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Young Bears Lodge

Youth Care Worker – Hourly Relief Position

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:

Are you passionate about empowering Indigenous youth? Do you have a knack for building positive relationships? Are you strategic, creative, and dynamic in your approach to youth work? Does working within a fast-paced environment energize you? If you said yes, then this is the opportunity for you!

• Contribute to a team focused on increasing stabilization, belonging and empowerment for youth.
• Be a positive role model for youth, working in cooperation with others and positively participating and implementing programming.
• Work in a variety of trauma-informed healing modalities.
• Provide individual case management support to youth, from overseeing health appointments, medication needs, communicating with support teams, follow ups, and after-care planning.
• Participate in Indigenous protocols, ceremonies, and other practices.
• Support youth and their families during pre-intake and intake into the Young Bears Lodge as well as their transition back into community.
• Provide leadership in residential care, responding to critical incidents and care needs for the youth & families accessing our service.
• Support and co-facilitate workshops.
• Assist in the development and implementation of outcome-oriented and culturally relevant treatment and transition plans.
• Share responsibility for the daily operations of Young Bears Lodge, including meal planning and preparation, maintaining timely, accurate logs, case files and reports.
• Represent Young Bears Lodge in the community; building connections to ensure widespread dissemination of program information to youth, their families and community referring agencies.
• This role requires on-call duties

Young Bears Lodge is a culturally-based, holistic program for Indigenous youth ages 13-18 who are looking to make changes to their relationship with drugs or alcohol

Young Bears Lodge is a culturally-based, holistic program for Indigenous youth ages 13-18 who are looking to make changes to their relationship with drugs or alcohol

Qualifications and Conditions:

1. Educational experience required (example: Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, 2 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 Covid-19 vaccination will be required
7. Given the needs of the youth accessing our programs, priority will be given to qualified Indigenous, First Nations, Metis, Inuit candidates as per section 41 of the Human Rights code.
8. Vehicle/driving abstract/first aid requirements (if relevant to the position)
9. Given the needs of the youth accessing our programs, priority will be given to qualified Indigenous, First Nations, Metis, Inuit candidates as per section 41 of the Human Rights code.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. 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.
2. Establishing positive rapport and developing relationships with youth and other professionals.
3. Care-planning, advocacy, developing intervention strategies, providing on-site support.
4. Recording required information (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 through their relationship with mental health and substance use.
7. Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Programs/CEO.

What we offer:

• $23.32 per hour
• Sick days
• Support from UNYA’s Elder in Residence for cultural and spiritual guidance or teachings
• shared meal and fun activities 

How to apply:

If you would like to become a part of this tremendous team, send a cover letter and resume indicating the position you are applying to the attention of the Hiring Manager at  [email protected] Posting will close when position is filled. Only those shortlisted will be contacted.

***We are an Indigenous youth organization whose mandate is to provide meaningful opportunities for Indigenous youth. We encourage qualified Indigenous – First Nations, Metis, and Inuit, applicants to apply. If you identify as Indigenous, please let us know in your application! Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.