About

• About the Position: This permanent full-time position works with a team of professionals to support children and youth in community group homes in Calgary and Airdrie. Utilizing the Teaching Family Model as a holistic approach, you will facilitate success for children and youth by assisting with day to day activities and routines, maintaining a structured setting, fostering skill development, managing crisis, ensuring high levels of supervision to promote safety, and assisting with schoolwork household duties.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring safety and providing for children and youth’s daily needs, while supporting the acquisition of relevant skills which will support them to live safely and thrive in the community.
• Assisting with day to day activities and routines, visits and appointments
• Implementing skill development strategies, maintaining a structured setting
• Managing crises and escalated behaviours
• Focusing on interconnectedness, including family kinship, academics, recreation and community inclusion
• Supporting children and youth with strategies to enhance their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, and to increase their sense of belonging
• Medication management
• Completing day to day household tasks such as cooking, cleaning and other duties as required
• Transporting youth to and from school, appointments or visits
• Participating in supervision and meetings as needed, and implement pre-determined treatment strategies.
• Supporting other group homes in Calgary/Airdrie as needed
• Adhere to workplace protocols regarding animals in group homes, including reporting any allergy risks or concerns.

Qualifications

• A diploma or degree in a related field is preferred and previous experience working with vulnerable children and families is an asset; a combination of education and experience will be considered
• Experience working in Community Group Care or other “in-care” programs (preferred)
• Experience providing trauma-informed, family-sensitive and culturally responsive care
• Willing to work an unstructured work week, including days, evenings, weekends and holidays
• Ability to manage a crisis situation in a therapeutic manner, and, if necessary, intervene physically in a manner that reduces the risk of harm.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and ability to effectively communicate with and relate to people of all ages
• Detail oriented and organized, able to manage multiple priorities at the same time
• Eager to learn and carry out the principles and philosophy of Closer to Home and the Teaching Family Model
• This position requires the use of a personal vehicle for work-related purposes. Must provide proof of a Class 5 Alberta driver’s license, a personal vehicle, and a clean 3-year driver’s abstract and maintain $2 million liability insurance on their personal vehicle and consent to an annual driver’s abstract review to meet the insurance provider’s requirements. Mileage will be reimbursed in alignment with CRA guidelines and CTH policy.
• A Police Information Check with a Vulnerable Sector Search and an Intervention Record Check must be completed prior to commencement.
• Required Competencies
• All positions at Closer to Home Community Services require (5) competencies: Instills Trust, Consumer Focus, Communicates Effectively, Situational Adaptability and Ensures Accountability.

• Closing Date: Until suitable candidate is found

• We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
• For more information on our organization, please visit our website at www.closertohome.com.

• Similar titles for this role: Child & youth counselor, Community service worker, Group home worker, Youth worker, Residential counselor

• In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, we honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on the ancestral lands of the Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy), which is comprised of the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani and Amskapi Piikani Nations, and the shared territories of the Tsuut’ina Nation and Iyarhe Nakoda Nations, all of whom are the original signatories of the Blackfoot Treaty #7 in Southern Alberta. We also recognize Mohkinstsis (Calgary) as a home to members of the Metis Settlements and communities within Alberta.