Choices for Youth Inc. (CFY) is a professional service, youth-focused, non-profit, charitable organization that creates spaces and conversations, and operates programs and social enterprises to help vulnerable youth secure stable housing, employment, and education while improving health and family stability. With a focus on prevention, intervention, and support, we help youth and young families break cycles of poverty and homelessness and transition to healthy, stable, and independent lives. Our Employment, Education, and Social Enterprise (EESE) Department is seeking to hire one (1) full-time Employment Support Worker (ESW) position.
Meaningful employment is a key part of helping young people gain independence, detach from systems, and build confidence. Whether young people want to work within EESE’s social enterprises, or competitive employment, we provide them with the support, training, and resources they need to achieve their goals. For many at-risk youths, barriers like education level, mental health and addiction issues, lack of work experience, or involvement with the criminal justice system can stand in the way of finding success in employment. Using strength-based and solution focused approaches, our ESWs work with young people one-on-one to provide wrap-around supports, break barriers, and build new skills, as they work towards their goals of entering competitive employment or returning to school.
Individuals will collaborate with the Employment Support Coordinator and work together to ensure effective program delivery.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Participate in assessment interviews to assess a young person’s readiness to participate in pre-employment programming.
Conducting intakes with the objective of determining participants’ immediate needs (e.g., missing identification cards, housing, transportation, etc.).
Using assessment tools as a method to help identify participants barriers to education and employment (e.g., PRIME).
Meditation of crisis/conflict situations using supportive conversations, problem-solving and clear communication.
Collaborate with Training and Employment Leads to assess program participants workplace performance, progress, and employment readiness.
Work with program participants to explore their needs, set goals, and create action plans.
Work hands-on with participants who are participating in social enterprise employment, while role modeling on-site safety.
Connecting participants to additional resources through providing information, systems navigation, and submitting referrals.
Using a social justice lens to advocate on behalf of participants to community employers, services, and programs to move them closer to their employment goals.
Ability to work with young people from a person-centered, trauma informed, harm reduction and strengths-based approaches.
Transport and accompany individuals to scheduled appointments.
Complete case note documentation and handle confidential data in accordance with CFY and funders’ standards.
Collect related program statistics and data in an efficient manner.
Connect and collaborate with other ESWs for recruitment, problem solving, and sharing best practices.
Participate in relevant professional development training.
Represent CFY and any pre-employment training programs at recruitment fairs and community events.
All other duties as assigned by the Employment & Support Coordinator.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Undergraduate degree or diploma in Social Work, Psychology, Child and Youth Care, or other related Human Services field.
Advanced computer skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
In-depth knowledge and experience of working with vulnerable youth, housing/homelessness, barriers to employment, mental health and substance use, trauma, conflict resolution and crisis intervention.
Versed in career assessment and exploration.
Experience using database systems.
Training and experience using PRIME would be considered an asset.
Use of own vehicle is required.
Current Standard First Aid/CPR.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).
Satisfactory Criminal Record Check & Vulnerable Sector Check.
WORK HOURS
The position will work 37.5 hours per week and flexibility in work hours will be required to accommodate youth and program needs and to accommodate higher work volumes and organizational requirements.
COMPENSATION
The salary for this position is $46,582.38 – $51,375.87 annually. Choices for Youth offers a competitive compensation package, including a health and dental program, employer-matched RRSP, and four weeks’ vacation to qualifying employees.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your cover letter and resume explaining how you meet the criteria and using the reference ID in the subject line.
Email:
Recruitment Lead, | Heather Mallay, Employment Support Coordinator, |
Reference ID: ESW-1024
Deadline to Apply: November 5, 2024
Choices for Youth (CFY) strives towards a culture of inclusion and empowerment, one where there’s a sense of belonging and safety while prioritizing diversity across the organization, including in its Board of Directors composition, employment practices, staff, policies, programming, and services. CFY values lived and living experience and invites everyone interested to apply for available opportunities. CFY actively seeks applications from Indigenous Peoples; members of Black, racialized, and other equity-seeking and/or religious, cultural, and other communities; members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community; people with disabilities; and people from a variety of social and economic backgrounds. Should you require support or accommodation(s) to better enable your ability to participate in the employment or recruitment process, please let us know at any point. This information will be kept confidential.
To view all current job postings, please visit http://www.choicesforyouth.ca/join-cfy.