Family Support Worker

Overview of Position:

The Community Youth & Family Support Worker will be integrated into Community House programs to provide a comprehensive support system for families living in and around the Community House catchment. This program centers the needs of youth by using a family-centered approach. Supports offered include outreach, community education, navigating social/educational/health systems and providing early non-critical responses for those requiring assistance.

The successful candidate will be required to work flexible hours, including at minimum 1-2 evenings per week. In addition, they are required to connect with youth/families in locations that are more accessible to them (i.e. the clients’ home, in community, in the school environment etc.). Thus, the successful candidate is expected to practice from an Anti-oppressive lens and understands the lived realties of the community served.

Key Responsibilities:

· Connect with youth and their families in the spaces that are comfortable to them

· Identify & Assesses children/youth and their family strengths and needs, including risk identification, according to program standards

· Develops plans and explore goals in conjunction with the family, addressing risk management

· Provide youth facilitation/mentorship; facilitate learning spaces for youth

· Support youth and their families in navigating social systems / health systems; provide referrals and act as an advocate

· Effectively liaise, consult, and collaborate with other service providers (e.g., schools) and make appropriate use of community resources

· Network with Community Family Support Workers from other Community Houses

· Follow program guidelines regarding confidentiality, documentation, the writing of reports, record keeping etc through a secured database.

· Participate in quality assurance, evaluation, data collection and research activities.

· Actively participates and makes use of on-going supervision

· Represents agency in a positive manner, by attending training courses, workshops and seminars pertaining to professional development.

· Works flexible hours to meet the needs of clients including at minimum 2 evenings a week.

· Assume other such responsibilities as assigned from time to time.

· Oversee/work closely with Child and Youth staff.

Qualifications:

· Bachelor of Social Work / Degree in related area of study (ie. counselling)

· Knowledge and experience working with racialized children and adolescents who experience issues of poverty, discrimination, issues in the education system and face other societal barriers

· Minimum 2-3 years’ experience working with marginalized, vulnerable or at-risk clients in a community setting

· Experience working with children/adults with mental health /behavioral & emotional challenges would be considered an asset

· Knowledge of social service agencies and mental health services in Ottawa preferred

· Lived experience of the Black, Indigenous, People of Colour communities In Ottawa is preferred

· Experience with developing and facilitating groups in a community-based setting.

· Excellent interpersonal communication, de-escalation skills and documentation skills

· Strong oral and written communication skills

· Bilingualism preferred, other languages; Arabic, Lingala, Creole or other languages commonly spoken among Black communities in Ottawa will be considered an asset.

· Strong computer proficiency in a wide range of applications and platforms required

· Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle is mandatory.

Condition of Employment:

· Required to work some evenings.

· A vulnerable sector police reference check

· Updated First Aid/CPR

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 18 months

Salary: $28.00-$30.00 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week

Schedule:

• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2024-03-01
Expected start date: 2024-03-04