Position: Child and Youth Care Practitioner – Live-in Treatment
Reports to: Supervisor, Live in Care and Community Services
Location: Sault Ste. Marie
Status: Casual / Relief
Hourly Rate: $25.82 – $31.37
Reference #: CCS-0702-01
Posting Date: July 2, 2024
Closing Date: Ongoing
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 implement recommendations by providing direct mental health services to clients engaged in live-in treatment services. Support may be provided to a client and their family before, during and following live-in treatment, based on site requirements, and in a variety of environments, including home, school, and community settings. CYC Practitioners are scheduled on a rotational basis which includes daytime, evenings, and overnight awake hours to support Live-in Treatment Services that operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
The CYCP – Live-in Treatment (LIT) will provide care to co-ed youth 12 to 16 years old presenting with acute and chronic conditions of mental health and/or substance use. This care will be provided at our eight bed Live-in Treatment program on 631 Second Line West in Sault Ste. Marie. The primary role of the CYCP-LIT is to provide a safe, welcoming, inclusive, stable, and nurturing environment (therapeutic milieu) that promotes behavioural change and growth through the incorporation of traditional Indigenous approaches to well-being blended with western scientific approaches. As an integral member of the care and treatment team, the CYCP-LIT will inform the initial assessment and subsequent treatment plan, through observation and engagement of the youth, documentation of the youth’s behavior, attitude, response to the LIT environment, interactions with peers, staff, and family, dietary, hygiene, and sleep habits, and response to counselling, as well as, any medication.
MINIMUM EDUCATION
• Child and Youth Care Degree or Diploma, Social Service Worker, Recreation Therapy, Community and Justice Services, or Addiction and Mental Health diploma, or diploma/degree in a relevant field.
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE
• Two (2) years’ experience working with high risk and marginalized children and youth, and families, or the equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• 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 CPI Nonviolent Intervention, or other crisis intervention and de-escalating training, would be considered an asset, along with 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.
• Full COVID-19 vaccination.
Duties and Responsibilities; Please refer to attached job description
This position falls within the bargaining unit represented by the OPSEU.
Algoma Family Services (AFS) is dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live and serve. AFS encourages applications from all qualified individuals. Applicants that may require accommodation during the selection process are encouraged to notify HR when contacted for an interview.
PLEASE SEND YOUR COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO [email protected] # CCS-0702-01
