Casual, Youth Worker, Foundations Program

Casual, Youth Worker, Foundations Program

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, 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.

The VCH Foundations Program is a residential stabilization program supporting youth with significant substance use and mental health concerns. You will demonstrate absolute respect to youth that will support them to know their worth.

The VCH Foundations Program is a safe and non‑judgmental environment where youth are supported to address every aspect of wellbeing – health, emotional, and spiritual. 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 relationship 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.

How you will contribute:

• 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
• Upon entry to the Program, introduce the services provided, orient new youth, and complete program intake
• Center the principles of Harm Reduction and Trauma‑Informed Practice
• Work with youth to address their individual needs and goals
• Supporting youth with addictions and mental health challenges and referring to specialist agencies and/or allied professionals where needed
• Provide crisis intervention, including responding to overdoes/administering first aid and Naloxone that may happen within CHV premises, ongoing training will also be provided
• Document client notes in ETO, write Incident Reports, and other routine documentation as required
• Coordinate youth meetings and activities, including recreation and life skills
• Attend all training as directed
• Maintain youth rooms including: set up, safety checks, etc.
• Laundry as needed
• Other duties as required

Who are we looking for?

Education and Experience:

• Diploma or degree in related social service and a minimum one year in a low barrier, harm reduction setting, or
• Minimum 3 year’s full‑time working experience in a similar low…