Summary
Description
CHILD AND YOUTH SUPPORT WORKER
Location: Calgary, AB
Position Type: Full time, Permanent
Hours: Monday – Friday (37.5 hours per week plus “on call” rotation on evenings and weekends)
Program: Nipisis – Mentor Homes
Position Summary:
Miskanawah Community Services Association is an Indigenous agency that draws jointly from the strengths and guidance of Indigenous teachings and traditions and leading social services practices.
We are seeking a Child and Youth Support Worker who has energy and enthusiasm for working with youth who have not had many healthy, supportive role models in their lives. We need someone who is passionate about helping youth navigate complex systems such as justice, education, and Children's Services. The Child and Youth Support Worker also support Mentor Families to create nurturing, healing environments for youth to learn and grow. This role requires creativity and a willingness to participate in a wide variety of recreational and educational activities each week in order to help youth build healthy connections to people, to the community, and to Indigenous culture.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Provide supportive interventions, role modeling, and guidance to children/youth residing in individual Nipisis homes
- Establish individual supportive relationships with each child/youth by meeting regularly each week either in their home or in the community
- Work collaboratively with the child/youth, their mentor families, other professionals, and natural supports to promote health and wellness
- Ability to effectively interact and relate to children in a developmentally appropriate manner
- Guide children/youth in problem solving and decision making & provide active and reflective listening and support
- Assist and support children/youth in maintaining appropriate connections with family, friends, and community
- Support access to Indigenous culture, Elders, and teachings
- Provide advocacy and support for children/youth in getting their needs heard and met within the Child Welfare system
- Enhance daily living skills and increase the capacity for healthy social, emotional, physical & spiritual wellbeing
- Model, teach and mentor healthy family, peer, school, and community relationships
- Model positive social interaction and play, hobbies, interests, and recreation that is developmentally appropriate
- Establish and reinforce specific and age appropriate rules, limitations, and boundaries
- Provide timely and enforceable natural and logical consequences for inappropriate or unhealthy behaviour
- Teach/model positive problem solving/conflict resolution techniques that focus on non-violence
- Involve children/youth in learning living skills such as cooking, cleaning, nutrition, setting up a bank account/savings, employment, and engaging in recreation and leisure activities outside of the home
- Support child/youth to identify goals and work towards them
- Support the health, safety, and well-being of young children by assisting with hygiene routines, diaper changes, feeding, and developmental care activities as required
Experience and Skills:
- Understanding of Intergenerational Trauma
- Experience working with vulnerable children, youth and families
- Strong teamwork skills
- Good organizational and data management skills
Requirements
- Diploma or degree in Human Services, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- Experience with Indigenous culture and a keen interest in participating in cultural experiences with children and youth
- Criminal Record Check including Vulnerable Sector
- Child Intervention Check
- Valid driver’s license and a driver’s abstract with minimal demerits
- Use of a reliable vehicle with $2,000,000 liability, permission to carry passengers and business coverage on the vehicle
- First Aid or CPR certification
- Suicide Awareness Training
- Crisis Intervention Training
- Self-Harm Training
- Quality Improvement and Outcomes Training
- Indigenous Awareness
- Diversity Training
- Car Seat Training
- Ability to lift and carry infants and small children on outings/transports
- Ability to work flexible hours (both days and evenings, as well as occasional weekends)
- Participate in a rotating on-call schedule, providing 24-hour support over a seven-day period, including responding to crisis situations and conducting home visits to Mentor Homes as required
- Understanding of Intergenerational Trauma
- Experience working with vulnerable children and families
- Strong teamwork skills
- Good organizational and data management skills
We offer the opportunity to be part of a creative and positive work environment, a competitive salary, supports for professional development, opportunity for advancement, and the chance to be part of a team that supports children, youth and families to thrive within a culturally responsive community.
Our employees enjoy an exceptional work-life balance compensation package, with 15 vacation days (with increases after 3 and 5 years), 5 wellness days, 4 ceremony days, a paid day off for their birthday and a paid week off at Christmas. They also receive employer-paid health benefits, paid sick days, and RSP matching. It’s all part of how we care for the people who care for our community.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to JFraser@miskanawah.ca and reference “Nipisis Child & Youth Support Worker” in the subject line. We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for interview will be contacted.”
