FAMILY & NATURAL SUPPORT WORKER

 Position title: Family & Natural Support Worker

Job type: full-time, temporary

Reporting to: Manager of Housing Programs 

About us

We open doors for youth and prevent adult homelessness. We serve at-risk youth experiencing homelessness, aging out of care, or fleeing violence in the home. Young adults who need a place to call home and people who believe in them. We offer safe housing, community, and support to help youth make healthy choices and shift toward a brighter future. 

Position summary

The Family & Natural Support Worker (FNS) will support with reconnecting youth to healthy adults and family members, providing de-escalation and stabilization to families that are in a state of crisis and/or presenting high risk behaviors. The worker will establish and maintain a respectful, collaborative working relationship with youth, families and natural supports; supporting from a trauma informed lens, providing assessment, information, modeling and teaching skills which support effective parenting and healthy family functioning. These skills include, but are not limited to, parent effectiveness, communication, boundaries, behavior management, child development, relationship building and effective problem solving relating to goals.

The FNS worker will provide services in crisis situations and address safety concerns of high-risk clientele. This clientele will be provided greater hours, higher intensity and shorter time periods allowing for these safety concerns to be addressed in a timely manner. Once key results have been accomplished, the FNS worker will shift the focus of involvement from intervention to maintenance. This is ensured through assessment and collaboration with the service team which consists of the youth’s primary caregivers/clients and the Youth Support Worker. 

This is a temporary (until March 31, 2024) position, 37.5 hours per week, and requires flexibility to meet the needs of the youth and their families (days, evenings, and occasional weekends). Pay range for this position is $25 - $28.98/hour dependent on experience and related skills. The successful candidate can expect to enter the organization no higher than the midpoint of the compensation range. 

Duties & Responsibilities 

• Assisting families, natural supports and youth with their expressed needs and those required by Threshold in the areas of basic parenting, child development, behavior management, problem solving, communication, mediation, conflict resolution, life skills, and independent living
• Providing case management and service recommendations to Youth Support Workers
• Accessing community resources based on client needs
• Attending or arranging necessary case conferences
• Compiling monthly statistics and reporting
• Representing the Society in the communities served by the program in a professional manner
• Other duties as required

Education & Experience 

• Degree in Social Work, Child & Youth Care, Psychology or other appropriate post-secondary degree
• 2+ years experience in a similar role working with vulnerable populations and youth. A combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Current ASIST training or willing to obtain it at the Society’s expense
• Current First Aid training or willing to obtain it at the Society’s expense

 Proven Skills & Abilities 

• Demonstrated case management skills
• Demonstrated proactive approach to connecting and building relationships with youth and families
• Exceptional communication and mediation skills
• Knowledge of working from a trauma informed lens within a harms reduction model
• Knowledge of community resources, child development and culturally diverse family functioning
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve and make decisions
• Able to adapt to a variety of situations and be flexible to the needs of youth and their families
• Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries in the workplace and to work professionally (ethically) especially regarding matters of confidentiality

 Working Conditions 

• Operates out of Mitchell House and regularly travels to various locations in the Greater Victoria region
• Work a flexible schedule based on the needs of the youth and their families (days, evenings, and occasional weekends)
• Temporary position until March 31, 2024 with the possibility of extension
• Threshold will provide a yearly training and professional development allowance
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a wraparound care team

 Special Requirements 

• Must have access to a vehicle and have a Driver’s License
• Up-to-date Emergency 1^st Aid certificate
• Must have a Criminal Record Review Check completed by and satisfactory to Threshold as well as sign Code of Conduct, Confidentiality Agreement, and Sexual Misconduct Form.