Child & Youth Care Practitioner

CHILD AND YOUTH CARE PRACTITIONER

The Child and Youth Care Practitioner at Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre is part of a multi-disciplinary team that addresses and supports issues related to youth ages 12 -26; their family and community. Through facilitation and coordination, this position is responsible for empowering youth and for encouraging and supporting Community Members to identify needs develop strategies as well implement programs and services that respond to the issues. In addition, this position is responsible for providing opportunities for increased community capacity as well as supporting public education and community engagement. This position supports the communities of Kanata, Goulburn and West Carleton.

We are currently seeking a temporary part-time role at 21 hours a week, and a second role at 7 hours a weekwith an expected start date of mid-October until March 31, 2027, with the possibility of extension. Staff must be available for day and evenings shifts, with schedules set in advance. The salary for this position ranges from $27.10/hr to $28.19/hr.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Outreach activities to at-risk youth (ages 12-26) and their families including identification of needs and interests through the planning and facilitation
• Develops and implements/facilitates community-based leadership and mentoring programs and workshops that develop the self-confidence, social and life skills of participants;
• Develops/implements special projects and workshops that meet the identified needs of the community;
• Facilitates project activities and community forums related to youth needs;
• Promotes community volunteerism and recognizes volunteers, supervision of the volunteers and ensures proper orientation, evaluation, and feedback;
• Supports advocacy and increases awareness around youth issues;
• Liaises with program staff and ensures the program needs are being met.
• Creates a supportive environment for youth to address barriers they may be experiencing;
• Provides information about access to community resources for participants;
• Assists with keeping records for petty cash, program participation forms, maintains the client database, crisis interventions/referrals and program evaluation;
• Provides coordination of homework club program, including assisting in interviews for tutors and providing coordination and support.
• Participates as an active team member in staff meetings and partner agency meetings as appropriate;
• Assists with writing interim and final reports.

Other:

• Ensuring that the commitment to WOCRC’s vision, mission and beliefs are understood and respected;
• Ensuring that the commitment to diversity is understood and respected. This includes diversity of culture, language, faith expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic resources and degrees of physical (dis)ability;
• Maintaining up-to-date professional skills and knowledge through formal and informal training;
• Acting as an “ambassador” for WOCRC within and outside the Centre by creating an awareness of WOCRC programs and promoting services offered;
• Compliance with all mandated legal/regulatory requirements related to working at WOCRC, (, Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health and Safety, standards of professional conduct);
• Maintaining awareness of and compliance with WOCRC policies and procedures;
• Maintaining awareness of and compliance with funder requirements, policies, procedures and regulations;
• Attending/chairing team and staff meetings as required.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience

• Diploma in the Child and Youth Care Practitioner program, or degree in Social Work, or equivalent combination of education and training;
• Minimum of 1 year experience working with youth, their family and community in a community-based model of practice, including: community capacity building and mobilization;
• Training and experience with group facilitation and leadership development;
• Knowledge of risk, risk assessment and protective factors faced by LGBTQ+ youth;
• Knowledge of building resilience and community belonging through youth drop-in model;
• Lived experience of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia is an asset;
• Demonstrated knowledge of professional standards and ethical guidelines for child and youth workers, counsellors and social service workers, including knowledge of ethical challenges and guidelines for providing service to gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation that may have dual roles within the LGBTQ+ communities.

Language Competencies

• Fluent in English, spoken and written, is essential;
• Fluent in other language(s) considered an asset.

Computer Competencies

• Intermediate Office Suite of Products

Other

• Knowledge of social services delivered in Ottawa;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Ability to work flexible hours is mandatory; position involves evening and weekend work;
• Valid First Aid and CPR considered an asset;
• Knowledge of the Child and Family Services Act;
• General knowledge of the Education Act;
• General knowledge of Youth Criminal Justice Act;
• Must have a valid drivers license and access to a vehicle