Youth Counsellor

John Howard Society of Durham; Bowmanville; On-site; CAD 25,000 - 33,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Accident benefits

Part-time role with 22–24 hrs/week

Job summary

John Howard Society of Durham is seeking a part‑time Youth Worker to support the Building Momentum for Youth program in Clarington. The role focuses on trauma‑informed youth development, life skills, and job readiness, with 22–24 hours per week and a start date as soon as possible.

Youth workers facilitate individual and group activities, provide wraparound support, and assist youth with education and employment pathways within a collaborative team environment.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary qualification in child and youth care or related field.
• At least two years experience working with vulnerable or at‑risk youth (ages 14–18).
• Experience with group facilitation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intakes and assess strengths/needs with a team approach.
• Facilitate dynamic workshops on life skills, job readiness, and education.
• Provide individual support using Motivational Interviewing and Solution Focused Counseling.
• Monitor attendance and follow up with youth and contacts.
• Maintain case notes and essential documentation per program requirements.
• Coordinate with agency staff to ensure service coordination and resource use.
• Develop community connections and support program promotion.

Skills

Youth engagement

Counselling skills

Group facilitation

Communication skills

Boundary and confidentiality

Diversity and inclusion

Social media use

Time management

Education

Post-secondary Diploma in Child and Youth Care, Social Work, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Canva

Job description

Youth Worker – Clarington Youth Centres (part time)

DEPARTMENT

BARGAINING UNIT

CUPE 2936.12

SALARY GRADE

Posting Date

Posting Date September 3, 2026

Closing Date September 11, 2026: internal applicants
September 20, 2026: external applicants

Vacancy Two (2) Part Time positions, Temporary
22 to 24 hours per week

Start Date As soon as possible

About the Program:

TheBuilding Momentum for Youth Programis a project funded through the Region of Durham, Community Safety and Well-Being Fund to provide direct service to address the needs of youth experiencing one or more risk factors for involvement in serious violence and crime. It will provide trauma-informed, strengths-based training and supports to help youth build confidence, life skills, positive relationships, and pathways to education and employment through a series of workshops and individual support opportunities. The project will also establish the early foundation for a Youth HUB model in Clarington.

About the Role:

Working in the Building Momentum for Youth Program, the Youth Worker will engage with youth who face complex barriers to sustaining education and/or seeking employment. Working within a team, this role will effectively facilitate individual and group programming and workshops that focus on personal development, interview and job preparation, life skills, education goals, mentorship, and skill-building certifications. This includes assessment and intake, goal development, advocacy for and linking any wraparound supports, and follow-up activities.

Responsibilities

Service User Support

• Conduct intakes and utilize a team approach to assess strengths and needs, motivations to participate, suitability for program, and make referrals to other programs and services
• Facilitate and evaluate relevant and dynamic workshops or activities that support life stability, fundamental job readiness skills, career and education development/exploration, and personal management skills
• Utilize counselling modalities such as Motivational Interviewing and Solution Focused Counselling to provide individual support, elicit program goals and interventions that support youth in their journey within and beyond the program.
• Follow up with youth and ancillary contacts to maintain support and support systems for youth.
• Monitor program attendance and follow up
• Work with and exhibit sensitivity and understanding of the diverse and intersecting identities of youth.
• Mentor youth by providing a safe space, structure and predictability within the program
• Provide training for certifications, such as Smart Serve, as appropriate

Case Management/Documentation:

• maintain up to date case notes and client files with clear rational for methods and interventions used, and statistical documentation in accordance with the program requirements
• provide case management for a caseload of youth who may face complex barriers and life stability factors
• support any bridging opportunities to education, employment or community programs
• maintain attendance records and tracking of financial information associated with the youth in program following established procedures
• operate office equipment including computers and supporting software applications, proficiency in Microsoft Office, Canva
• contributes to the achievement of all service outcomes as developed by the agency and funder
• meets all required deadlines
• liaises with other agency staff to ensure coordination of services and utilization of available resources
• consistently apply agency policies, service standards, best practices and program/funder requirements to the day to day programming

Community Engagement and Program Promotion:

• Contributes to the program strategy by identifying program areas for process and content improvement and participating in the development and implementation of solutions
• Develop and foster community connections with relevant organizations and individuals that support the program mandate
• Support the scheduling and collaboration with guest speakers and community partners for collaboration and workshop facilitation
• Contribute to and support the implementation of the program promotion strategy for the purpose of participant referral and recruitment
• Represent the agency in the community when required for self and program development, and establishing and maintaining positive working relationships
• Participate in agency meetings, committees, professional development and community events as required

Education and Experience

• Post-secondary Diploma in Child and Youth Care, Social Work, or a university degree or college diploma in a related field of study.
• At least two years experience working with vulnerable or at-risk youth (age 14 to 18).
• Experience with group facilitation

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

• Strong understanding of youth, the factors that contribute to criminal justice involvement and the developmental needs that support pathways to success.
• Strong ability to strategically utilize counselling skills to conduct effective intakes, assessments and support interventions
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practice.
• Demonstrates a strong ability to develop rapport with youth
• Strong understanding of community resources for youth
• Strong ability to facilitate groups and a strong understanding of group dynamics
• Strong ability to implement de-escalations skills
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with youth, staff and community.
• Demonstrates a clear sense of boundaries, professionalism and confidentiality.
• Some knowledge of learning disabilities and support interventions that make learning and participation more equitable
• Strong ability to utilize Social Media
• Strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, Canva

POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE

Youth Worker – Clarington Youth Centres (part time)

DEPARTMENT

Clarington Youth Centres

BARGAINING UNIT

CUPE 2936.12

SALARY GRADE

Class 5B Level 1

Posting Date September 3, 2026 Closing Date September 11, 2026: internal applicants
September 20, 2026: external applicants Benefits Accident Vacancy Two (2) Part Time positions, Temporary
22 to 24 hours per week Start Date As soon as possible

About the Program:

TheBuilding Momentum for Youth Programis a project funded through the Region of Durham, Community Safety and Well-Being Fund to provide direct service to address the needs of youth experiencing one or more risk factors for involvement in serious violence and crime. It will provide trauma-informed, strengths-based training and supports to help youth build confidence, life skills, positive relationships, and pathways to education and employment through a series of workshops and individual support opportunities. The project will also establish the early foundation for a Youth HUB model in Clarington.

About the Role:

Working in the Building Momentum for Youth Program, the Youth Worker will engage with youth who face complex barriers to sustaining education and/or seeking employment. Working within a team, this role will effectively facilitate individual and group programming and workshops that focus on personal development, interview and job preparation, life skills, education goals, mentorship, and skill-building certifications. This includes assessment and intake, goal development, advocacy for and linking any wraparound supports, and follow-up activities.

Responsibilities

Service User Support

• Conduct intakes and utilize a team approach to assess strengths and needs, motivations to participate, suitability for program, and make referrals to other programs and services
• Facilitate and evaluate relevant and dynamic workshops or activities that support life stability, fundamental job readiness skills, career and education development/exploration, and personal management skills
• Utilize counselling modalities such as Motivational Interviewing and Solution Focused Counselling to provide individual support, elicit program goals and interventions that support youth in their journey within and beyond the program.
• Follow up with youth and ancillary contacts to maintain support and support systems for youth.
• Monitor program attendance and follow up
• Work with and exhibit sensitivity and understanding of the diverse and intersecting identities of youth.
• Mentor youth by providing a safe space, structure and predictability within the program
• Provide training for certifications, such as Smart Serve, as appropriate

Case Management/Documentation:

• maintain up to date case notes and client files with clear rational for methods and interventions used, and statistical documentation in accordance with the program requirements
• provide case management for a caseload of youth who may face complex barriers and life stability factors
• support any bridging opportunities to education, employment or community programs
• maintain attendance records and tracking of financial information associated with the youth in program following established procedures
• operate office equipment including computers and supporting software applications, proficiency in Microsoft Office, Canva
• contributes to the achievement of all service outcomes as developed by the agency and funder
• meets all required deadlines
• liaises with other agency staff to ensure coordination of services and utilization of available resources
• consistently apply agency policies, service standards, best practices and program/funder requirements to the day to day programming

Community Engagement and Program Promotion:

• Contributes to the program strategy by identifying program areas for process and content improvement and participating in the development and implementation of solutions
• Develop and foster community connections with relevant organizations and individuals that support the program mandate
• Support the scheduling and collaboration with guest speakers and community partners for collaboration and workshop facilitation
• Contribute to and support the implementation of the program promotion strategy for the purpose of participant referral and recruitment
• Represent the agency in the community when required for self and program development, and establishing and maintaining positive working relationships
• Participate in agency meetings, committees, professional development and community events as required

Education and Experience

• Post-secondary Diploma in Child and Youth Care, Social Work, or a university degree or college diploma in a related field of study.
• At least two years experience working with vulnerable or at-risk youth (age 14 to 18).
• Experience with group facilitation

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

• Strong understanding of youth, the factors that contribute to criminal justice involvement and the developmental needs that support pathways to success.
• Strong ability to strategically utilize counselling skills to conduct effective intakes, assessments and support interventions
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practice.
• Demonstrates a strong ability to develop rapport with youth
• Strong understanding of community resources for youth
• Strong ability to facilitate groups and a strong understanding of group dynamics
• Strong ability to implement de-escalations skills
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with youth, staff and community.
• Demonstrates a clear sense of boundaries, professionalism and confidentiality.
• Some knowledge of learning disabilities and support interventions that make learning and participation more equitable
• Strong ability to utilize Social Media
• Strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, Canva

Monday to Friday, Occasional Saturday
Between hours of 8am to 4pm, 1pm to 8pm