Diversion Case Manager – Special Project

Youth Link believes in the potential of every youth. We are dedicated to providing them with the support, guidance and opportunities they need to make positive life choices. We provide youth with brief and ongoing counselling, in-home wraparound support, shelter, housing, educational support, and safe drop-in spaces.

Youth Link works towards equitable outcomes for youth in our community and, as such, is committed to equity-based hiring practices.

We welcome applications from candidates who reflect the communities we serve, particularly candidates from Black communities, Indigenous communities, and racialized people, persons with disabilities, members of diverse gender identities and people with lived experiences. We are seeking candidates who demonstrably operate and practice from an equity and trauma-informed lens. We encourage applications from passionate professionals who will help us dismantle systemic barriers and will embrace working outside of Euro-centric practices.

• Competitive pay
• Health & dental coverage for you and your family with 100% premium cost paid by employer.
• * Annual vacation with pay at 1.66 working days for each calendar month to a maximum of
  20 working days per year.
• 
  * 5 ‘authorized absence’ days for family illness or emergency circumstances that prohibit employees from reporting to work.
• 
  * 3 paid agency days every calendar year after 3 calendar months service.
• Maternity / parental /adoption leave top-up payments (to top-up Canadian government unemployment benefit payments).
• 100% premium cost for long-term disability coverage paid by employee.
• Eligibility to participate in pension plan after 2 years of continuous service with generous matching contribution from employer

(pro-rated for part-time employees according to the employee’s full-time equivalency (FTE))

The Diversion Case Manager provides direct support for youth experiencing, or who are at-risk of homelessness to secure safe housing alternatives to emergency shelter that is appropriate to their circumstances including acquiring or to maintain existing housing. The Diversion Case Manager coordinates case management and support planning with youth and the team.

The Diversion Case Manager is expected to practice within a framework that is a strengths-based, relationship-based philosophy of care and a belief in the resilience of youth. This role also brings an advanced understanding of equity issues that impact a young person, with a particular competency around issues impacting Black youth.

Assessment and Diversion Services

• Meet with youth entering the shelter to assess and explore safe alternative living arrangements through solution focused support and diversion services.
• Work within a system of care approach to assess diversion or entry to the shelter, and provide coordinated access to the shelter system if appropriate
• Develop and apply a formal diversion assessment tool to support Youth Link’s emerging diversion program. In collaboration with the evaluation team, use research and evidence to develop or select an objective measure to determine whether there is a match between a client’s needs and the services of the organization or another service elsewhere in the community.

Client-Centered Support

• Apply client-centered approach when working with youth to achieve positive outcomes and empower them through strength-based practices.
• Provide counseling, conflict resolution and mediation to youth, their ‘families’ and/or landlords to prevent homelessness.

Community Partnerships and Best Practices

• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with community partners and support youth with referrals to appropriate professional services.
• Assist in creating and documenting best practices and protocols that promote positive shelter diversion outcomes.
• Participate in client care reviews and team meetings to ensure effective delivery of support services and continuity of care.
• Collaborate with other agencies that work in the areas of youth homelessness.
• Utilize assessment tools to provide…