Child & Youth Worker
Indigenous Community Group Care Program
About Us: Closer to Home Community Services (CTH) is a Southern-Alberta based not-for-profit agency that delivers a variety of services designed to meet the unique needs of vulnerable children and their families. Be a part of an innovative team that envisions a future where every child will thrive within supportive family and community relationships by:
- Uncovering strength, hope and healing, and creating new possibilities for a brighter future for children and families.
- Providing a broad array of strength-based and family-centered services that strive to preserve, reunify and build stronger families who can care for their children and contribute meaningfully in their community.
About the Position: With guidance from Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Indigenous Staff, this newly created community group care program is designed specifically for Indigenous children who choose this as an optimal placement for themselves. The Child & Youth Worker will collaborate with a team of professionals to support Indigenous children and youth in a culturally safe and immersive home. Your primary responsibility as a Child & Youth Worker is to facilitate success for children and youth by:
- Facilitating cultural teachings, traditions, ceremony, preparation of traditional meals and direct connection to Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Ceremony People
- Assisting with collective and individualized activities and routines while ensuring culturally rooted, competent and responsive caregiving
- Supporting children and youth with strategies to enhance their spiritual, mental, physical and emotional well-being and healing, and to increase their sense of belonging
- Managing crises in a culturally responsive way
- Focusing on interconnectedness, including family kinship, academics, recreation and community inclusion
- Utilizing the Teaching Family Model as a holistic approach to develop safe, stable relationships and teach skills that increase self-efficacy, with the goal of children and youth living and thriving in their families and communities.
About You: You are eager to learn and carry out the principles and philosophy of Closer to Home and the Teaching Family Model. You have a deep understanding of and involvement with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, connecting and doing, and are willing and able to learn and incorporate authentic and original teachings and practices of children and youth in the program, with an understanding and respect for the various Nations and membership of which they belong.
You have knowledge of the ancestral land of the Blackfoot people and the Treaty 7 Nations. You possess exceptional verbal and written communication skills and have the ability to effectively communicate with and relate to people of all ages. You are detail oriented and organized and can manage multiple priorities at one time. You are a compassionate individual with a positive, empathetic and relational approach. You have experience providing trauma-informed, family-sensitive and culturally responsive care.
Qualifications:
- A diploma or degree in a related field is preferred and previous experience working with vulnerable children and families is an asset, however a combination of education and experience will be considered
- Familiarity with Indigenous Ways of Knowing
- Experience working in Community Group Care or other “in-care” programs (preferred)
- Willing to work an unstructured work week, including evenings, weekends and holidays
Job Requirements:
- A valid Alberta Driver’s License, reliable vehicle for work purposes, adequate and current insurance and willing to provide a Driver’s Abstract upon hire.
- A Police Information Check with a Vulnerable Sector Search and an Intervention Record Check must be completed prior to commencement.
- Ability to manage a crisis situation in a therapeutic manner, and, if necessary, intervene physically in a manner that reduces the risk of harm.
All positions at Closer to Home Community Services require (5) competencies: Instills Trust, Person Focus, Communicates Effectively, Situational Adaptability and Ensures Accountability.
Closing Date: Until suitable candidate is found
CTH is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for all; including different cultural backgrounds, spiritual beliefs, and sexual and gender diversities. We strive to be an employer of choice with a focus on wellness and connection.
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.
