Youth Worker - 24 hours

YMCA of Greater Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is seeking a Youth Worker to provide intake support, supervision of shelter routines, and counselling to residents facing challenging circumstances. You will work within a team to ensure safety and development of youth while applying anti-oppression and trauma-informed practices.

Responsibilities include crisis response, documenting interactions, and participating in program development and staff training.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree/diploma in social work or related discipline.
• 2+ years professional experience, preferably with marginalized youth.
• Valid First Aid/CPR and crisis prevention training.
• Knowledge of anti-oppression, trauma-informed and recovery-oriented practice.
• Experience with shelter operations and safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Provide initial screening and intake for potential residents and orient new residents to the program.
• Supervise shelter routines and support residents and the resident community, applying appropriate restrictions when needed.
• Offer counselling and practical assistance in crisis situations in coordination with the team.
• Respond to emergencies following established procedures to ensure safety of staff and residents.
• Participate in supervision, staff meetings, case conferences, and cross-functional activities.

Skills

Social work experience

Crisis intervention

Documentation

Diversity & inclusion

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Post-secondary degree/diploma in social work or related discipline

Tools

Windows

Word/WP

Excel/SMIS

Job description

Job Category : Community Outreach/Counselling/Social Work

Work Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Tuesday-Saturday, 12pm-8am)

Employment Type: Full Time Salaried Contract-12 months

Number of Vacancies: 1

Anticipated Start Date: September 21, 2026

Deadline to Apply: September 2, 2026 by 5 pm

Be the Spark! Join our team , where you will personally be a part of making our community a better place to live!

Youth Workers provide support to make positive changes with youth facing challenging social and personal circumstances. All staff contributes meaningfully to ensuring positive outcomes for residents. Residents are supported to grow, gaining developmentally appropriate skills and knowledge; all staff model a collaborative, cooperative approach ensuring access to services for residents; all staff assist residents to find more suitable and permanent housing; the team encourage leadership, confidence, and self-discovery among residents. At all times youth workers treat residents with respect and dignity practicing from anti-oppression, harm reduction, mental health recovery, trauma-informed, and other strengths-based frameworks.

In this role, you will:

• Provide initial screening and intake of potential residents, orients new residents to the program, and redirects admissions when appropriate and within established criteria.
• Provide supervision of Y House routines, support to individual residents and the resident community at the shelter, and imposes service restrictions only when necessary to protect the health, safety, and security of the shelter.
• Provide positive interactions, crisis intervention, supportive counselling and practical assistance to participants in consultation with other members of the team including Team Leader and/or Manager.
• Respond to emergency and crisis situations following appropriate procedures; ensures the safety and security of all staff and residents at all times; provides support to other staff in crisis situations.
• Participate in individual supervision, staff meetings, case conferences, workshops and committees as required; circulates through all program areas to support the total program delivered in the Youth-in-Need of Housing unit where applicable.
• Support program development and implementation for residents related to social, recreational and life skill development.
• Document according to current professional standards any significant interactions with residents, maintains appropriate documentation in case files and logs, and completes incident reports when required; records the relevant status of all residents, issues late and guest passes as required.
• Complete case note documentation and maintains resident case files; ensures quality audit measures are achieved in accordance with the YMCA and funder’s standards; completes data entry in the Shelter Management Information System (SMIS) and ensures all administrative tasks are completed as assigned.
• Adhere to all YMCA House protocols and practices as well as Association and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Participate in supervision, staff meetings and professional development trainings as required.
• Assist in identifying and responding to issues related to the building and house mechanical systems
• Understands the legal responsibilities and moral imperative to report suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services.
• Other duties as assigned

You bring:

• Post -secondary degree/diploma in social work or related discipline
• 2 + years professional experience, preferably working with marginalized youth an asset
• Valid training certificate in defusing hostility and/or crisis prevention required
• Valid First Aid/CPR Certificate; knowledge of safety and security procedures related to shelter operations
• Training certificate in 2SLGBTQ+ and trans-positivity or related experience
• Knowledge of the issues that lead young people to become homeless, and an ability to work with youth in a respectful, non-judgmental and consistent manner
• Knowledge and ability to integrate anti-oppression, critical disability, 2SLGBTQ+ and trans-positivity, trauma, harm reduction, recovery approach in support to mental health and strengths-based principles into practice
• Knowledge of transitional, shelter, and other housing systems in Toronto, ability to assist youth transitioning into adulthood through developmentally appropriate support
• Possesses relevant knowledge of community resources and referral agencies
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong organizational and administrative skills
• Basic knowledge in a kitchen and food preparation
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and building a sense of belonging
• Experience in Windows, Word/WP, Excel/SMIS
• Ability to work flexible shifts: weekends, statutory holidays, on call shifts
• Must be willing and able to accept shifts at all Youth Outreach and Intervention(YOI) programs as required
• Focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services
• YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here .

Joining the Y means contributing to over 170 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services, such as health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors. Learn more in our 2025–2030 strategic plan, Greater Together , which outlines how we are focused on building communities where people feel healthier and more connected to their neighbours.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here .

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.