
5. Effective time management and organizational skills.
6. Effective oral and written communication skills.
7. Demonstrated ability to be sensitive and understanding of individuals’ social realities including issues of race, culture, religion, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, poverty and lifestyle.
8. Demonstrated knowledge of issues and trends related to the program.

Qualifications

Education and Knowledge:

1. Diploma (6o credits/two years) in a related human/social services field.
2. Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and database systems.

Training and Experience:

1. Six (6) or more months of recent related experience.

Requirements:

1. Satisfactory Criminal Record Clearance.
2. Satisfactory Centralized Services Hub Clearance by the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
3. Must possess a valid Occupational First Aid Level 1 Certificate or be willing to obtain one prior to hire.
4. The candidate may be required to complete a Tuberculosis Screening Test prior to the start of employment. 
5. A valid B.C. Driver's License (Class 5 or Class 7), and suitable driver's abstract.
6. Documentation that the applicant is legally approved to work in Canada.
7. Our funding contracts require that successful applicants are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to their start date.
8. The usual hours of work are different for each of these positions and are as follows:

         Schedule 1: Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 4:00PM to 12:00AM, Sunday from 8:00AM to 4:00PM, based on 32 working hours per week;

         Schedule 2: Saturday and Sunday from 12:00AM to 8:00AM, Monday from 4:00PM to 12:00AM, based on 24 working hours per week.

Note: PLEA conducts primary source verification of applicant's credentials including education, training, work history, and licensure.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.