Child and Youth Care Practitioner – Casual Relief

Position:                   Child and Youth Care Practitioner

Reports to:               Supervisor, Live in Care and Community Services

Reference #:            CCS-1103-01                                            Pay Rate:  $23.82 – $29.37 per hour

Location:                  Sault Ste. Marie                                       Status:          Casual Relief

Posting Date:          July 25, 2023                                    Closing Date:  Until Filled

 

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Supervisor, Live-in Care and Community Services, the Child and Youth Care Practitioner (CYC) is a key service provider along our continuum of live-in care services that includes the home of the client, therapeutic foster homes, parent-model care homes, and a live-in treatment program.  An incredibly challenging but rewarding position, the CYC will work in collaboration with the client’s multi-disciplinary treatment/care team to stabilize the client’s behaviour and mood, as well as, equip caregivers with the necessary skills to help the client achieve personal goals, develop healthy relationships, gain essential life and social skills, safety plan, and participate in therapy as needed. Inherent to this work is the recognition and management of risk associated with clients experiencing mild, moderate, and/or severe conditions of mental health and or substance use challenges. Essential to facilitating change is the inclusion of the client’s culture, community, and informal circle of support.    The CYC work environment may include the client’s home, school, alternative home, and the community.

As a member of the AFS Team, the CYC plays an important role in promoting our culture of care through the modelling of our organizational values and delivering on our mission, vision, and strategic objectives, with kindness, compassion, and care. Extraordinarily committed, the CYC will also promote inclusive and culturally sensitive services from a trauma-informed, client-centred, strength-based, and solution-focused approach within an anti-oppressive practice context.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Child and Youth Care Practitioner Degree or Diploma with two (2) years’ experience working with children, youth, and families, or the equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
  • Experience working with high risk and marginalized children and youth.
  • Possess a caring, kind, and empathic approach in the engagement of children, youth, and their families in a manner that is consistent with the AFS vision and organizational values. Certification in Crisis Prevention and Intervention, and possess the ability and maturity to act calmly in situations demanding quick assessment and immediate action.
  • Certification in First Aid and CPR.
  • Training in WHIMIS, Naloxone administration, Mental Health First Aid, ASIST, and cultural competence.
  • Advanced knowledge of and ability to apply child and youth behavioural management approaches in a manner that promotes the client’s development of self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-worth.
  • A solid understanding of the effects of abuse and neglect, separation and attachment, grief and loss, on child development.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of age and developmentally-appropriate behavior for children/adolescents in the home, school, and community.
  • Experience working with neuro-diverse (for example, ASD or FASD diagnosis) needs children and youth.
  • Ability to provide skill-building training to the client and their caregivers.
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, participate in supervision; incorporate constructive feedback, attend meetings, and complete assigned paperwork with accuracy and on-time.
  • Knowledge of pertinent legislation, such as: the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, Mental Health Act, Education Act, and the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
  • Ability to develop and maintain professional working relationships with caregivers, colleagues, consultants, referral sources, service providers and education personnel.
  • Proficiency with computers, specifically software, such as: Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams, and PowerPoint, as well as, client information management systems.
  • Ability to provide services in both official languages (English/French) is an asset.
  • Possession of a valid Ontario Driver’s License, ability to travel, and use of a personal vehicle.
  • Availability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and on-call.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Maintain the confidentiality of our clients and client information at all times as per agency policies and procedures.
  2. To assist the Treatment Planning Team in the assessment of client need, also the development and ongoing review of individual treatment plans through the reporting of the client’s day-to-day activities, as well as, the client’s response to the plan.
  3. Provide caring, empathic, and compassionate care to the client in a manner that promotes relationship building, attending to conflict from a learning perspective, and treating failures or errors by the client as a teachable opportunity.
  4. To model pro-social appropriate behaviour consistent with the organizational values of AFS as a way of influencing the client’s perspective of caregivers, and to build trust and respect, even when the client is not reciprocating the same level of respect.
  5. Ensure the safety and well-being of the client by creating and/or contributing to a therapeutic milieu in the live-in care setting. This includes awareness of the client’s culture, beliefs, family traditions, and norms.  Also, to recognize that a client’s acting out or acting in behaviour, is a manifestation of unattended trauma, hurt, and pain often caused by adults they trusted.
  6. Work directly with the client to facilitate the transition to and from live-in care settings, including but not limited to assisting in the packing of personal items, purchasing of personal items, and the setup of the new live-in care environment. This work can include step-up and step-down care from the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric (CAP) Unit.
  7. Assist the child or youth in the development of life skills such as budgeting, grocery shopping, meal preparation, self-care, and household duties.
  8. Transport safely the client to appointments or activities.
  9. Monitor and supervise the client in the family home, alternative care setting, or community as required.
  10. Facilitate the development of formal and informal client support networks promoting the involvement of family, friends and community members.
  11. Adhere and implement AFS policies and procedures and Ministry regulations related to the safety and care of the client, specifically in alternate care settings operated by AFS, as well as, in the client’s participation in adventure-based learning activities.
  12. Maintain communication through contact notes, electronic communication, phone calls, or in-person engagement on the client’s behalf with team members, the guardian/family, and community partners.
  13. Complete case documentation as required with accuracy and relevance to the client’s treatment plan or assessment, including any Serious Occurrences/Critical Incidents as per the Ministry requirements and AFS policies, not limited to: emergencies such as runaways, accidents, or medical problems.
  14. Report any suspected abuse or neglect of a child receiving service as required by legislation within the specified timelines, as per the regulations.
  15. Work on-call as scheduled or as requested.
  16. Provide relief live-in care as scheduled or requested.
  17. Provide advance notice of a minimum of two hours if unavailable for assigned shift or work.
  18. Attend and actively participates in team meetings, and organizational events, and promote the vision and mission of AFS in the community.
  19. Assume other responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time by the Supervisor.

 

PLEASE SEND YOUR COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO HUMAN RESOURCES QUOTING FILE CCS-0725-01 to hr@algomafamilyservices.org

Algoma Family Services (AFS) encourages applications from all qualified candidates. AFS has a great record for accommodating persons with disabilities. Job candidates are encouraged to contact Human Resources, if they require accommodation at any stage of the application process, or want more information on our accommodation policies.

 

This position falls within the bargaining unit represented by OPSEU.

 

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