Youth Support Worker (Temporary Full-Time)

PLEA Community Services is currently seeking a Temporary Full-Time Youth Support Worker for our U-Turn/U-Link team located in Port Coquitlam, BC. This temporary fixed-term contract is proposed to start as soon as possible, and end on July 3, 2028. This position requires BCGEU membership.

The Youth Support Worker engages the youth in one-to-one activities, helping them reach their long-term goals around success, well-being, and healthy development. They will provide close supervision and attention to the youth’s needs to teach skills in education, recreation, and healthy living. The youth in this program have complex care needs related to mental health, disability, addiction, and challenging behaviour.

Hours of Work: The usual hours of work in this position are Sunday to Thursday based on a flextime scheduling arrangement, including days, evenings and weekends, of 35 working hours per week. Flextime scheduling arrangements allow employees to pick the start/end times of their shifts to meet client needs. Shifts must include the program's core hours of 12:00PM to 2:00PM (the daily straight-time maximum is set as per agency policy).

Education/Experience Requirements:

• A Bachelor of Arts in the social sciences or human services or a related discipline.
• One (1) year recent experience working in programs with youth who are deemed to be high risk and have complex needs, and/or are involved in the criminal justice system, and their families/caregivers.
• Work or volunteer experience in a residential care facility or foster home model program.

Closing date for Internal Applications: The deadline for internal applications has now passed and we are welcoming applications from external candidates.

Who We Are:

PLEA is an accredited, charitable community services organization that has operated throughout BC for more than 40 years. We deliver community-based services and specialized supported homes to children, youth, adults and families facing significant challenges in their lives. We continually adapt our programs to suit each individual’s diverse strengths, needs and circumstances. As a result, we have a strong reputation for helping those we serve to overcome the challenges they face and lead fulfilling lives.

What You Will Do:

• Work closely with the Services Coordinator and Family Caregivers to support the goals identified in each youth's service plan. Develop and implement appropriate plans, strategies and activities that will address their complex needs, strengthen their protective factors and provide a sense of belonging and stability.
• Provide close supervision and support in the community that will assist youth to achieve their individual goals, maintain their motivation to make safer choices, improve their behavior, develop new interests and connections, and feel successful.
• Implement interventions that address the complex personal, social and healthcare needs of the youth, and recognize the contextual dynamics they are experiencing. Provide opportunities to access and reconnect to available resources in the community that will enable and encourage youth to develop the necessary educational, personal, social, vocational and self-advocacy skills. Include such community resources as an integral part of the youth’s case management plan.
• Maintain ongoing positive relationships with Family Caregivers and participate as part of the team responsible for improving the quality of life for the youth, addressing their individual strengths, needs, abilities and preferences consistently, and supporting their healthy development.
• Teach life skills and community survival skills, provide emotional support and model acceptable behavior. Engage youth in acceptable recreational and social activities in the community that will build on their strengths, develop their interpersonal skills, and support their involvement in their culture to strengthen their sense of identity. Support youth towards integration and normative functioning in the community.
• Develop collaborative relationships with youths' families/caregivers, significant others and informal support systems to maintain and strengthen these connections.
• Respond to critical incidents and emergencies in current placements. Recognize potential crises, analyze these situations accurately and implement strategies to deal with them, and inform the manager when such situations arise. Provide on call and duty coverage for the program.
• Maintain necessary program participant and program reports and statistics. Ensure that all records, reports and documentation pertaining to service delivery are accurate, complete and in compliance with PLEA’s policies and procedures.
• Establish strong connections to the community, including maintaining close working relationships with all formal and informal service providers.
• Protect and uphold confidentiality.
• Perform other related duties as required.

What You Will Bring:

• Strong interpersonal communication, and conflict management skills, including a demonstrated ability to prepare accurate and comprehensive written reports.
• Demonstrated proficiency in teaching others and an ability to work collaboratively with families/caregivers and networks that provide support to youth.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with others, and can implement effective behavior management strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop supportive relationships with youth and their families/caregivers who may be reluctant to engage.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong collaborative relationships, work effectively as part of a team, use good judgment and manage conflicts constructively.
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective relationships based on mutual respect and trust with a range of different individuals and groups in the community.
• Strong organizational, time and general management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative, make sound decisions and be held accountable for results.
• Demonstrated ability to be sensitive and understanding of individuals’ social realities including issues of race, culture, religion, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, poverty and lifestyle.
• Demonstrated knowledge of issues and trends related to the program.
• Knowledge of theory, principles and best practices with respect to providing services to youth with who are high risk, and have complex care needs, and their families/caregivers.
• Knowledge of relevant Criminal Justice Legislation and policies, the role of Youth Court, Child Welfare Legislation and policies including the Child, Family and Community Service Act; Foster Care and Residential Standards; and applicable government legislation, regulations and accreditation standards.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and database systems.

PLEA Benefits and Perks:

• Eligibility to enroll in health/welfare benefits on the first day of the month following the completion of the probation period, including access to the annual physical activity fund (for fitness-related items or activities) and the annual education fund (to take part in career-related courses or training events).
• Access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP): confidential and voluntary counselling support services and wellness resources for employees and their immediate family members.
• Discounted gym membership at Club 16 Trevor Linden and She's Fit.
• Perkopolis membership: an exclusive discount program for a variety of products and services (clothes, furniture, dining, auto, events, etc.)
• Agency-Sponsored Social Events (i.e., summer barbecue, annual holiday party, and team days).

PLEA offers the Municipal Pension Plan to eligible employees as per the plan’s criteria.

Minimum Requirements:

• Satisfactory Criminal Record Clearance and satisfactory Consolidated Criminal Record Clearance (CCRC) through the Ministry of Children and Family Development's Centralized Services HUB.
• Must possess a valid Basic First Aid certificate (formerly OFA Level 1) or be willing to obtain one prior to hire.
• Must have access to a personal vehicle for work-related travel. This position requires travel in the Lower Mainland.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Class 5 B.C. Driver's License and suitable driver's abstract/claims history.
• Documentation that the applicant is legally authorized to work on an ongoing basis in Canada.

Note: PLEA conducts primary source verification of applicant's credentials including education, training, work history, and licensure.