Enhanced Youth Outreach Worker -Contract until July 2025

360°kids is a vitally important community agency serving all of York Region. We have been a leader in the delivery of innovative support services for more than 35 years as we work to improve the lives of unhoused and marginalized youth and families in York Region. At 360°kids, we provide a unique continuum of care approach with programs and services that are essential to the health and well-being of youth. These proven strategies help to keep youth safe by providing stable housing options with 360° wraparound supports.

The Enhanced Youth Outreach Worker will provide short term counselling support and case management for at-risk youth and families as referred by the P-YOW team. The Enhanced YOW will provide counselling in a non-threatening, supportive, client centered format where access to assessment and supports/resources are made available. Counselling focuses on personal and social development; behavioral change; cultural demands and expectations; and reintegration of youth with their families or transitioning to independent living.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide community based Mental Health counselling support to 360°kids’ clients and their families.   
• Assess the needs of youth and their family and provides in-home, community and agency-based service as required.
• Negotiate realistic and achievable youth and family action plans, in consultation with all family members ensuring active participation in decision making; and the inclusion of other relevant parties, which will be reviewed during the intervention period and review progress towards achieving these plans
• Work within a youth-focused, stages of change, family-centered approach to service delivery, establishing a working relationship with youth and families that demonstrates respect and honest communication, including protective factors.
• Work together with youth and families to improve community connections and access to community resources and connect youth and family members with other agencies in the community including other 360°kids’ programs.
• Conducts assessments and intake interviews with clients in a variety of locations which may include low income settings (hostels, drop in centres); public areas (parks, sidewalks, ravines); institutional settings (hospitals, court houses), determines eligibility based on functional, income, employment, and housing status, and makes recommendations based on needs.
• Conducts in-person or telephone meetings with youth to assess needs, set goals, and begin movement towards minimizing crisis and increasing stability.
• Resolves conflict situations including client complaints and disputes. Listens, mediates, negotiates and provides support and guidance to resolve issues and documents outcome.
• Ensures effective service delivery to the client by documenting information, observations and impressions that may impact on a client’s case plan where appropriate.
• Encourages youth engagement with community services by making referrals and reducing barriers to accessing outside supports and services, by accompanying them to agencies, and helping them access information about services.
• Ensures safety and well-being of clients when in contact with them.
• Delivers group presentations and education or information tables on 360°kids’ services or on special interest topics to youth, school professionals, community groups or agencies towards youth and community engagement .
• Participates in regular Clinical supervision meetings and performance appraisal meetings on a semiannual basis. Attends training workshops and relevant conferences that pertain to the role.
• Facilitates community collaboration with key partners and/or builds capacity for partnerships with populations such as LGBTTQ, mental health, addictions, diversity councils, faith-based assemblies, education bodies, justice panels, police, and Community committees.
• Completes all mandatory recording and reporting including daily documentation, statistical data collection, and completing registration forms. Provides reports and related information to the Manager of Manager Youth Mental Health Services as required

QUALIFICATIONS OR SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Master’s degree in Counselling, Social Work, Psychology or related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Clinical training and experience in individual and family assessment and treatment.  Minimum 3 years’ experience required working with at risk youth and/or street involved people.
• Experience in assisting persons with psycho/social/physical, educational, emotional and/or environmental problems in a variety of locations.

• Excellent assessment skills with experience responding to situations based on available information.
• Possess strong personal ethics and integrity, as well as, exceptional interpersonal skills, including influencing, consensus/team building, facilitation, negotiation, conflict resolution, management, leadership, motivation, delegation, coaching/mentoring, and empowerment.
• Sound judgment, decision making, and problem-solving ability with the willingness to stand behind and take responsibility for decisions and actions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, community agencies and the public.
• Effective communicator, both orally and in writing, with all levels of staff, the public and clients while maintaining objectivity.
• Case management skills including record keeping, client service, building capacity through team approach.
• Ability to work independently as well as a team member in a dynamic, complex environment and organize time and workload effectively.
• Independent self-starter, with ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Experience with MS Office, with the ability to prepare, and write reports and maintain same.
• Current first aid/CPR certification, current vulnerable sector screening (criminal background check), car and valid driver’s license with a clean driver’s abstract and $2 Million liability insurance.

• Candidates must be flexible to work a variety of shifts including evening and weekend shifts

360°kids is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible organization. We are dedicated to having a workforce that reflects the diversity of York Region with a variety of perspectives and lived experiences. We welcome and encourage applicants from equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous, Black and racialized people, 2SLGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities and individuals with lived experience of homelessness.

Accommodation will be provided throughout the hiring process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Applicants that require accommodation during the recruitment process are encouraged to notify the People and Culture Department when contacted for an interview. We will work with you to meet your access needs in an equitable and inclusive way.

Upon joining 360°kids, you'll be welcomed into a fun and collaborative environment where we truly value our employees and want to see them succeed. We thank everyone for their interest and appreciate the time put into applying, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.