System Navigator - Youth Hub

The Link: Youth and Family Supports; Winnipeg; On-site; CAD 29,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

The Link: Youth and Family Supports is seeking a System Navigator for the Youth Hub to support youths ages 12 to 25 who are unhoused or at risk. You will help identify needs, connect to resources, and advocate within systems like EIA, housing, mental health, and CLDS, while applying Indigenous-informed approaches.

You will work within a trauma-informed, resiliency-focused, harm-reduction and person-centered framework, often in a team setting, ensuring youth safety, choice, and control.

Qualifications

• 2 years post-secondary education in youth care or equivalent
• Supervisory experience is an asset
• Coaching, guiding and mentoring
• Passionate about improving outcomes for youth
• Well-developed relationship building and interpersonal skills
• Ability to problem-solve, multi-task, and prioritize
• Experience within trauma-informed, harm-reduction and person-centered frameworks
• Strong relationship-building and de-escalation skills
• Experience working with youth navigating complex systems and barriers
• Knowledge of trauma and resilience-informed care
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of Indigenous customs, traditions, and beliefs is an asset
• Experience responding to crises, substance use, and mental health
• Knowledge of CFS, EIA, social services, mental health, housing, etc.

Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Program Manager of The Hub, duties include supporting youth in drop-in and planning.
• Build trusting relationships with youth and ensure youth-led planning and service fit.
• Connect youth to community resources (formal/informal).
• Facilitate HUB recreational activities and life skills workshops weekly.
• Support youth plans with the System Navigation team, Case Manager, and Program Coordinator.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of systems intersecting with youth (CFS, EIA, CLDS, mental health, housing).
• Engage youth and manage dynamics in the drop-in, providing de-escalation and crisis support.
• Prepare and maintain accurate records and reports as required.
• Flex hours including evenings/weekends; travel within city limits as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Interpersonal skills

De-escalation

Problem solving

Education

Grade 12 or GED

Post-secondary in social services (asset)

Education + experience considered

Job description

About The Link: Youth and Family Supports

For more than 90 years, The Link has helped youth and families on a journey to healing, hope and better lives. The organization is dedicated to walking alongside children, youth, and families as an inclusive community, strengthening and empowering a sense of being, pride, and purpose. With over 15 diverse programs, The Link has a community of caring staff that work together to provide support through a 24-hour crisis line, youth resource centers, emergency shelters, mobile crisis teams, specialized foster care, healing homes, job readiness supports, and Skills4Life. With a strong foundation within the community and a focus on connection, unity, and compassion, the organization provides a vital link for youth and families in the province of Manitoba.

About The Opportunity

The Youth Hub System Navigator will work collaboratively with the System Navigation Team (SNT) to support youths between the ages of 12 to 25 who are unhoused or at risk of becoming unhoused and are struggling to overcome systemic barriers. They will be responsible in helping the youths identify their needs, support/facilitate connection to appropriate and meaningful resources, supports, and services, and provide support and advocacy in systems including but not limited to EIA, housing, identification, mental health, CLDS and CFS.

Duties and responsibilities are informed by Indigenous ways of knowing and being, and grounded in the importance of culture, ceremony, and community. Additionally, the System Navigator understands and works within trauma-informed, resiliency, harm-reduction and person-centered frameworks. Duties may be performed alone, or within a team environment. System Navigators ensure youth safety, choice, and control in this role.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Reporting to the Program Manager of The Hub, the duties and responsibilities of the System Navigator include, but are not limited to:

Youth Care

• Supporting youth attending the drop-in for supports and services.
• Developing trusting relationships with youth to ensure both that the youth is in control and active in their future planning, as well as services received meet their identified needs.
• Help connect youth to community resources (formal and informal supports) to meet the needs they have identified
• Facilitate HUB recreational activities as well as life skills workshops weekly
• Support youth plans and HUB programming in conjunction with the System Navigation team, Case Manager and Program Coordinator.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and information on a wide variety of systems that intersect for our youth, including but not limited to: CFS, EIA, CLDS, mental health, housing and harm reduction. Develop and maintain close working relationships with resources and service providers working in these areas.
• Engage youth and manage dynamics in the drop-in, including providing de-escalation and crisis support
• Prepare and maintain accurate and timely records and reports, as per program requirements
• This position will be required to work flexible hours which may include evenings and weekends to meet the needs of the youth.
• Travel within city limits based on program needs and as directed by the manager
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience

• 2 years Post-secondary education in youth care or a combination of education, work experience and lived experience may be considered
• Experience in a supervisory role would be considered an asset.
• Coaching, guiding and mentoring
• Passionate about improving outcomes for youth
• Well-developed relationship building and interpersonal skills
• Ability to problem-solve, multi-task, and prioritize
• Has worked within trauma-informed, harm-reduction and person-centered frameworks
• Strong relationship building skills and experience in de-escalation
• Experience working with youth navigating complex systems and barriers
• Knowledge of trauma and resilience informed care
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of Indigenous customs, traditions, and beliefs will be considered an asset
• Experience responding to youth and adult crises, substance use, and mental health.
• Knowledge of and experience with a wide variety of youth and adult systems and resources including CFS, EIA, social service systems, mental health systems, substance use/harm reduction, housing, medical, etc.

Education (Degree/Diploma/Certificate)

• Completion of grade 12 or GED
• Post-secondary education in social services is an asset
• A combination of education and experience may be considered

Conditions of Employment

• ASIST Certificate (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) preferred or willing to obtain;
• NVCI Certificate (Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training) preferred or willing to obtain;
• Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C, or willingness to obtain;
• Mental Health First Aid & Safe Talk will be considered an asset
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search, a clear Child Abuse Registry check with acceptable Prior Contact checks, and a clear Adult Abuse Registry check, all done within the last 3 months;
• Valid Manitoba 5F driver’s license and acceptable driver’s abstract (subject to approval).

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities upon request. If you are contacted by The Link regarding a job opportunity, please know that you are welcome to request accommodation at any point in the process. All information received regarding accommodations will be kept confidential.

Position status

Full-Time – 80 hours biweekly

Union

No

Posting End Date

Open until filled

Site

The Link: Youth and Family Supports

Work Location

175 Mayfair Avenue

Salary Range

$24.87 per hour