PLEA Community Services Society of BC

Overview

PLEA Community Services is currently seeking a Regular Full-Time Youth Development Worker for our Vancouver Coastal Youth Services - Onyx team located in Vancouver, BC. The proposed start date for this position is as soon as possible. This position requires BCGEU membership.

The Youth Development Worker is responsible for providing immediate support to youth who have experience sexual exploitation and need support exiting from the sex trade or sexually exploitive relationships. Such immediate support would include health services, detox, living space, and one-to-one support in the community. They will implement interventions, develop service plans, and assist the youth in meeting their goals. These are voluntary support services.

• Develop positive relationships with youth that will provide them with the emotional support and practical assistance required to address their strengths, needs and circumstances, achieve their personal goals, and increase their protective factors.
• Plan and implement interventions that address the immediate safety needs of the youth referred, and the issues they present in the five domains (individual, family, peers, school/employment and community) of their lives using a positive youth development approach.
• Develop collaborative relationships with youth's family/caregivers, significant others and informal support systems to maintain and strengthen these connections.
• Provide a range of services including assessment and planning, primary support, conflict mediation, facilitating connections to natural support systems and assistance in accessing community supports and specialized services.
• Develop, implement, and coordinate service plans and resources designed to ensure that youth's individual needs are met. Participate in case planning and management for each young person and provide ongoing consultation as required.
• Facilitate access to community resources and specialized services when required by youth and their families/caregivers to ensure they receive services that are integrated, timely and meet their identified needs. Include formal and informal support systems as an integral part of all work with youth and their families.
• Participate in Integrated Case Management planning processes, function as the key worker for youth on a team of professionals when required, and provide ongoing coordination of services to youth and their families/caregivers. Work closely with Ministry personnel to ensure the safety and well being of youth served, and that case management objectives are met.
• Assist youth to meet the goals identified in their Youth Agreements. These may include, but are not limited to: locating and maintaining safe and stable housing, accessing financial, educational, vocational, and recreational opportunities, developing adult competencies and strengthening their connections to the community and its resources.
• Teach youth the life skills they require to make their transition to living independently as successful as possible. Work with youth individually, and in groups when appropriate to develop effective communication, problem solving, conflict management, personal care, and money management skills. Provide emotional support and encouragement to youth re making safer choices, and using their strengths and abilities to manage difficult situations.
• Support youth's family/caregivers individually or through facilitation of educational groups. Provide advice, assistance, mediation and crisis intervention services to families/caregivers when required.
• Respond to critical incidents and implement crisis intervention strategies that address the specific health and safety issues of those involved, and inform the manager when such situations arise.
• Establish strong connections to the community, including maintaining close working relationships with all formal and informal service providers.
• Ensure that all records, reports and documentation pertaining to service delivery are accurate, complete and in compliance with PLEA's policies and procedures.
• Protect and uphold confidentiality.
• Perform other related duties as required.

• Strong…