Residential Child and Youth Worker, Part-Time

The Program

At Taproot Community Support Services, we’re a 100 percent employee-owned organization through an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Every employee is an owner from their first day, with a voice in shaping Taproot’s future and the opportunity to share in employee ownership dividends.

As a Certified B Corporation, we harness business for good. Since 1983 we’ve grown steadily, now delivering support across Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario through more than 90 contracts.

Our 800-plus employee-owners live by five shared values: we are stronger together, we lead with optimism, we embrace challenges, we respect every voice, and we go above and beyond. Guided by these principles, we deliver more than 125 community-based services each year. We walk alongside about 1,600 children, youth, families, and people with diverse abilities, with revenues exceeding $70 million.

This specialized program serves youth with significant and multifaceted needs. The successful candidate will be comfortable working in a dynamic and, at times, high-pressure environment where crisis response, risk assessment, and collaborative problem-solving are required. Candidates would be exposed to substance use, overdoses, hospital and police involvement and high stress environment.

The Position

The Residential Child and Youth Worker (RCYW) provides care to children, youth or adults with moderate to severe complex behaviours in a residential or day program setting in an accredited agency. As key worker for assigned persons served, the RCYW is responsible for overall development and care of those individuals. In conjunction with the individual’s care team, the RCYW assesses physical, psychological, social and developmental needs, and designs and implements individualized personal service plans and plans of care that address and meet those needs. The RCYW also participates in the operation and maintenance of the program.
This position requires union membership with BCGEU.

The position serves youth with complex care needs, including substance use, mental health challenges, and complex trauma. Staff must have a strong understanding of trauma-informed practice, harm reduction, crisis intervention, and overdose response.

In addition to providing housing and support services, staff are often the first to assess and respond to emergency situations, particularly overdoses and other crises. The role requires sound judgment, strong de-escalation skills, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. This role is about more than crisis response. Staff build meaningful relationships with youth and support them in developing life skills, increasing independence, accessing services, strengthening community connections, and addressing their ongoing care needs. We are looking for candidates who are comfortable working in a high-acuity environment while maintaining a compassionate, youth-centered, and relationship-based approach.

Scheduling
Two (2) permanent part-time positions, with a weekly schedule of 32 hours:
• Position 1=Sunday and Monday, 0700-1500; Friday and Saturday, 0800-1600
• Position 2=Monday and Tuesday, 1600-0000; Friday and Saturday, 1500-2300

In Your Role You Will

• Participate in assessing, setting goals for and evaluating progress of persons served.
• Teach persons served to relate in a socially appropriate manner through the use of daily routines and activities.
• Monitor persons served and ensure their safety and well-being; utilizes practices that promote health, welfare, safety and security of persons served.
• Provide behaviour management counseling on a one-to-one and/or group basis by performing duties such as providing feedback on client behaviour, teaching coping techniques and adaptive behaviour, and providing guidance and support.
• Provide emotional support and crisis intervention to persons served which may include nonviolent physical interventions.
• Ensure communication and liaison between program, school, family and the community.
• Ensure physical needs of persons served are met by performing duties such as assisting with basic personal hygiene and activities of daily living.
• Administer medications to persons served according to established guidelines, procedures and instructions.
• Maintain reports such as statistics, logbooks and daily activities relating to persons served.
• Carry out household duties such as meal preparation and household cleaning.
• Accompany persons served to appointments and community outings.
• Participate in the OHS Committee as required.
• Operate motor vehicles safely and legally while transporting persons served or on Taproot business.
• Advocate effectively for persons served.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as required.

***Prior to confirmation of employment, all applicants must provide a copy of a current Criminal Record Check and/or Government Screening Letter. These checks vary depending on province and sector and will be communicated by the Program Hiring Team.

As An Ideal Candidate You Possess

• Child and Youth Care Degree or Diploma OR a Diploma or Degree in one of the humanities, social work or related field. Other combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Minimum of two years recent related experience in child and youth care, emergency shelter or a combination of relevant education and experience.
• Previous experience with trauma informed practice
• Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License and clean driver’s abstract

Other requirements:
• Valid CPR/First Aid, WHMIS, and Food Hygiene and Sanitation certificates (or ability to obtain within probation period)
• Non-Violent Physical Crisis Intervention Certificate (NVCI) and/or MANDT and Conflict Resolution Certificate (or ability to obtain within probation period)
• Prior experience with implementing Behavioural Interventions
• Prior experience in Trauma Informed Practices
• Naloxone training

**Successful applicants will be required to participate in MCFD screening and provide three (3) professional reference prior to confirmed employment with Taproot Community Support Services.***

What Taproot Community Support Services Does

At Taproot, your passion for helping others can truly make a difference. As an employee-owned company, we value collaboration, learning, and innovation. Our strength-based approach guides both our care and how we support each other. Join a team where your voice matters, and together, we’re building a company we’re proud of.

Our Employees Enjoy

• Employee ownership from day one through our EOT, with opportunity for profit-sharing dividends
• Work/life balance
• Learning and career development opportunities
• Competitive wages and salaries
• Paid vacation and benefits for eligible employees
• Defined benefit pension plan (Municipal Pension Plan) for eligible employees within British Columbia
• Matching RRSP plan for eligible employees within Alberta
• Professional development opportunities and job-related training
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Long Service Milestone rewards
• Employee referral bonus program
• A values-driven workplace — as a Certified B Corp, we're committed to using business as a force for good

For more information on Taproot Community Support Services visit our website: taproot.ca

No candidate will meet every single desired qualification. If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to learn more about you! Please apply.

Equal-Opportunity Employer
Our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment is unwavering. We believe that varied backgrounds and experiences fuel innovation and success. As an equal-opportunity employer, we prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion across all operations. We're seeking candidates passionate about contributing to our multicultural teams and enriching our workplace with their unique insights and cultural sensitivity.
We encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply and join us in fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment.

No telephone calls please. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified.