Youth Worker Housing

Be the Spark! Join our passionate team and help us to achieve great things in our community!

The Youth Worker Housing supports a safe inclusive and structured housing environment by coordinating services and resources that promote stability and transition for youth. This role contributes to program development and continuous improvement through collaboration with community partners and the implementation of workshops and group activities. The Youth Worker provides direct support to residents including intake relationship building crisis intervention and supervision of daily routines. The role is responsible for maintaining accurate participant documentation and administrative records in line with YMCA and funder standards.

In this role you will:

• Provide support and referral options to participants regarding employment housing and other needs collaborating with community partners to offer a variety of services to youth on site.
• Identify suggest and implement creative and innovative improvements to services policies and programming.
• Participate in the design and implementation of workshops and group activities for participants.
• Provide initial screening and intake of potential residents including orientation and greeting of new residents.
• Provide positive interactions crisis intervention rapport and relationship building with participants offering supportive counselling and practical assistance in consultation with other team members.
• Provide supervision of mYhouse routines and support to individual residents and the resident community at the site.
• Respond to emergency and crisis situations following appropriate procedures ensuring the safety and security of all staff and participants and supporting other staff in crisis situations.
• Complete case note documentation and maintain participant case files ensuring quality audit measures are achieved in accordance with YMCA and funder standards.
• Document according to current professional standards maintaining appropriate documentation in case files and logs and completing incident reports when required.
• Complete documentation regarding participant tracking and log-in systems and other items required by the YMCA regarding program outcomes.
• Complete data entry in the Shelter Management Information System (SMIS) and ensure all administrative tasks are completed as assigned.
• Adhere to all mYhouse protocols and practices as well as Association and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Participate in supervision staff meetings and professional development trainings as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

You bring:

• Post-secondary education in Social Work Child and Youth Work Child and Youth Care or related field or equivalent experience.
• 2 years experience working with marginalized youth.
• Direct service experience with LGBTQ2S youth an asset.
• Experience analyzing personal and systemic issues leading youth to become homeless.
• Experience and knowledge in integrating anti-racism anti-oppression critical disability LGBTQ2S and trans-positivity trauma harm reduction and strengths-based principles into practice.
• Valid training certificate in defusing hostility and/or crisis prevention required.
• Valid First Aid/CPR Certificate and knowledge of safety and security procedures related to shelter operations.
• Knowledge of transitional shelter and other housing systems in Toronto with the ability to assist youth transitioning into adulthood through developmentally appropriate support.
• Possesses relevant knowledge of community resources and referral agencies.
• Advocacy skills to effectively collaborate with other systems resulting in increased access for residents.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills.
• Ability to work flexible shifts: weekends statutory holidays on call shifts
• Criminal Reference Check within the last 6 months an asset.
• Commitment to diversity equity inclusion and building a sense of belonging.

What you need to succeed:

• Commitment to the YMCAs Mission Vision and Values
• Focus on the health safety and wellbeing of all children youth and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services
• YMCA Competencies: Accountable Relationship-Builder Improvement-Orientated Team Player & Leader Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people helping them grow lead and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 170 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services such as health and fitness licensed child care camps employment and immigrant services education and training and services for youth families and seniors. Learn more in our strategic plan Greater Together which outlines how we are focused on building communities where people feel healthier and more connected to their neighbours.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour Indigenous Peoples disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here.

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest however due to the volume of applications we receive we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.