Job Title: Relief Residence Worker Start Date: as soon as possible Hourly wage: $19.00 Vacation: 4 weeks/year Office Location: Trail, BC and Castlegar, BC Communities Served: Regional (Trail, Nelson, Castlegar, & surrounding areas)
Application Deadline: currently open Send resume and cover letter to: work@freedomquestyouthservices.ca
Program Summary
Freedom Quest's Residence is home to up to 2 young people who may have multiple diagnoses, come from unstable family backgrounds, and may have been exposed to a range of risk factors. This 24/7 staffed home is a place where 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 youth with the basic utilities of living and supplying them with much-needed supports, the Freedom Quest residence is supported by a Recreation Coordinator who assists the Residence Coordinator and Residence Workers in the creation of therapeutic indoor and outdoor recreation with youth, staff, family members (when applicable), and other key figures in the young person’s 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 Residence Worker is anticipated to allocate their time and energy to the tasks below, however, they and the Residence Coordinator OR Senior Residence Worker have the flexibility to manage their time and tasks according to the needs of the home, the residents, the agency, and the contract.
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 Recreation
Facilitator 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 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 First Aid and CPR Certification
Criminal Record Check (Children & Vulnerable Adults)