Youth Worker (Casual)

Coast Mental Health; Surrey; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

Join a compassionate team dedicated to supporting youth and young adults facing mental health challenges. This part-time position offers the chance to make a meaningful impact in a serene setting, utilizing a holistic approach that blends Indigenous healing traditions with modern practices. You'll engage with clients, fostering community connections while providing essential support for their mental and physical well-being. As part of a leading mental health organization, you will contribute to innovative programs that empower individuals on their journey to recovery. If you're passionate about helping others and ready to embrace a fulfilling role, this opportunity is for you.

Benefits

Health Benefits

Flexible Schedule

Professional Development

Supportive Work Environment

Qualifications

• Diploma in Child & Youth Care or related field is required.
• 2 years of recent, related experience is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Connect with youth in need of mental health and community services.
• Support youth in accessing health professionals and community resources.
• Implement life skills programs and engage clients in daily activities.

Skills

Crisis De-escalation Skills

Communication Skills

Knowledge of Harm Reduction

Knowledge of Psychosocial Rehabilitation

Ability to Work Independently

Education

Diploma in Child & Youth Care

Diploma in Community Social Service Work

Tools

Relevant Software Proficiency

Job description

Job Category: Front-Line Outreach & Mental Health Workers

Requisition Number: YOUTH003841

Posted: February 11, 2025

Part-Time

Rate: $31.56 CAD per hour

Locations

Launching Pad
984 160 Street
Surrey, BC V4A4W5, CAN

We are a provincial specialized substance use treatment program offering services to youth and young adults experiencing problematic substance use.

Join our team of dedicated health professionals to support female and non-binary individuals ages 17 to 24. Set in a peaceful quiet neighbourhood, 3 blocks from the beach, in sunny White Rock, this setting is ideal for those who love the outdoors! You will have the opportunity to utilize your knowledge and skills to support individuals who may have experienced mental health, physical health, trauma, family/cultural disconnection and substance use. The program utilizes a two-eyed seeing approach, weaving Indigenous cultural traditions of healing with western medicine to build a program that is holistic, healing and flexible for the unique individual needs of participants. The program operates under a harm-reduction lens to support individuals in learning what healing, wellness and treatment mean for each participant.

Our focus will be community-driven, both within the program itself by establishing a sense of community between participants and employees (eating meals, participating in activities and healing practices such as yoga/meditation, going on walks together). We will also be connecting individuals to resources within the community – both in Surrey, and individuals home communities. There will be a focus on land-based healing practices, adventure therapy and skill building.

Typical Duties:

• Connecting with youth that are not accessing services and are in need of supports obtaining community services (mental health, physical health, addictions, criminal justice issues, employment, finances, housing, education and/or other needs defined by the youth)
• Ability to work later hours and weekends to connect with youth.
• Navigating, liaising and effectively communicating with services for youth and advocating for supports on their behalf.
• Supporting youth in obtaining and attending appointments to connect with GP/NPs and other health professionals.
• Working with others on developing a restorative justice approach for youth.
• Ensures the implementation of the programs including leisure activities, cooking, housekeeping and maintenance tasks by engaging the clients in daily life skills activities.
• Provides community-based Psycho social rehabilitation services by identifying and supporting clients in accessing and developing links into community programs and services.
• Teaches and models life skills and strategies necessary for self-care, independent living and interaction with outside social agencies.
• Applies a range of effective communications strategies such as role modelling to establish a collaborative rapport with the clients.
• Provides the support and information necessary to help clients build self-esteem and develop decision-making skills through role modelling and other techniques.
• Assists clients to identify and gain access to formal and informal community supports such as leisure, vocational, educational services through active community integration; providing community services resources of community services.
• Observes and records the physical and mental health status of clients and takes necessary action.
• Advocates for and with the clients to encourage them to maintain their rights and dignity.
• Works with clients, peers, supervisors, other agencies and relatives in a cooperative and professional manner.
• Develops individualized life skills programs with clients involving, where appropriate, family, friends and community resources.
• Ensures all requirements of the QWIK process and administrative tasks are completed within the allocated timeframes.
• Uses formal and informal assessment practices such as interviews to develop individual plans identifying the client’s areas of interest and need.
• Distributes medications safely in accordance with medication policies and procedures.
• Reports and addresses health and safety issues/concerns as they arise.
• Performs administrative tasks, as assigned.
• Maintains records as required.
• Fulfills any other functions/duties that may develop in conjunction with the above.
• May be asked to direct students and volunteers.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Diploma in Child & Youth Care, Community Social Service Work, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience or other qualifications determined to be reasonable and relevant to the level of work
• Recent, related experience of two years
• Ability to provide/obtain the following upon hire:
• Certificates in First Aid + CPR, WHMIS and FoodSafe
• Ministry of Justice Criminal Record Clearance
• BCDL - Class 5, & copy of Drivers Abstract
• Non-violent Crisis Intervention training, or equivalent
• TB Clearance (within past 6 months)
• Immunization Records: will be provided list of immunizations needed

Knowledge and Abilities

• Knowledge of housing issues local and community resources
• Firm understanding of harm reduction approach and its implementation in a community-based setting.
• Demonstrated ability in crisis de-escalation skills applied in a team setting
• Demonstrated ability to work with individuals who are marginalized, underserved and who may be at risk of homelessness or homeless.
• Demonstrated ability working with individuals living with substance misuse issues and or an untreated mental illness.
• Understanding of a trauma-informed approach
• Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation practices
• Knowledge of program policy and procedures
• Knowledge and proficiency in relevant software
• Ability to work with clients living with mental illness
• A good understanding of the issues related to meeting basic needs of food, clothing, shelter.
• Ability to work effectively independently and in cooperation with others.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Ability to observe and recognize changes in clients.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate groups.
• Some knowledge of the criminal justice system

About Coast
Coast Mental Health (Coast) is one of the largest mental health non-profit societies in Canada, and operates a large array of innovative housing and community-based rehabilitation services for people with a mental illness living in and around Vancouver. Coast operates in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia providing approximately 1000 people with supportive housing and 4000 clients living in the community with a wide variety of programs and services.
Coast fosters a client-driven, recovery-oriented environment that promotes restoring health, personal growth and a return to society for individuals with a mental illness through advocacy and providing direct programs and services.

Why Coast

• We believe in the person, not the disease
• We operate client-centered care under the principles of psychosocial rehabilitation
• There is a variety of work within a particular position and within the organization
• We strive to be the best that we can be
• We hold Exemplary Status accreditation through Accreditation Canada
• We have won numerous awards for our innovative programming
• We care about our employees, and believe in living our values and culture throughout the organization

***Employees of Coast must apply within seven days of the posting date with their internal account (Coast email address registered) to be considered as an internal applicant. Current Coast employees who apply to this posting using external accounts or after the 7 day deadline will be considered as external candidates. Seniority will not apply.***

Coast Mental Health is committed to creating a culture of diversity and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or disability.