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Employment Opportunity

Relief Child and Youth Worker – Aboriginal Youth Safehouse

Casual – Day, Evening and Overnight

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:

As members of the Aboriginal Youth Safehouse program the Relief Youth Workers are responsible for supporting youth in identifying their individual needs and setting positive goals for the future. The 24 hour program provides stabilization care and temporary housing to those who do not have a safe space to stay.

The position focuses on each youth’s unique strengths and supports them to obtain housing, employment, education, training, and life-skills, as well as to positively address alcohol and drug, mental health, and physical health issues, or anything else youth feel they need support with. The Aboriginal Youth Safehouse Team reports directly to the Program Manager.  There is no guarantee of hours, and 8 hour shifts vary across day, evening and awake overnights.

Qualifications and Conditions:

1. Educational experience required: Diploma in a relevant field, 2 years of recent related experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
2. Ability to work independently and as a team member, and collaborate with many other service providers in community
3. Ability to work as a collaborative team member.
4. Experience working with the Indigenous community. Must demonstrate a good working knowledge of community resources in Vancouver, particularly youth & Indigenous-specific resources.
5. 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.
6. Must demonstrate the ability to identify with mandate, policies and procedures of the organization.
7. Must have a criminal record check completed by and satisfactory to UNYA.
8. Proof of Covid19 vaccination will be required
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.

Support youth with day-to-day living needs, including developing a trusting, non-judgemental rapport with the youth. Positively participate in all ASH programming and activities in order to provide a positive role model experience for youth residing at ASH.

Support youth with day-to-day living needs, including developing a trusting, non-judgemental rapport with the youth. Positively participate in all ASH programming and activities in order to provide a positive role model experience for youth residing at ASH.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Participate in the assessment and goal setting of youth’s case plans.
2. Monitor youth’s progress and assist in the evaluation of case plans.
3. Ensure that all members of a youth’s professional team are kept up-to-date on effectiveness of the case-plan, youth’s progress, any new issues or trends, and any behaviour changes.
4. Support youth with day-to-day living needs, including developing a trusting, non-judgemental rapport with the youth. Positively participate in all ASH programming and activities in order to provide a positive role model experience for youth residing at ASH.
5. Ensure youth’s physical needs are being met, and report back to ASH Youth Care Counsellors and/or ASH Management any concern with youth’s hygiene, medication dosages, behaviour, social skills, mental health issues, alcohol and drug use, etc.
6. Create a safe space for all youth and staff by responding to behaviours and situations through a trauma informed lens, modelling respectful behaviour, and through thoughtful and fun interactions with staff and youth.
7. Demonstrate commitment to the team as a positive, active participant who treats others in a respectful and supportive manner, communicates constructively, listens actively, shares openly, cooperates, exhibits flexibility, demonstrates reliability, and helps the team by working together to solve problems.
8. Establish and maintain a network of positive working relationships with other UNYA programs and other community programs/resources to ensure effective referrals and enhance access to a strong continuum of supports. Ensure that youth are being referred to appropriate services in the community, as individual needs require. Provide information, advocacy, and support in the referral process for internal and external programs, as well as other supports in the community.
9. Maintain appropriate statistical and written client reports and records in order to meet both UNYA and its funder’s requirements.
10. Positively and proactively address any concerns, incidents, or crises which affect youth participants, program operation and mandate, UNYA policies, and community relations.
11. Respect and assure youth participants’ confidentiality in the community and with other service professionals. Respect and maintain the confidentiality of staff issues within the team, with the exception of UNYA Management.
12. Adhere to UNYA’s Philosophy of Care, and all program-specific and organization-wide policies and procedures.
13. Keep abreast of current social concerns and street trends, and as required, attend professional development activities in order to remain informed regarding issues affecting street-involved youth.
14. Work together with ASH Management to foster a positive, engaging workplace environment. Consult with and report to ASH Management on a regular basis for ongoing assessment and refinement of the program.
15. Maintain the day-to-day operations of the house (meal preparation, cleaning, maintenance, etc.) and provide skill-building opportunities in these areas to youth
16. Perform any other duty deemed necessary by UNYA Management to ensure the safe, healthy, and productive operation of the Aboriginal Safehouse.

What we offer:

• Hourly wage of $19.60-20.55 an hour

 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.