Youth Worker, Studio

Lumenus Community Services is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

We value a recruitment and selection process that is inclusive and barrier-free and we encourage applications from all individuals including, but not limited to, all cultures, religions, racialized communities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions.

Lumenus is looking for a dynamic Youth Workers to join our Counselling and Community Services Team in The Studio as casual relief staff. The Studio, under the Central Toronto Youth Wellness Hub, is a 2

SLGBTQ+ positive drop-in created by and for young people ages 10 to 25. Youth can come hang out, play video games, watch movies and socialize, and check out (and even run) some workshops or youth-led groups. At The Studio, youth and staff work together to create fun and interesting activities and workshops – art making, dance, gender expression/drag performance, sexual health workshops, discussion groups, field trips, and more.

The Studio staff also provide one-on-one support in housing, physical & mental health, education, employment, and legal matters.

The Studio celebrates the diverse experiences of youth and strives to create a community where all youth can get engaged in building allyship. Youth who come to The Studio have real decision-making power and are invited to help create the space, and build community in collaboration with Studio staff.

• Establish and promote an open, safe space which prioritizes the needs of BIPOC and/or 2
  
  SLGBTQIA+ youth
• Work with all youth who come to The Studio to become allies
• Support youth who have experiences living with mental health challenges
• Address homophobic, transphobic, racist, and/or oppressive language/behaviour issues proactively through established relationships with a focus on education
• Work in partnership with youth participants to develop workshops, discussions, field trips and special events, ensure these are successfully implemented and that youth develop the skills to be active partners in all aspects of programming
• Support the facilitation or activities and workshops
• Mentor youth, provide informal confidential support and referrals to appropriate services
• Support youth to develop skills in managing peer and adult relationships, health, sexuality, and substance use from a harm reduction framework
• Support with documentation and data entry to ensure the success of The Studio
• Align work and behaviour with agency mission, with an emphasis on ongoing learning
• Perform other related duties as assigned

• Ability to demonstrate and work through a lens of sensitivity to diversity related to race, religion, culture, cognitive functioning, poverty, sexual orientation and gender identity, etc.
• Sound knowledge of anti-oppressive practices and ability to implement them in work with children, youth and families
• Experience and comfort in working with youth with behavioural, mental health and lived experience of substance use
• Exceptional interpersonal skills in order to effectively build relations with diverse youth and liaise with a variety of agency staff, external professionals and individuals
• Ability to multi-task and engage youth in all aspects of The Studio
• Enthusiastic and dynamic with a strong drive to provide high quality services
• Experience with youth engagement and harm reduction practices is an asset
• Knowledge and skill in the areas of crisis intervention (CPI) is an asset
• Experience with youth leadership and mentoring programs such as youth lead community organizing, peer mentoring and/or volunteering is an asset
• Knowledge of community and agency programs for transitional age youth and adults
• Exceptional interpersonal skills; ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment, exercising professional judgement in conflictual and stressful situations.
• Sound writing skills with a strong record in completing documentation to agency expectations
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills.
• Proficiency with computer skills, including Microsoft Office, client data-base (CYSIS) and social media literacy
• Participation in quality assurance, evaluation and research…