Community Worker, Youth Programs

Job Title: Community Worker

Department: Community Development Services

Status and Hours: Temporary Full-time, 35/wk (Contract until August 31, 2027)

Pay scale: $21.037/hr - $24.75/hr

Reports to: Supervisor, Youth Programs

Deadline: Until Filled

This position is an existing vacancy.

Who are we?

Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre is an innovative, community-based, multi-service centre. We strive to meet the needs of the diverse communities we serve. We work in partnership with individuals, families, and communities to achieve their full potential, paying particular attention to those who face barriers to care due to race, gender, income and/or ability. PQCHC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce. If at any stage in the selection process, you require accommodation due to a disability, please let us know the nature of the required accommodation.

Job Summary

The Community Worker(s) works closely with community members, partner organizations, and programs in our service areas. The Community Worker is responsible for planning and facilitating programming with the goal of developing leadership skills, and encouraging volunteerism and civic engagement. This position requires excellent in-person facilitation skills and a strong ability to deliver programming in person.

Program Description:

The Community Programs team (CYP) focuses on supporting and empowering youth to become successful adults through a variety of mentoring, educational, and recreational activities. CYP holds weekly youth meetings, workshops, special events and cultural activities throughout the year. The ideal candidate will be have a background in youth services work, youth education, recreation, or outreach. Must possess strong interpersonal skills, communication, organization, teamwork, and enthusiasm, and be able to work effectively with a wide range of youth from different cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. This position involves some travel to different program site locations and may include weekend and evening shifts.

Job Specific Responsibilities:

Community Development and Outreach:

• Effectively carry out outreach activities to community members including identification of needs and interests based on the Centre’s Strategic Plan

• Respect and value the diversity of communities and individuals by working in a manner that incorporates health promotion, and recognizes the social determinants of health.

• Provide linkages with broader community resource base.

• Provide practical assistance and internal and external referral services to clients as appropriate.

• Create a supportive environment for community members to address barriers they may be experiencing.

• Foster ongoing community engagement and capacity-building

• Build and maintain pertinent community partnerships in conjunction with their supervisor.

• Promote/advertise and inform the community on relevant programs and services.

• Implement conflict prevention strategies (such as de-escalation and responding to individual/community-level crises) within the community with the support of the Supervisor and mandatory training, as appropriate.

Program Development:

• Assist in developing and implementing opportunities, programs, special events and services with their respective Supervisor to ensure alignment of the mission, values, and vision of PQ.

• Inform the development of program proposals, which include a statement of purpose, timelines, budget, activities, supplying inventory, etc.

• Develop and facilitate workshops and programming that meet the identified needs of the participants.

• Contribute to the evaluation framework that evaluates all programs and services and reports findings to their respective Supervisor.

• Provide in-person programming and apply virtual programming at the Supervisor’s discretion.

• Participate in continuous quality improvement.

Administrative Duties:

• Maintain records for petty cash, program participation forms, crisis interventions/referrals, program evaluation in line with PQ’s Privacy and Confidentiality Policies and Procedures

• Ensure security of program space and property (i.e., Keys, FOBS, I.T. equipment, program supplies, bus tickets, etc.).

• Attend, actively participate in, and represent the program at internal and community meetings as appropriate.

• Participate in regular supervision meetings.

• Assisting with program-specific training and onboarding of students and volunteers

• Work collaboratively with all team members, including volunteers and students.

• Work across teams to assist other programs/teams necessary.

• Inform and provide recommendations for program design, evaluation and reporting.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Flexibility to work during both regular and extended hours of operation (weekends, evenings) based on community needs.

• Demonstrating responsibility for personal and professional growth and development

• Working in a manner that supports the Centre’s Occupational Health and Safety and all other relevant Policies and Procedures

Qualifications:

• Must be an ACB candidate.

• Degree or diploma in health or social services, youth and childcare worker, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience creating a safe and inclusive environment, including virtual environments.

• Training and experience in-program planning, group facilitation and leadership development.

• Training/experience with in-person group facilitation or virtual programming on various virtual meeting platforms.

• Experience working with vulnerable populations in various capacities.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Knowledge of community resources.

• Fluency in English is essential; fluency in Somali, Arabic, and French is an asset; fluency in other languages is desirable.

• Position requires evening/weekend hours.

• Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle is considered an asset.

• Valid First Aid and CPR (level C) required.