360°kids Looking for Youth Worker (FT) at Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada Full Time

360°kids Home Base Drop-in Centre, located in the Richmond Hill Community Hub, supports youth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, by providing them with food, clothing, counseling, recreation, employment support, education, life skills, and connecting them with services to meet their needs.

The Youth Worker at Home Base will provide client-centered, hands-on support for all youth attending the 360°kids Drop-In program; and deliver ongoing life skills support and mentoring; including registration and daily documentation while promoting an empowering, positive and safe environment.

Direct Accountabilities Include

• Provide youth with resources, recreation, counseling, referrals, and advocacy services within their community.
• Teach life skills individually and in groups.
• Liaise with participants, parents, community partners, schools, donors, coworkers and volunteers.
• Maintain positive relationships and interact with various segments of the community including York Regional Police, CAS, neighbors, and property management personnel.
• Develop positive relations with the communities being served by the program and with the general public.
• Provide youth with a safe place off the street, and provide basic needs (food, clothing and hygiene).
• Respond to immediate needs, provide support, and resolve conflicts.
• Follow up with youth regarding their case plan, goals, and activities, and make referrals (internal and external referrals) or facilitate warm transfers as required.
• Be a positive mentor and adult role model.
• Work with youth to assess their housing needs and help them look for housing. (Youth with higher needs will be referred to the Housing Support Worker.)
• Provide access to meals, snacks, food pantry; shower, toiletries; laundry; clothes; computers; telephones and other amenities offered at the Drop-in Centre.
• Liaise with community partners to deliver services, information sessions, and life skills groups to meet the needs of youth.
• Other duties as required.

Qualifications / Skills Required

• Post-Secondary degree/diploma in a Child/youth-related field (e.g. Child and Youth, Social Service Worker, Social Worker, Psychology, Sociology) or the equivalent combination of education and experience working with youth.

The Ideal Candidate Will Possess

• Extensive knowledge of working with youth, including an understanding of harm reduction principles and trauma-informed care.
• Demonstrated client-focused counseling skills and role modeling.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to be adaptable with a flexible approach taking into consideration the unique qualities of each client.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills that promote positive team building, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
• A broad knowledge of community resources and the ability to strongly advocate for clients and professional referrals.
• Current First Aid/CPR certification, current vulnerable sector screening (criminal background check).
• Flexible to work a variety of shifts including evenings and occasional weekends for events.
• A car and valid driver’s license, $2 Million liability insurance with a clean driver’s abstract required.