Follow Up Worker

Follow Up Worker

Layered Supports

Onsite - Full Time, Permanent

About Covenant House Toronto

Covenant House helps youth ignite their potential and reclaim their lives. As Canada’s largest agency serving youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk, we offer the widest range of services to hundreds of young people every day.

More than a place to stay, we provide life-changing care with unconditional love and respect. We meet youth’s immediate needs and then we work together to achieve their future goals. We offer 24/7 crisis shelter transitional housing options on-site and, in the community, health and well-being support, training and skill development, and ongoing care once youth move into the community.       

For over 40 years, Covenant House has been dedicated to its mission of serving youth on the street and to protect and safeguard all youth with absolute respect and unconditional love. Since 1982, Covenant House has supported more than 100,000 young people.

Purpose of Position

The Follow Up Worker at Covenant House Toronto plays a crucial role in supporting young people to achieve and maintain stable housing, ensuring sustained exits from homelessness. This position involves conducting housing assessments, developing individualized housing plans, and facilitating life skills training. The Follow Up Worker liaises with housing providers, coordinates care with internal and external services and assists clients in navigating various systems such as social assistance, education, and employment. Additionally, the role requires ongoing documentation, participation in program evaluations, and collaboration with other team members and external agencies to provide holistic support to the youth. The ultimate goal is to empower young people to secure and sustain safe, appropriate housing while addressing their broader social, educational, and health needs. 

Responsibilities: 

• Complete initial assessments and compile detailed housing histories for clients, discussing various housing options in line with Housing First for Youth philosophy.
• Develop personalized housing plans with young people, addressing their unique needs and goals, ensuring plans are actionable and realistic.
• Assist clients in navigating systems like social assistance, immigration, education, employment, mental health services, and subsidized housing, including advocacy and attending appointments.
• Provide life skills training tailored to individual needs (e.g., budgeting, maintaining housing, independent living skills).
• Support clients in acquiring necessary furnishings and supplies for their housing units.
• Liaise with housing providers, arrange Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT) for rent supplements, and negotiate with landlords.
• Coordinate care with internal and external clinical services to address clients' clinical needs.
• Organize case conferences with external agencies and internal departments when needed.
• Address and manage crises to ensure client safety and well-being, including maintaining updated safety plans.
• Implement risk management strategies to prevent evictions and housing issues.
• Follow up with each program participant at least bi-weekly to deliver services as per the case management plan.
• Implement Covenant House philosophy, mission statement, and policies for disconnected, homeless, and hard-to-serve youth.
• Maintain daily and monthly documentation on the ETO platform.
• Communicate with landlords and manage housing needs, including site visits, rent collection, and cheque drop-offs. Complete cheque requisitions for clients’ housing addresses and landlords.
• Update the Toronto Grant Rebates Incentive Portal (TGRIP) for all active clients and discharge non-active clients.
• Engage in mandatory and optional training as required.
• Complete fund requests based on youth needs, such as housing changes and landlord payments.
• Complete all documentation related to youth case plans and housing plans.
• Prepare and submit quarterly and annual reports.
• Participate in program evaluations by completing ETO and outcome tools.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• College or university degree or diploma in child and youth work or equivalent.  
• Experience with Microsoft Office 365 applications
• Able to travel within the City of Toronto when needed
• Experience with systems and navigation for Housing in Toronto
• Understanding of Youth Homelessness and Human Trafficking: In-depth knowledge of barriers young people face, including challenges in employment, education, social inclusion, mental health, and wellbeing.
• Community Experience: Experience working with young people in community settings is highly desirable.
• Community Resource Knowledge: Familiarity with community resources for youth that align with trauma-informed, harm reduction, and anti-oppressive practices.
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
• Anti-Oppressive and Anti-Racism Practices:

What we Offer:

• Meaningful work.
• Competitive compensation.
• Benefits such as Health, Dental, Vision, Personal Days, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement and more. 
• Employee perks which include discounts on gym membership, city bike rentals, auto & home insurance and more.

Interested candidates are welcome to apply directly to this posting on or by April 8, 2025. Only those selected to move forward in our recruitment process will be contacted. No agencies or phone calls please.

At Covenant House Toronto we believe in a workplace culture of inclusion that is welcoming, respectful and safe for all staff. It is critical to Covenant House Toronto success to eliminate barriers and promote the inclusion of equity groups. Equity groups have been, and continue to be, underrepresented and marginalized in the workforce, leadership roles, and in some specific occupations. Equity groups include but may not be limited to Indigenous persons, racialized people, gender diverse people, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Covenant House Policy on Accommodation, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the Covenant House recruitment process.

Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.