Contract, Youth Worker, Crisis Program

Covenant House Vancouver; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 33,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Great benefits package

Training and career advancement

Inclusive workplace

Job summary

Covenant House Vancouver is seeking a Youth Worker for the Crisis Program in Vancouver. You will build trusting, supportive relationships with youth aged 16–24, assess their immediate needs, provide practical resources, and guide them toward independence and stable housing.

Work alongside a multidisciplinary team, respond to emergencies with trauma‑informed care, and maintain accurate case files and documentation. Starting hourly rate ranges from 23.92 to 29.90 CAD, with progression to 35.88 CAD.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree related to social service.
• Experience in a similar role is preferred but not required.
• First Aid & Non-Violent Crisis Intervention is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Greet and welcome youth; assess immediate needs and provide practical resources (food, clothing, transportation).
• Initiate and maintain relationships with at-risk youth aged 16–24.
• Explain services; orient new youth; complete program intake/admission.
• Collaborate with staff to set attainable goals and action plans.
• Assist youth with accessing external supports and accompany them if needed.
• Coordinate youth meetings and activities, including life skills.
• Respond to emergencies using trauma-informed practice.
• Manage youth case files and related reporting/documentation.
• Attend trainings and discharge/resident room duties as directed.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Boundaries

Substance awareness

Basic computer skills

Education

Diploma or degree in social service

Job description

About Covenant House Vancouver

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 frankly, 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 what we call vicarious trauma (namely, the trauma you can experience or take on by hearing other’s 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 on-boarding, to help you decide if Covenant House is the place for you.

The Impact the Youth Worker with the Crisis Program Team can make

Your primary role as a youth worker is to build trusting, supportive professional relationships with youth. You will work with a multidisciplinary team to determine the best plan of care to help youth reach their goals and transition to healthy, confident adults. Working in the Crisis Program, you will provide youth with their basic and immediate needs, support them with employment and educational resources, and guide them to transition to independence when they may be ready.

How you will contribute

• Greet and welcome youth accessing CHV services, assess and respond to their immediate needs, and provide them with practical resources including food, clothing, transportation
• Initiate, develop and maintain relationships with at risk youth 16-24 years of age
• Upon entry to the Program, introduce the services provided, orient new youth, complete program intake/admission
• Work collaboratively with other staff to assist youth in identifying attainable short and long-term goals, strategies for meeting these goals, and an action plan for implementation
• Assist youth with accessing external community supports and accompany them if needed
• Coordinate youth meetings and activities, including recreation and life skills
• Respond to any emergencies or potential behavioral, mental health, emotional, or substance use concerns using trauma-informed practice
• Manage youth case files, including all relevant reporting and documentation
• Attend all training as directed by your manager
• Clean, search, and remake resident rooms at discharge
• Laundry as needed
• Front Desk and reception duties as required
• Other duties as required

Who are we looking for?

Education and Experience:

Diploma or degree related to social service

Experience in a similar role is preferred but not required

First Aid & Non-Violent Crisis Intervention is an asset

Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Familiar with the challenges facing youth who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability
• Familiarity with substance misuse
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with the Youth
• Basic computer skills

Additional Position Information:

• The schedule is as follows: CP M-Th 76hrs eve
• Program: Crisis Program - Female and Gender Diverse
• Breaks: Paid and on-site
• The successful candidate can expect a starting hourly rate of between $23.92 and $29.90 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 $35.88.
• In 2024, we were recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers 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 Indigenous persons.
• 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.

Covenant House Vancouver offers a competitive salary with a great benefits package and excellent opportunity for training and career advancement.

We love what we do and try to make a difference every day. Covenant House Vancouver is a non-profit organization that supports young people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, human trafficking, and youth in need. We offer a continuum of care, providing housing and wraparound supports. We are a diverse team dedicated to ending youth homelessness.

We strive for employees to feel appreciated, supported, and empowered. Our culture is built around absolute respect, courage, integrity, equity, and inclusivity. We create an engaging work environment where employees can thrive, resulting in the best care for the youth we serve.