Youth Worker -Home Base Program- Contract until may 2027

360°kids is a vitally important community agency serving all of York Region. We have been a leader in the delivery of innovative support services for more than 35 years as we work to improve the lives of unhoused and marginalized youth and families in York Region. At 360°kids, we provide a unique continuum of care approach with programs and services that are essential to the health and well-being of youth. These proven strategies help to keep youth safe by providing stable housing options with 360° wraparound supports.

360°kids Home Base Drop-in Centre, located in the Richmond Hill Community Hub, supports youth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, by providing them with food, clothing, counselling, recreation, employment support, education, life skills, and connecting them with services to meet their needs. The Youth Worker at Home Base will provide client centered, hands on support for all youth attending the 360°kids Drop-In program; deliver ongoing life skills support and mentoring; including registration and daily documentation while promoting an empowering, positive and safe environment.

Schedule: Mon-Fri Rotation between 8am-4pm, and 3pm-11pm

This is Contract role until may 2027

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide youth with resources, recreation, counselling, referrals and advocacy services within their community. · Teach life skills individually and in groups.
• Liaise with participants, parents, community partners, schools, donors, coworkers and volunteers.
• Maintain positive relationships and interact with various segments of the community including York Regional Police, CAS, neighbors and property management personnel
• Develop positive relations with the communities being served by the program and with the general public.
• Provide youth with a safe place off the street, and provide basic needs (food, clothing and hygiene).
• Respond to immediate needs, provide support, and resolve conflicts. • Follow up with youth regarding their case plan, goals, activities, and make referrals (internal and external referrals) or facilitate warm transfers as required.
• Be a positive mentor and adult role model.
• Work with youth to assess their housing needs and help them look for housing. (Youth with higher needs will be referred to as the Housing Support Worker.)
• Provide access to meals, snacks, food, pantry, shower, toiletries; laundry; clothes; computers; telephones and other amenities offered at the Drop-in Centre.
• Liaise with community partners to deliver services, information sessions, and life skills groups to meet the needs of youth.
• Other duties as required.

Education/Experience/Licenses/Certification Required /skills

• Post-Secondary degree/diploma Child/youth related field (e.g. Child and Youth, Social Service Worker, Social Worker, Psychology, Sociology) or the equivalent combination of education and experience working with youth.
• Minimum of three years’ experience working with “at-risk” or street involved youth.
• Minimum one year supervisory or management experience
• Leadership skills, including motivation, delegation, coaching/mentoring and empowerment and the ability to motivate staff.
• Demonstrated extensive knowledge of working with youth, including understanding of the regulatory environment (e.g. CFSA).
• Demonstrated client focused counselling skills and role modelling.
• Must possess excellent communication skills and have the ability to be adaptable with a flexible approach taking into consideration the unique qualities of each client.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills that promote positive team building, negotiation and conflict resolution.
• Will possess a broad knowledge of community resources and the ability to strongly advocate for clients and professional referrals.
• Relationship building and management skills, to support relationships with peers, staff, partners and ministry officials and other stakeholders.
• Speaking and writing French is an asset.
• Current First Aid/CPR certification, current Broad Record Check (criminal background check), car and valid driver’s license

This job posting is for an existing vacancy within our organization. Apply Today – We Review Applications as they come in!

360°kids is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible organization. We are dedicated to having a workforce that reflects the diversity of York Region with a variety of perspectives and lived experiences. We welcome and encourage applicants from equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous, Black and racialized people, 2SLGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities and individuals with lived experience of homelessness.

We recognize that lived experiences shape the way individuals navigate the workplace, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment. If you are a member of an equity-deserving group and feel comfortable sharing this with us, we welcome you do so. This information is completely voluntary and will be used solely to help us improve our hiring practices and workplace inclusivity.

Accommodation will be provided throughout the hiring process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Applicants that require accommodation during the recruitment process are encouraged to notify the People and Culture Department when contacted for an interview. We will work with you to meet your access needs in an equitable and inclusive way.

Upon joining 360°kids, you'll be welcomed into a fun and collaborative environment where we truly value our employees and want to see them succeed. We thank everyone for their interest and appreciate the time put into applying, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The use of artificial intelligence is not used to screen, assess, or select applicants. All hiring decisions are made by our managers and People & Culture team.