Youth Outreach Worker

Pacific Community Resources Society is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from people of all gender identities and expressions, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and visible minorities.

Persons who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact our HR department at [email protected]. Personal information will be kept confidential.

Last Date to Apply:

Open until filled

About PCRS

Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS) is a large not-for-profit agency that serves some of the most vulnerable people in our communities from Vancouver to Hope. We work with youth and vulnerable adults in the areas of education, employment, housing, substance use and mental health, and youth and family support services. We are CARF Accredited and a Certified Living Wage Employer.

About the Program

The Inter‑Regional At‑Risk Youth Link (IRAYL) program delivers mobile, multi‑regional outreach and immediate response services to at‑risk youth across all SkyTrain hubs and surrounding areas throughout the Lower Mainland. The program engages youth through proactive outreach and relationship‑based support, with a focus on connecting them to appropriate community resources. Supports may include access to education, health care, substance use and mental health services, cultural programming, employment supports, and counselling. Partnerships in the IRAYL program include Transit Police, MCFD and other youth-serving community agencies.

Hours & Conditions of Work

• Regular Full Time
• 35 hours weekly
• Work Hours: Availability is required for a range of shifts between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, with flexibility to meet program needs including the occasional weekend participation.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions, including rain, snow, heat, and cold.
• Ability to carry backpack of supplies for a full shift.
• Requires travel to various Skytrain stations to provide community outreach

Position Summary

Wage Grid 13 ($30.86 to 32.18 per hour)

The Youth Outreach Worker operates multi-regionally, in pairs and provide immediate response services to at-risk youth at all Sky-Train hubs and surrounding areas across the Lower Mainland. This position requires a sound understanding of behaviours that impact at-risk youth including poverty; youth gang issues, street entrenchment, substance misuse, FASD and mental health barriers.

The Youth Outreach Worker must be able to work efficiently within a team environment to provide outreach services to youth and establish relationships with them to ensure they are connected to various community resources. Connections may include education, health, substance use services, mental health supports, cultural programming, employment and counselling services.

Responsibilities

• Conducts street outreach, general and targeted, by connecting with hard-to-reach youth and/or missing persons
• Engages with and encourages youth to participate in pro-social activities located near Skytrain stations by offering access to passes, facility schedules, printed resources and bus tickets
• Carries a backpack of supplies for distribution to participants (ex. snacks, resources, hygiene supplies, harm reduction (condoms, naloxone), socks, toques, etc.)
• Assists participants in acquiring items of need, where possible
• Provides substance use education and harm reduction supplies to participants; provides mobile naloxone training to participants and community members as requested
• Creates and maintains stakeholder relationships in community, by forging mutually beneficial connections and building networks to benefit participants
• Delivers program presentations to participants, agencies, partners
• Administers daily logs and statistical record keeping and reporting
• Provides Naloxone administration when needed
• Attends various community planning meetings to identify youth and their specific needs, mapping and locating family and community networks and collaborating with other service providers and agencies to ensure all information is current and relevant
• Communicates with leadership to order outreach supplies, harm reduction and naloxone when needed
• Participates in team meetings and team building by communicating accurately and objectively about any ideas, thoughts or issues regarding the program and the work that is being done
• Shares ideas and understanding with colleagues, working collaboratively with each daily partner and team leader

Competencies & Knowledge

• Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with multiple police authorities and social service providers throughout Metro Vancouver.
• Familiarity with resources across the Lower Mainland.
• Training in solution-focused counselling, mental health, sexual abuse, depression/suicide/co-occurring disorders.

What We Offer

• Equitable & Transparent Base Pay – we are a Certified Living Wage Employer
• Generous paid vacation, personal and sick time; additional paid time off for life events
• Additional paid holidays (ex. Easter Monday, Boxing Day)
• Health Benefits Coverage with 100% employer-paid premiums - including extended health and prescriptions, dental, vision and paramedical care
• Disability and Life Insurance Coverage
• Employee & Family Assistance Program including preventative health & counselling
• Membership in the Municipal Pension Plan with generous employer contributions
• Flexible schedules and earned day off program
• Full-day agency orientation and extensive training, with regular ongoing performance evaluations
• In-house digital and classroom learning opportunities; staff funding for professional development
• Opportunities to use your voice & participate in committees on policy, wellness, safety, JEDI and more

Eligibility varies depending on employment terms and role requirements – details for this specific opportunity will be provided on request.