Youth Care Practitioner - Caring Connections - Full-time

About The Link: Youth and Family Supports

For more than 90 years, The Link has helped youth and families on a journey to healing, hope, and better lives. The organization is dedicated to walking alongside children, youth, and families as an inclusive community, strengthening and empowering a sense of being, pride, and purpose. With over 15 diverse programs, The Link has a community of caring staff that work together to provide support through a 24-hour crisis line, youth resource centers, emergency shelters, mobile crisis teams, specialized foster care, healing homes, job readiness supports, and Skills4Life. With a strong foundation within the community and a focus on connection, unity, and compassion, the organization provides a vital link for youth and families in the province of Manitoba.

POSITION SUMMARY

Youth Care Practitioners (YCP) in each Healing Home  at The Link: Youth and Family Supports report to the Program Supervisor of the Healing Home and are responsible for implementing all aspects of the day-to-day functioning of the program. The YCP is expected to provide ongoing, culturally sensitive care while adhering to organizational policies and procedures. A major focus of their work with young people is to be a positive role model at all times and to intervene purposefully into the young people's daily life events in a manner which will help the young person reach the agreed upon goals of their time within the program. Youth Care Practitioners work from a needs-based, trauma informed, relational child and youth care approach as per the organization's expectations and standards. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Responsibilities of the Youth Care Practitioner include, but are not limited to:

• Provide holistic mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual support based on the teachings of the Medicine Wheel
• Work with youth to problem solve, and navigate a variety of systems
• Perform shelter intakes, assessments, and registration duties
• Provide support and crisis intervention
• Perform various administrative duties related to the care of the youth staying in the shelter
• Supervise, and provide service and basic needs/care to youth
• Perform general facility tasks, cleaning, cooking chores, and routines
• Attend staff meeting and training as required
• Work in collaboration with other team  members and external service providers
• (Occasionally) take on an in-charge role, overseeing the shifts and providing direction when needed in the Senior Youth Care Practitioner’s absence
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful candidate should demonstrate competencies consistent with the Seven Sacred Teachings.

• Certificate or diploma in Child & Youth Care or a combination of education, work experience and lived experience may be considered.
  
• Experience working with vulnerable youth
• Knowledge of Indigenous customs, traditions, and beliefs considered an asset.
• Knowledge of trauma and resilience informed care
• Strong counseling skills and experience in Relational Care, as well as excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C.
  
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search completed within the last three (3) months.
• Acceptable Child Abuse and Adult Abuse Registry Checks with acceptable Prior Contact Check; all completed within the last three (3) months.

Preferred/Asset, or willing to obtain within the first three (3) months: 

• Mental Health First Aid & Safe Talk.
  
• Commit 2 Kids Training.
• Certification in either DLE (The Purposeful Use of Daily Life Events) or TCS (Therapeutic Crisis Solutions).
• ASIST Certificate (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and De-escalation training preferred.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities upon request. If you are contacted by The Link regarding a job opportunity, please know that you are welcome to request an accommodation at any point in the process. All information received regarding accommodations will be kept confidential.

SALARY:  $18.00. 

HOURS OF WORK: Varied shifts including days, evenings, weekends, holidays and overnights 

HOW TO APPLY: Please submit a cover letter and resume by the deadline; Applicants must demonstrate in their resume and cover letter how they meet the requirements of the position.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled

The Link is an equal opportunity employer, Indigenous people, women, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The Link is committed to developing and retaining a diverse workforce. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted. For further information about our other employment and volunteer opportunities please visit https://thelinkmb.easyapply.co/ 

Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.