Youth Care Worker

PLEA Community Services is currently seeking a Regular Full-Time Youth Care Worker for our Lighthouse team located in Maple Ridge, BC. The proposed start date for this position is as soon as possible. This position requires BCGEU membership.

The Youth Care Worker provides care to youth with moderate to severe behavioural challenges, and assists them to live healthily and successfully in a staffed resource home. The employee will ensure that the youth’s physical, emotional, social, educational and medical needs are met, and introduce fun and fulfilling new routines and activities.

Hours of Work: The usual hours of work are Thursday to Monday from 4:00PM to 12:00AM, based on 40 working hours per week. These work hours include a 30-minute paid meal period during which the employee is to remain on duty.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Diploma (60 credits/two years) in a related human/social services field.
• Over six (6) months of recent related experience.

Closing date for Internal Applications: The deadline for internal applications has now passed and we are welcoming applications from external candidates.

Who We Are:

PLEA is an accredited, charitable community services organization that has operated throughout BC for more than 40 years. We deliver community-based services and specialized supported homes to children, youth, adults and families facing significant challenges in their lives. We continually adapt our programs to suit each individual’s diverse strengths, needs and circumstances. As a result, we have a strong reputation for helping those we serve to overcome the challenges they face and lead fulfilling lives.

What You Will Do:

• Monitor youth in residential settings and ensure their safety and well-being. Recognize, analyze, and deal with potential emergency situations such as aggressive behaviour to ensure no harm comes to the youth and/or the public. Identify and report critical incidents to their manager. Comply with youth safety plans.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination between the Family Caregiver, internal staff, and the youth. Liaise with external partners such as the school, family, and the community, where appropriate.
• Provide feedback to the youth on their behaviour, teach coping techniques and adaptive behaviour strategies, and provide guidance and support to youth on a one-to-one and/or group basis.
• Teach youth to relate in a socially appropriate manner through the use of daily routines and activities. Provide life skills training such as meal preparation, housekeeping, personal care skills and personal finance as required by their service plans.
• Participate in various youth-focused activities in accordance with the youth’s service plan.
• Participate in the assessment, goal setting and program planning (service plan) for youth living in a staffed resource home. Document, implement and provide input into the evaluation of the youth’s progress.
• Provide crisis intervention and emotional support to youth in accordance with established policy.
• Coordinate, schedule, and accompany youth to appointments and community outings.
• Perform residence/program maintenance and housekeeping duties such as laundry, sweeping, mopping floors, mowing lawns, inventory, shopping, cleaning equipment and meal preparation.
• Maintain reports such as statistics, logbooks, and case notes on daily activities with youth.
• Assist the youth in self-administering medication in accordance with established policy.
• Protect and uphold confidentiality.
• Perform other related duties as required.

What You Will Bring:

• Effective interpersonal skills and the demonstrated ability to build trusting and effective relationships with youth, Family Caregivers, internal staff, professionals and families.
• Effective de-escalation, crisis management and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and take initiative, make sound decisions and follow service and safety plans in high pressure situations.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to be sensitive and understanding of individuals’…