Youth Support Worker, Crisis Program

Covenant House Vancouver; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Covenant House Vancouver seeks a Youth Support Worker to provide essential support to at-risk youth aged 16-24. This role involves direct interaction, ensuring safety, and implementing care principles. The position offers a meaningful opportunity to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable youth while providing a supportive environment.

Benefits

Extended health and dental benefits

Three weeks paid vacation

Paid sick leave

Registered pension plan

Investment in professional development

Qualifications

• 1-2 years post-secondary education related to social service.
• Experience with youth facing homelessness or housing instability.

Responsibilities

• Monitor youth and visitors, ensuring safety and adherence to policies.
• Interact with youth, providing support and resources as needed.
• Respond to emergency situations and implement safety procedures.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Self-awareness

Education

Post-secondary education related to social service

Tools

First Aid

Non-Violent Crisis Intervention

Job description

Please note: A cover letter and resume are mandatory for all applications.

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 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 Support Worker with the Crisis Program Team can make:

As a Youth Support Worker, you will be responsible for making the first impressions with our youth. As one of their first points of contact, helping with intake, signing youth into our building, and helping to ensure safety on shift. You will be responsible for the direct implementation of Covenant House Vancouver’s philosophy, policy, and principles as they pertain to client care and safety.

How you will contribute:

• Monitor the flow of Youth and visitors by supervising main entrance and being aware of the destination of visitors
• Identify guests and assist with the sign in/ sign out process
• Interact with youth, responding to enquires and preforming security duties such as monitoring front entrance, supporting with intake etc.
• Ensure adherence to and role model Covenant House principles and core values
• Greet and welcome youth accessing CHV services, assess and respond to their immediate needs, and provide them with practical resources including food, clothing, transportation, etc.
• Build rapport with at risk youth 16-24 years of age
• Respond to emergency situations that may arise, by implementing procedures outlined in various staff training, including Emergency response training (fire, etc), First Aid, calling a supervisor and supporting with managing hostile interactions, and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, etc.
• Read and review all pertinent information and communication (i.e. Incident reports, communications logs, policies, procedures, emails, etc)
• As required, update youth files in ETO
• Attend all training as directed by your manager
• Maintain the cleanliness and safety of the program areas – both staff and youth
• Laundry as needed
• Meet operational needs as required and ensure the safety of building and occupants, including fire, safety, and emergency procedures
• Occasionally work in, and support Youth Workers in our drop in space
• Other duties as required

Who are we looking for?

Education and Experience:

• One to Two years post secondary education related to social service, or equivalent
• First Aid & Non-Violent Crisis Intervention is an asset
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Familiar with the challenges facing youth who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability
• Familiarity with substance misuse and mental health concerns

Compensation

The successful candidate can expect a starting hourly rate of between $21.14 and $26.42 depending on factors such as internally 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 $31.70.

Total Rewards

Beginning immediately, this position has excellent extended health and dental benefits for you, your spouse, and your children, including generous counselling benefits. During the first year, employees receive three weeks’ paid vacation, increasing to four in the second year. We have paid sick leave, paid personal leave, a registered pension plan, investment in professional development, and more. If you’d like more information on what we offer, please ask!

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!