Youth Support Worker; Temporary

PLEA Community Services is currently seeking a Temporary Full-Time Youth Support Worker (Canada Summer Jobs) for our U-Turn/U-Link team located in Surrey, BC. This temporary 8-week fixed-term contract is proposed to start July 7, 2026, and end August 29, 2026. This position requires BCGEU membership.

This job is partially funded by the Government of Canada through the Canada Summer Jobs Program. For information on eligibility for this program, please refer to the link:

In keeping with the Canada Summer Jobs program objectives, we encourage applications from youth who face barriers to employment, including:

• Indigenous youth
• Racialized youth
• Black youth
• Youth with disabilities
• Youth in a rural, remote, Northern, or fly‑in community
• Youth in an official language minority community
• 2
  
  SLGBTQI+ youth

Our organization provides supports such as mentorship, accessibility accommodations, inclusive supervision practices, and culturally safe work environments, consistent with Canada Summer Jobs program expectations. Self‑identification is voluntary and confidential.

The Youth Support Worker engages the youth in one‑to‑one activities, helping them reach their long‑term goals around success, well‑being, and healthy development. The youth in this program have complex care needs related to mental health, disability, addiction, and challenging behaviour. The employee will provide close supervision and attention to the youth’s needs to teach skills in education, recreation, and healthy living.

The usual hours of work are Tuesday to Saturday based on a flextime scheduling arrangement, including days and evenings, of 35 working hours per week. Flextime scheduling arrangements allow employees to pick the start/end times of their shifts to meet client needs. Shifts must include the program’s core hours of 12:00PM to 2:00PM (the daily straight‑time maximum is 10 hours).

• Working towards a Bachelor of Arts in the social sciences or human services or a related discipline.
• One (1) year recent experience working in programs with youth who are deemed to be high risk and have complex needs, and/or are involved in the criminal justice system, and their families/caregivers.
• Work or volunteer experience in a residential care facility or foster home model program.

The deadline for internal applications has now passed and we are welcoming applications from external candidates.

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.

• Work closely with the Services Coordinator and Family Caregivers to support the goals identified in each youth's service plan. Develop and implement appropriate plans, strategies and activities that will address their complex needs, strengthen their protective factors and provide a sense of belonging and stability.
• Provide close supervision and support in the community that will assist youth to achieve their individual goals, maintain their motivation to make safer choices, improve their behavior, develop new interests and connections, and feel successful.
• Implement interventions that address the complex personal, social and healthcare needs of the youth, and recognizes the contextual dynamics they are experiencing. Provide opportunities to access and reconnect to available resources in the community that will enable and encourage youth to develop the necessary educational, personal, social, vocational and self‑advocacy skills. Include such community resources as an integral part of the youth’s case management plan.
• Maintain ongoing positive relationships with Family Caregivers and participates as part of the team responsible for improving the quality of life…