Casual Youth Worker, CSS​/Sanctuary

As we serve vulnerable youth, all employees working for Covenant House Vancouver must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required prior to your start date.

Since 1997, Covenant House Vancouver has provided relentless support for youth experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness. We provide support to young people age 16 to 24 who have experienced a wide range of early life and ongoing, complex trauma; including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. Our purpose is to serve all youth, with absolute respect and unconditional love, to help youth experiencing homelessness, and provide a safe and supportive environment for all youth in need.

Working at Covenant House will be one of the most meaningful things that you'll do in your life. However, you will be confronted with significant issues in this work and frankly, this work is not for everyone. In the course of doing your work, particularly for those doing frontline work, you will be exposed to the trauma of others. The youth we serve may also experience overdose, physical harm perpetuated by self or others and even death.

Because we provide a relational model of care, the harms our youth experience can impact us in varying degrees. While we provide training for youth workers on avoiding what we call vicarious trauma (namely, the trauma you can experience or take on by hearing other’s traumatic stories), and a generous allowance for counselling, it is still difficult work that can and does take its toll on many employees.

Self-awareness and self-care are key. Some candidates and employees decide during the recruiting and probationary periods that this work isn't for them, and that is totally fair. We will provide more information on vicarious trauma during recruiting and on-boarding, to help you decide if Covenant House is the place for you.

Your primary role as a Youth Worker is to build trusting, supportive, professional relationships with youth. You will work with a multidisciplinary team to determine the best plan of care to help youth reach their goals and transition to healthy, confident adults. You will provide services from an attachment-based, harm reduction, culturally relevant, trauma-informed model of care. You will have the opportunity to build transformative relationships with youth and reduce the risks of street homelessness and substance use.

Through relentless engagement, the CHV continuum of care connects with youth where they are at because we feel it should be "one size fits one" when it comes to supporting young people. You will work in both the Community Support Services (CSS) drop-in program, as well as the Sanctuary residential program (for youth with significant mental health and substance use concerns).

You will provide an array of ‘as-needed’ services to young people. You will support the youth with personal planning and life skills, assist with referrals to other social services and support with daily tasks. The Complex Support Services department requires an experienced Youth Worker, one that is able to work confidently with less structure and navigate multifaceted health, behavioral and substance use concerns.

• Greet and welcome youth accessing CHV services, assess and respond to their immediate needs, and provide them with practical resources including food, clothing, and transportation
• Initiate, develop and maintain professional relationships with youth 16-24 years of age
• Assist youth with accessing external community supports and accompany them (if needed)
• Respond confidently to emergencies or potential behavioural, mental health, emotional, or substance use concerns using trauma-informed practice
• Upon entry to the Program, introduce the services provided, orient new youth, and complete program intake
• Work with youth to address their individual needs and goals
• Center the principles of Harm Reduction and Trauma-Informed Practice
• Supporting youth with addictions and mental health challenges and referring to specialist agencies…