Job Title: Team Lead Team: Staff Team Reports to: Residence Coordinator Start Date: TBD (estimate: January/February 2023) Position Duration: Permanent (3-month probation) Hourly wage: $24/hour Hours/week: 37.5 hours/week (Monday to Friday; 8:30am-4pm Benefits: full benefits paid by employer; 5% RRSP contribution Vacation: 4 weeks/year Office Location: Trail, BC (exact location TBD)
Application Deadline: currently open 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 6- 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 Team Lead 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 Team Lead holds the responsibility of performing all tasks relating to both the Team Lead position as well Residence Worker position.
Team Lead 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
Leadership, Supervision, and Coordination:
Orient, train, supervise, support, and evaluate Residence Workers, Key Workers, and Relief Workers in collaboration with Residence Coordinator
Schedule weekly phone check-ins and monthly supervision meetings with the Residence Coordinator
Understand the intricacies of Freedom Quest’s Policy and Procedure Manual and model its operationalization
Plan, host and facilitate bi-monthly staff meetings
In collaboration with Residence Coordinator, develop and review house protocols ensuring alignment with agency policy
Assess for Residence Worker professional development needs and collaborate with Residence Coordinator to find opportunities to provide training.
Lead and/or delegate youth case management duties (e.g., attend ICM’s and other appointments)
Administration and other duties:
Act as primary point of contact for scheduling updates
Review, evaluate, summarize, and report on program documentation (i.e., daily log sheets, care plan progress reports, and occupancy tracking forms)
Facilitate weekly check-ins/meetings with the residence Key Worker and Behavioral Interventionist
Inform Residence Coordinator of any household maintenance
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 diploma or degree in child and youth care, social work, or related field. Equivalent experience may be accepted
Experience:
Five years of experience working with young people between ages of 6-12
Two years of experience working with young people between ages 13-18
Five years of experience working with young people who have complex needs
Two years of experience working in a residential setting
Two years of experience working in a supervisory capacity
Extensive 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)