Contract, Shift Lead, Mat Program

Covenant House Vancouver; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A social service organization in Metro Vancouver is seeking a Shift Lead for their Mat Program, responsible for managing a safe environment and supporting youth aged 19-24. The role involves delegation of tasks, maintaining professional relationships, and addressing the immediate needs of youth. Candidates should have relevant education and experience in harm reduction. Competitive hourly compensation of $27-$33.85, with health benefits offered.

Benefits

Extended health and dental benefits

Generous counselling benefits

Opportunities for training and career advancement

Qualifications

• Minimum one-year full-time experience in a low barrier harm reduction environment.
• First Aid & Non-Violent Crisis Intervention is required.
• Familiar with at risk youth and youth homelessness.

Responsibilities

• Delegate tasks to Youth Workers as needed.
• Provide practical resources including food and clothing.
• Document client notes and write Incident Reports as required.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Diploma or degree related to social service

Job description

As we serve vulnerable youth, all employees working for Covenant House Vancouver must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required prior to your start date.

Since 1997, Covenant House Vancouver has provided relentless support for youth experiencing, or at-risk of experiencing, homelessness. We provide support to young people age 16 to 24 who have experienced a wide range of early life and ongoing, complex trauma, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. Our purpose is to serve all youth, with absolute respect and unconditional love, to help youth experiencing homelessness, and provide a safe and supportive environment for all youth in need.

Working at Covenant House will be one of the most meaningful things that you’ll do in your life. However, you will be confronted with significant issues in this work and this work is not for everyone. In the course of doing your work, particularly for those doing frontline work, you will be exposed to the trauma of others. The youth we serve may also experience overdose, physical harm perpetuated by self or others, and even death. Because we provide a relational model of care, the harms our youth experience can impact us in varying degrees.

While we provide training for youth workers on avoiding vicarious trauma (namely, the trauma you can experience or take on by hearing others’ traumatic stories), and a generous allowance for counselling, it is still difficult work that can and does take its toll on many employees. Self-awareness and self-care are key. Some candidates and employees decide during the recruiting and probationary periods that this work isn’t for them, and that is totally fair.

We will provide more information on vicarious trauma during recruiting and onboarding, to help you decide if Covenant House is the place for you.

The Impact the Shift Lead, Mat Program can make:

The Community Support Services Mat Program is a 12-bed temporary shelter for youth aged 19-24. In this role you will build trust and support professional relationships with youth. As the decision person for the shift, you will demonstrate absolute respect to youth that will support them to know their worth. The Mat Program is a safe and non-judgmental environment where youth are supported against the outdoor elements. You will provide services from a harm reduction, culturally relevant, trauma-informed model of care while addressing any youths’ immediate needs. You will have the opportunity to build transformative relationships with youth and reduce the risks of street homelessness and substance use. Through relentless engagement, the CHV continuum of care connects with youth where they are at because we feel it should be “one size fits one” when it comes to supporting young people.

How you will contribute:

Along with the responsibilities of the Youth Worker, the Shift Lead, Mat Program will be responsible to:

• Delegate tasks to Youth Workers as needed/necessary
• Submit supplies request to the kitchen each AM to ensure appropriate stock levels for food and beverage
• Submit supplies request to Gifts In Kind each AM to ensure appropriate stock levels for hygiene
• Monitor Brave sensors in 2nd floor bathroom
• Greet and welcome youth accessing CSS Mat services, assess and respond to their immediate needs, and provide them with practical resources including food, clothing
• Initiate, develop and maintain professional relationships with youth 19-24 years of age
• Maintain a safe, healthy, and positive environment for staff and youth alike
• Upon entry to the Program, introduce the services provided, orient new youth, and complete program intake/admission
• Center the principles of Harm Reduction and Trauma-Informed Practice
• Support youth with addictions and mental health challenges and refer to our drop-in centre for additional supports & referrals
• Document client notes in ETO, write Incident Reports, and other routine documentation as required
• Respond to any emergencies or behavioral, mental health, emotional, or substance use concerns using trauma-informed practice
• Perform routine janitorial duties as required
• Attend all training as directed by your manager
• Laundry at the end of each working shift
• Maintain the Mat space including set up, safety checks, take down, etc.
• Demonstrate the ability to work as a team member
• Other duties as required

This position is offered as a fixed-term contract, ending on April 10, 2026

Who are we looking for?

Education and Experience:

• Diploma or degree related to social service
• Minimum one-year full-time experience in a low barrier harm reduction environment
• Supervisory experience is an asset
• First Aid & Non-Violent Crisis Intervention is required
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Familiar with at risk youth and youth homelessness
• Familiarity with substance misuse and mental health concerns
• Familiarity with Indigenous Cultural Safety
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with the Youth
• Basic computer skills
• Working knowledge of Trauma Informed Practice

Compensation

The successful candidate can expect a starting hourly rate of between $27.08 and $33.85 depending on factors such as internal equity, experience, competencies, and education. Once hired, the hourly rates are reviewed annually following the annual performance review and successful employees have the opportunity for their hourly rate to increase, over time, up to the maximum of the pay band, currently $40.62.

Total Rewards

Beginning immediately, this position has extended health and dental benefits for you, your spouse, and your children, including generous counselling benefits.

We were recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers in 2024!

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Covenant House Vancouver is a secular organization that welcomes and serves young people from all backgrounds. While the international federation to which we belong was founded in the 1970s by members of the Catholic Church, we are not aligned with any specific faith traditions.

CHV is committed to upholding diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace. We actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including, but not limited to:

• Persons from groups marginalized due to race, ancestry, colour, religion/spiritual beliefs, or place of origin;
• Persons with visible (physical) and/or invisible (mental) disabilities;
• Persons who identify as women;
• Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; and

We recognize that many of these identities intersect and that therefore, diversity, equity, and inclusion can be complex. We value the contributions that each person brings and are committed to ensuring full and equal participation for all at Covenant House Vancouver.

We love what we do and try to make a difference every day. Covenant House Vancouver offers a competitive salary with a great benefits package and excellent opportunity for training and career advancement. If you are looking to join a place where we have a purpose and aim to achieve positive outcomes, please join us by applying.

If our recruitment process does not work for you, let us know. Let’s see how we can work together to get to know you and see what might be a great fit!