Who we are:

UNYA has been supporting the health and wellbeing of Indigenous youth in the Metro Vancouver area for over 30 years. As a respected non-profit, charitable organization, we recognize Indigenous youth as experts in their own lives and strive to provide youth with programs and opportunities that are relevant and meaningful to them.

At Urban Native Youth Association UNYA we have developed a Philosophy of Care foundation, drawing from best practices. These philosophies are the grounding framework that shapes all of our decisions and every interaction we have with the youth we serve. Following these philosophies empowers our staff to meet youth where they are at, by giving them the ability to balance flexibility and structure. This allows us to meet our youth’s needs, and ensure that our youth experience a consistent quality of care across all UNYA programs. Our 5 key philosophies are:

• Trauma-Informed Practice
• Two-Eyed Seeing
• Harm Reduction Practice
• Youth/Person Centered Practice
• Culture as Therapy

Highlights of this opportunity:

Ravens Lodge is a 5-bed live-in program for Indigenous female youth who are in the care of the Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society. We offer a safe environment using Culture as Therapy, one-to-one support, cultural and recreational activities, care-planning, crisis management, and advocacy. We provide services to youth ages 12-18.

As a member of the Ravens Lodge program team, the Relief Child and Youth Care Worker is responsible for ensuring the safe operation of Ravens Lodge by increasing stabilization, and fostering empowerment and belonging for youth within a supportive, culturally open, and accessible environment.

This position supports youth to connect to their culture, family, and community supports, develop life skills, and make positive choices in all areas of their life.

The Relief Child and Youth Care Worker reports directly to the Program Manager.  This position maintains a casual/on-call schedule.

 Qualifications and Conditions:

1. Educational experience required (example: Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, 5 years of recent related experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience)
2. Experience working with the Indigenous community. Must demonstrate a good working knowledge of community resources in Vancouver, particularly youth & Indigenous-specific resources.
3. Knowledge and understanding of the family and social issues that Indigenous youth face today, including the generational impacts of the residential school system on families and communities.
4. Must demonstrate the ability to identify with mandate, policies, and procedures of the organization.
5. Must have a criminal record check completed by and satisfactory to UNYA.
6. Proof of Covid19 vaccination will be required.
7. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, coupled with strong crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills.
8. Class 5 Drivers License an asset
9. Demonstrated knowledge of mental health issues, addiction issues, concurrent disorders, and FASD.
10. Given the needs of the youth accessing our programs, priority will be given to qualified Indigenous, First Nations, Metis, and Inuit candidates as per section 41 of the Human Rights Code.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Care planning, advocacy, informal counselling, developing intervention strategies and providing on-site support.
2. Being a positive role model for youth, working in cooperation with others, and positively participating in programming activities while supervising and ensuring safety at all times.
3. Building positive rapport with other professionals and service providers.  
4. Organizing, facilitating, and supervising youth in various activities and recording required information where necessary (paper records, Sharevision, Excel, etc.)
5. Contributing to a team focused on increasing stabilization, belonging, and empowerment for Indigenous youth, and fostering a positive and engaging workplace for all.
6. Supporting youth with day-to-day living needs, including developing a trusting, non-judgmental rapport with the youth.
7. Create a safe space for all youth and staff by responding to behaviors and situations through a trauma informed lens, modeling respectful behavior, and through thoughtful, fun interactions with staff and youth.
8. Positively participate in all Raven’s programming and activities in order to provide a positive role model experience for youth.
9. Performs other duties as assigned by the CEO.

What we offer:

• 24-hour Double-staffed resource, divided into 3 shifts; morning, evening, and overnight (awake) shifts.
• Hourly wage $77
• Monthly Staff development