Relief Youth worker - Windsor Park and Raido house

The Agency:

The Calgary John Howard Society (CJHS) is a charity that reduces crime and makes Calgary communities safer by helping youth and adults make positive changes and move away from criminal behavior. We do this by addressing the root causes of crime through housing, education, employment programs and support so that individuals have alternatives to breaking the law. CJHS is committed to restorative justice and an organizational environment that recognizes the dignity and worth of each person. CJHS values diversity and inclusion and welcomes qualified applicants from all walks of life.

The Program:

The Roofs for Youth program is a Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) funded program that operates within the Calgary Homeless Serving System of Care (CHSSC) to provide support for homeless youth or youth at risk of homelessness aged 15 to 24 years old; helping them successfully develop their living skills, transition to adulthood, and meet their self-defined goals for independence. Youth are either justice system involved or at risk of justice system involvement, lack stable housing, and have identified the need for intensive case-management support.

Roofs for Youth casework operates within the CJHS Natural Supports, Harm Reduction, Trauma-Informed, Diversity, and Restorative Practice Frameworks. Youth receive a continuum of services from institutional discharge planning, housing placement, support with justice system navigation, access to employment and employability skill development, educational opportunities, connections to natural supports, basic needs support, life skills development, and intensive community-based case management. Roofs for Youth strives to be extremely collaborative both internally and externally in our relationships with the other agencies within the CHSSC and our youth's professional and natural supports. We value creativity, advocacy, and promoting a positive, supportive agency culture.

Roofs for Youth includes two place-based congregate living homes, Raido House (15 - 18 yrs.) and Windsor Park (18 - 24 yrs.), where clients may be placed if they need more on-site support. Our Outreach Casework Team supports a large number of youth (15 - 24 yrs.) in community, market housing with subsidy and intensive case-management.

The Position:

Reporting to the either Raido or Windsor Park Team Lead, the Relief Youth Worker will collaboratively support the youth of Raido House and Windsor Park alongside the Residential. The Youth Worker is primarily responsible for supporting the youth of Raido House and Windsor Park as they move towards independence by creating opportunities to support individualized goal setting in the following areas: housing stability, recreation and daily living skills, connection to educational and employment opportunities, safer substance use, and navigating the various systems involved with each youth (PACT, Children's Services, Youth Probation, Justice System, IRCS, etc.). 

The primary focus and areas of responsibility include:

Creatively supporting and supervising the youth of Raido House or Windsor Park within a single staff model while ensuring that the program reflects a trauma informed and home-like environment. 

Role modelling healthy behavior for the residents and compassionately developing plans that support an increased knowledge of independent living skills through teachable moments and skill building.

Collaboratively working with the Residential and Outreach Caseworkers to ensure that youth's goal plans are implemented consistently.

Navigating routine and crisis situations within a youth's life with a restorative approach. 

Creating opportunities for youth to engage in programming, including but not limited to recreational, educational, art therapy, and community involvement. 

Completing all documentation including referrals, assessments, crisis plans/risk assessments, case notes, and letters of support. 

Attend to team responsibilities in terms of participation, communication, and demonstrating a positive attitude.

The scope of employment may include:

Sitting at a desk for multiple consecutive hours.

Attending to routine situations that include cooking and cleaning, snow shovelling, and various recreational opportunities. 

Being subject to potentially difficult client situations that involve the impact of trauma and/or death of clients, utilizing crisis intervention strategies to de-escalate potentially violent or high-risk situations.

This is an hourly/no benefit position with no guaranteed hours. Relief Staff are asked to be available for all shifts including evening, weekends, and overnight shifts.

Experience & Education:

Relevant degree or diploma from a recognized educational institution.

2+ years supporting at risk individuals facing homelessness.

A demonstrated history of thriving in fast-paced environments that require creativity and ongoing troubleshooting.

In the event that you do not have all the required experience and education, but feel that you have exception strengths in other areas that make you a great fit for this role, please feel free to apply anyway and tell us why! 

The successful candidate will be required to provide:

a Police Information Check (PIC); and

a Child Intervention Record Check.

Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found.