child and youth worker

*Child and Youth Worker ? Roots to Sky Child & Family ServicesPosition Summary*

Reporting to the Program/Clinical Manager and working collaboratively with clinicians, program coordinators, families, placing agencies, schools, and other community professionals, the *Child and Youth Worker (CYW)* provides direct, trauma-informed and person-centred support to children and youth.

The CYW supports young people in developing emotional regulation, positive relationships, life skills, independence, safety, and overall well-being. Services may be provided within the residence, family home, school, community, or other approved settings.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide professional direct-care and child and youth work services in residential, home, school, recreational, and community settings.
• Establish safe, respectful, supportive and therapeutic relationships with children and youth.
• Provide individual support based on each child's strengths, needs, developmental level, culture, identity, preferences, and goals.
• Work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to implement Plans of Care, Safety Plans, behavioural support strategies, and individualized programming.
• Support children and youth experiencing emotional dysregulation, behavioural challenges, trauma-related difficulties, developmental needs, or other complex circumstances.
• Teach and reinforce life skills, social skills, communication skills, emotional regulation, problem-solving, coping strategies, and independent living skills.
• Plan and facilitate recreational, cultural, educational, creative, social and skill-development activities.
• Observe changes in behaviour, mood, functioning, safety, and overall well-being and communicate concerns promptly to appropriate team members.
• Respond appropriately to behavioural or crisis situations using approved de-escalation and crisis-intervention practices.
• Maintain appropriate supervision and ensure the safety and well-being of children and youth.
• Support children with appointments, school, community activities, family contact and transportation as assigned.
• Complete accurate and timely daily logs, progress notes, incident documentation, behavioural observations and other required records.
• Follow confidentiality, privacy, professional-boundary, child-rights and documentation requirements.
• Follow Serious Occurrence, emergency, medication, health and safety, infection-control and other organizational policies as applicable to the position.
• Participate in staff meetings, case conferences, training, supervision and Plan of Care reviews.
• Work collaboratively with parents/caregivers, Children's Aid Societies, schools, healthcare professionals, clinicians and community partners.
• Perform other duties reasonably related to the position.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Child and Youth Care/Worker, Social Service Worker, Developmental Services Worker, Social Work, Behavioural Sciences, Psychology, Indigenous Child and Family Services, or another related human-services field is preferred.
• Previous experience supporting children and/or youth, particularly individuals with behavioural, emotional, developmental, mental-health or complex support needs, is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, child and adolescent development, positive behavioural supports, conflict resolution and de-escalation.
• Understanding of the social, emotional, developmental and mental-health challenges that may affect children, youth and families.
• Ability to establish professional and therapeutic relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Strong observation, documentation and report-writing abilities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound professional judgment within the scope of the position.
• Basic computer proficiency and ability to use electronic documentati