Join us as a Key Worker!

Overview

Job Title: Key Worker
Team: Staff Team
Reports to: Residence Coordinator
Start Date: TBD (estimate: February 2023)
Position Duration: Permanent (3-month probation)
​Hourly wage: $21-$23/hour
Hours/week: Saturday to Wednesday; 8:00am-4pm (40 hours/week)
Benefits: full benefits paid by employer; 5% RRSP contribution
Vacation: 4 weeks/year
Office Location: Castlegar, BC

​Application Deadline: Tuesday January 24, 2023
Send resume and cover letter to: work@freedomquestyouthservices.ca

Program Summary

​Freedom Quest’s Child/Youth Residence is home to up to 2 young people (aged 12- 18) who may have multiple diagnoses, come from unstable family backgrounds, and may have been exposed to a range of risk factors including neglect, physical and sexual abuse and prenatal exposure to drugs and/or alcohol. This 24/7 staffed home is a place where children/youth can find safety, stability, and care from a group of adults who are trauma and attachment-informed, culturally humble, actively engaged, strengths-based, client-centered, and motivated to support them in moving towards their self-identified goals.
 
It is also a place where families can experience non-judgement and unconditional positive regard as they work to maintain a relationship with their young person and/or work towards reconnecting and rebuilding relationships that have been disrupted.
 
In addition to providing children/youth with the basic utilities of living and supplying them with much-needed supports, Freedom Quest’s Child/Youth Residence facilitates opportunities for residents to engage in indoor and outdoor recreation activities with other young people, staff, family members (when applicable), and other key figures in their life. Freedom Quest is an agency that understands that healthy, authentic, and holistic relationships built on positive and exciting experiences are fundamental to a successful home environment and support network.

Position Summary

The Key Worker is anticipated to allocate their time and energy to the tasks below, however, they and the Residence Coordinator have the flexibility to manage their time and tasks according to the needs of the home, the residents, the agency, and the contract. The Residence Key Worker holds the responsibility of performing all tasks relating to the Key Worker position as well Residence Worker position.

Key Worker Position Summary 

MCFD Relationship Building:

• Support a collaborative, professional, and respectful relationship with all employees of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)
• Communicate with MCFD regarding needs of the young people where appropriate and necessary 
• Creatively and nimbly maintain the foundations of the Program Summary while adjusting to changes brought forth by MCFD

Care Plan Development and Maintenance:

• Attend meetings pertaining to the youth’s well-being i.e., ICM’s, doctor’s appointments, school meetings, etc.
• Work in collaboration with the Team Lead to develop a Care Plan
• Maintain and update care plan as necessary and according to a specified time schedule
• Work directly with youth to develop goals and ensure they have the supports necessary to obtain them
• In conjunction with the Team Lead, being the point person for the rest of the team on every day questions related to the youth care plans

Additional Administrative Tasks:

• Review and evaluate program documentation and protocol (i.e., daily log sheets, care plan progress reports, weekly/daily checklists, medication, AWOL, etc.)
• Fill in for the Team Lead in case of holiday or sick time. These duties may include scheduling, accepting time off/sick requests and filling shifts.
• Writing weekly summaries of daily logs for the rest of the residence team
• Assisting the Team Lead with monthly report writing
• Assisting the Team Lead with staff meetings and staff meeting minutes
• Creation of appropriate documentation and protocol; at the discretion of the Team Lead

On-Call:

• Working a specified number of scheduled on-call shifts per week
• Responding by phone or in-person to emergencies and critical incidents

Residence Worker Position Summary

Worker/Youth Relationship Building:

• Speak and write using a strength-based approach
• Communicate the house agreements and limits to confidentiality early in the relationship
• Be available – physically and mentally, for comfort and protection
• Have fun, be silly, embrace spontaneity
• Create opportunities for youth to have choice in what is happening
• Maintain transparency in the relationship
• Model secure attachment behaviours
• Plan, prepare, and, whenever possible, eat meals together
• Take into account each youth’s biological age, developmental stage, and other factors
• Maintain care and unconditional positive regard when communicating boundaries, implementing consequences, deescalating harmful behaviours, and when saying “no”
• Find/create opportunities to say “yes”

Care Plan Support:

• Support youth in moving forward in their individualized Care Plan
• Communicate with team members around Care Plan progress to avoid unhelpful repetition and to thoughtfully “pick-up where others left off
• Make use of evidence-based models such as Motivational Interviewing as youth move through the Stages of Change
• Communicate, collaborate, and consult with supervisors if/when a care plan needs adjusting

Recreation Participation:

• Actively participate in lower and higher risk recreation activities according to each youth’s individualized Care Plan
• Follow the lead of the Team Lead or Recreation Coordinator when engaged in high-risk activities such as canoeing or overnight camping
• Plan and deliver low-risk recreation activities such as bowling, shopping, eating-out, birthday celebrations, etc.
• Have fun and express yourself authentically as you engage in recreation activities

Community Collaboration:

• Maintain positive relationships with neighbours, visitors, and other community members
• Fully collaborate with community partners, family members, the funder, and others according to agency policy

Training and Competency Building:

• Seek out professional development opportunities
• Actively seek supervisor consultation in instances of confusion, uncertainty, and/or concern.
• Be open to constructive feedback and make adjustments as needed
• Fully engage in required trainings
• Uphold a workplace culture of life-long learning

Administration & Other Duties:

• Complete daily log sheets, care plan progress reports, and occupancy tracking forms
• Promote and make available to residents the bi-annual resident satisfaction survey
• Attend required house meetings, staff meetings, and agency functions.
• Read, understand, and comply with all agency policies and procedures
• Perform room checks
• Organize and maintain a clean work/home environment
• Perform First Aid as needed and in accordance with First Aid Certifications
• Complete minor household repairs
• Alert supervisors and/or the JOSH committee about any home/workplace hazards and or damage

Knowledge Skills, and Abilities

Education:

• A certificate or diploma in child and youth care, social work, or related field. Equivalent experience may be accepted.

​Experience:

• Two years of experience working with children/youth who have complex needs
• One year of experience working in a residential setting
• Experience working from client-centred, strengths-based, harm-reduction, attachment and trauma-informed approaches
• Experience being in relationship with Indigenous people
• Experience working alongside worldviews that are not your own

​Other Requirements:

• Current Standard First Aid and CPR Certification (required)
• Criminal Record Check (Children & Vulnerable Adults) (required)
• Valid FoodSafe Certification (required)
• Valid Driver’s License (required)
• Driving Record (required)
• Driver Factor Report (less than a 2.0 rating required)
• Reliable Vehicle (an asset)
• Valid ASIST Certification (an asset)