Youth Worker, Foundations Program

Covenant House Vancouver - Vancouver, BC; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 36,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

Covenant House Vancouver is seeking a Youth Worker for the Foundations Program to support youth aged 16–24 in a residential stabilization setting. You will adopt a trauma-informed, harm-reduction approach and build strong, trusting relationships while helping youth access services and resources.

The role emphasizes crisis intervention, collaboration with partners, and documentation in client records. Training and supervision are provided in a challenging but meaningful environment.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in related social service; 1+ year in a low-barrier, harm-reduction setting preferred.
• Minimum 3 years full-time experience in a similar role.
• Experience with youth homelessness or housing instability challenges.
• Compliance with immunization and tuberculosis control programs is required.

Responsibilities

• Greet and welcome youth; assess immediate needs; provide practical resources (food, clothing, transportation).
• Build professional relationships with youth aged 16–24.
• Explain services at program entry; orient new youth; complete intake.
• Apply and advocate harm-reduction and trauma-informed practices.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Youth homelessness awareness

Crisis response ability

Education

Diploma or degree in social service

First Aid & Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (asset)

Tools

ETO documentation system

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 Youth Worker in the Foundations Program can make:

The VCH Foundations Program is a residential stabilization program supporting youth with significant substance use and mental health concerns. You will demonstrate absolute respect to youth that will support them to know their worth.

The VCH Foundations Program is a safe and non-judgmental environment where youth are supported to address every aspect of wellbeing - health, emotional, and spiritual. You will provide services from an attachment-based, harm reduction, culturally relevant, trauma-informed model of care. You will have the opportunity to build transformative relationship with youth and reduce the risks of street homelessness and substance use. Through relentless engagement, the CHV continuum of care connects with youth where they are at because we feel it should be “one size fits one” when it comes to supporting young people.

How you will contribute:

• Greet and welcome youth accessing CHV services, assess and respond to their immediate needs, and provide them with practical resources including food, clothing, and transportation
• Initiate, develop and maintain professional relationships with youth 16-24 years of age
• Upon entry to the Program, introduce the services provided, orient new youth, and complete program intake
• Center the principles of Harm Reduction and Trauma-Informed Practice
• Work with youth to address their individual needs and goals
• Supporting youth with addictions and mental health challenges and referring to specialist agencies and/or allied professionals where needed
• Provide crisis intervention, including responding to overdoes/administering first aid and Naloxone that may happen within CHV premises, ongoing training will also be provided
• Document client notes in ETO, write Incident Reports, and other routine documentation as required
• Coordinate youth meetings and activities, including recreation and life skills
• Attend all training as directed
• Maintain youth rooms including: set up, safety checks, etc.
• Laundry as needed
• Other duties as required

Who are we looking for?

Education and Experience:

• Diploma or degree in related social service and a minimum one year in a low barrier, harm reduction setting, or
• Minimum 3 year’s full-time working experience in a similar low barrier role
• Experience with the challenges facing youth who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability
• First Aid & Non-Violent Crisis Intervention is an asset
• Evidence of compliance with the Province’s immunization and tuberculosis control programs is required

Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Familiarity with at risk youth and youth homelessness
• Ability to work with youth experiencing complex mental health challenges
• Work cooperatively and effectively with others to reach a common goal
• Strong situational awareness and ability to manage critical incidents
• Ability to adapt decision making based on circumstances or when presented with unclear information
• Familiarity with issued related to substance use and Harm Reduction principles and practices
• Familiarity with Indigenous Cultural Safety
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with the Youth
• Basic computer skills
• Working knowledge of Trauma Informed Practice
• Able to lift up to 25 lbs, and kneel and squat as needed

Schedule

• Friday - Sunday; 8:00am - 4:00pm

Compensation:

The successful candidate can expect a starting hourly rate of between $26.40 and $33.00 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 $39.60.

Schedule: Friday to Sunday; 3:00pm - 11:00pm

Additional Position Information:

The schedule is as follows: Casual Schedule

Shift Type: Overnight awake shift

Breaks: Paid and on-site

The successful candidate can expect a starting hourly rate of between $26.40 and $33.00 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 $39.60.

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, we hope you will consider joining the team.