Team Leader, Crisis Program

Covenant House Vancouver; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 45,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Covenant House Vancouver is seeking a Team Leader for the Crisis Program. You will guide Youth Workers and Youth Support Workers, ensuring a youth‑centered approach across shifts.

You will assess immediate needs and offer resources, while modeling trauma‑informed, harm reduction care and promoting safety for youth aged 16–24. The role emphasizes leadership, staff supervision, and collaboration with inter‑agency teams.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree related to social service.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• First Aid & Non‑Violent Crisis Intervention is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and guidance to Youth Workers and Youth Support Workers during shifts.
• Oversee youth intakes, assessments, and transitions with trauma‑informed care.
• Foster a safe, inclusive, therapeutic environment and model harm reduction practices.
• Lead crisis response, debriefing, and emotional regulation for staff and youth.
• Coordinate daily team meetings, shift changes, and ensure clear communication.
• Maintain documentation and case management practices across the team.

Skills

Communication

Empathy

Trauma-informed care

Indigenous safety

LGBTQIA+ support

Boundary setting

Education

Diploma or degree in social service

First Aid & Non‑Violent Crisis Intervention

Tools

First Aid certification

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.

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 a Team Leader in the Crisis Program can make:

As a Team Leader, you play a key role in creating a safe, supportive, and responsive environment for youth accessing the Crisis Program. You’ll guide and support Youth Workers/Youth Support Workers during their shifts, helping ensure that day‑to‑day operations run smoothly and reflect Covenant House’s values and one‑fits‑one approach to care. Your leadership helps bring our philosophy to life, fostering dignity, respect, and hope for every young person who walks through our doors.

* This an overnight role * Availability between December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027 will be required for this role.

How you will contribute:

• Provide leadership and guidance to Youth Workers and Youth Support Workers, ensuring a consistent, youth‑centered approach across all shifts.
• Support staff in warmly welcoming youth aged 16–24, assessing immediate needs, and offering essential resources like food, clothing, and transportation.
• Oversee and coordinate youth intakes, assessments, and transitions, ensuring youth are introduced to the program in a supportive and engaging way.
• Foster a safe, inclusive, and therapeutic environment by modeling trauma‑informed and harm reduction practices in all interactions.
• Lead crisis response efforts, supporting both youth and staff through briefing, debriefing, and emotional regulation strategies.
• Facilitate daily team meetings and shift changes to promote clear communication and collaborative care.
• Supervise and mentor staff, providing monthly reflective supervision and ongoing coaching to support resilience, growth, and accountability.
• Ensure staff remain up to date on required training, program policies, and procedural changes, and support their compliance through regular check‑ins and follow‑up.
• Maintain structure and consistency in daily routines while remaining flexible to meet youth where they’re at.
• Responsible for ensuring Youth Worker compliance in accurate data entry on Effort‑To‑Outcomes [ETO].
• Collaborate with staff and inter‑agency teams to support youth in setting and working toward realistic goals, including accessing community supports.
• Promote youth engagement through planning and supporting youth workers to prioritize check‑ins, recreational activities, and life skills development.
• Ensure accurate documentation and case management practices are upheld across the team.
• Conduct regular safety checks and uphold health and safety protocols to maintain a secure environment for youth and staff.
• Participate in leadership meetings, training, and professional development as directed by your supervisor or manager.
• Champion Covenant House Vancouver’s values and contribute to initiatives related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Truth and Reconciliation.
• Take on additional responsibilities as needed to support the overall functioning of the program and team.

Who are we looking for? Education and Experience:

• Diploma or degree related to social service
• Supervisory experience preferred
• First Aid & Non‑Violent Crisis Intervention is an asset

Competencies:

• Strong communication skills and ability to lead with empathy and inclusivity.
• Solid understanding of issues impacting youth experiencing homelessness and systemic barriers.
• Knowledge of harm reduction, trauma‑informed, and person‑centered approaches.
• Experience supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and fostering inclusive team environments.
• Ability to maintain boundaries while modeling relational leadership.
• Confident in managing crises and making decisions in complex situations.
• Familiarity with Indigenous Cultural Safety and culturally responsive care.
• Strong computer skills for documentation and coordination.
• Proven leadership, supervision, and mentoring skills with frontline staff.
• Current First Aid certification; able to respond to physical and mental health emergencies.
• Willingness to support with other tasks, including physical duties (e.g., lifting up to 25 lbs).

Additional Position Information:

The schedule is as follows:

CP O/N Sa‑Tu/M 76hrs
Program: Crisis Program - Female and Gender Diverse
Shift Type: Overnight awake shift
Breaks: Paid and on‑site

The successful candidate can expect a starting hourly rate of between $32.80 and $41.00 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 $49.20.

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.

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,

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.

Make a difference with us and embark on a fulfilling career.

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.