Job Summary
The Youth Empowerment Society is a non-profit community service agency offering support and services to youth and their families.
The GBV Response Worker works as a member of the Outreach team but can work with youth or youth support workers in any VYES program. The GBV Response Worker holds a specialized focus to ensure that there are timely and trauma-informed, support services for vulnerable youth and young adults (ages 13-24) who are experiencing gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, sexual assault and sexual exploitation.
The GBV Response Worker can work alongside another VYES staff member who is the primary worker for the youth and provide consultation, information or direct support where appropriate. If the youth is accessing only VYES residential or drop-in services, then the GBV Response Worker can provide immediate, short-term support for GBV violence. In collaboration with the Youth Services Manager, the GBV Response Worker can support capacity building, training and consultation for VYES staff on GBV issues and specific cases.
Much of this position requires working collaboratively in an outreach and community-based capacity. There may also be community engagement with other organizations and opportunities for education and advocacy.
Duties and Responsibilities:
To perform the job successfully the GBV Response Worker must be able to consistently perform each essential duty adequately. Other duties may be assigned.
Youth Engagement and Service Planning:
- Work collaboratively and cooperatively with other VYES staff to provide guidance, information and practical planning to support youth on their caseload.
- Facilitate referrals to appropriate community services, including identified medical, mental health, substance use, legal and family services.
- Provide short term, timely and appropriate support for youth who have recently experienced a sexual assault and/or intimate partner violence which may include referral and accompaniment to sexual assault clinic, youth clinic, hospital, transition house or police.
- Work with youth who are at-risk of or experiencing sexually exploitation, and provide information, support and safety planning.
- Build rapport and positive interactions with youth that reflects safety, confidentiality and a non-judgemental approach.
- Provide education to VYES staff and youth around gender-based violence topics (i.e. consent, grooming, abuse, safety plans).
- Work collaboratively with Youth Services Manager to develop specialized training and best practices to build staff capacity around gender based violence
- Provide intervention services collaboratively and cooperatively with other community programs and services, including MYST, police, probation, social workers, health care and schools.
- Provide crisis intervention and risk reduction for youth, especially around issues such as trauma, family violence, suicidal ideation, grief and loss, mental health and substance use.
- Participate in integrated case management conferences, as required.
- Set appropriate boundaries and maintain a helping role to meet the needs of the youth.
- Demonstrate a level of cultural sensitivity and understanding of the client population.
- Demonstrate a youth centred, trauma-informed strength-based approach.
- Accept the clients’ rights to self-determination and individuality and must not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, language, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age, abilities, socio-economic status, political affiliations, or national ancestry.
- Maintain a positive conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.
- Act as an advocate for youth and promote empowerment for them to advocate on their own behalf.
Program Administration:
- Monitor and manage own attitudes, behaviours, well being, and professional development in relation to increasingly challenging client populations and complex or sensitive presenting issues such as trauma, abuse, mental health and substance use.
- Maintain accurate reports and ensure all documentation is complete.
- Attend internal staff meetings as required by the Youth Empowerment Society.
- Participate in supervision meetings with Youth Services Manager as required.
- Participate on internal and community committees as required.
- Provide support and assistance to other YES programs.
- Manage petty cash expenditures and submit bi-weekly remittances as required.
- Fulfill the requirements of health and safety policies, emergency procedures and protocols.
Professional and Personal Qualifications:
The requirements listed below detail the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to perform the duties and responsibilities of the job.
The Gender Based Violence Response Worker will need to demonstrate a good standard in a number of areas listed within the agency’s competency framework. The knowledge and skills required to demonstrate these competencies are integrated into the role of this position and is reviewed within the performance recognition and development plan.
Education:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Child and Youth Care, Social Work or in a related human services field.
Required Experience:
A minimum of 3 years experience (out of the last 10 years) which includes:
- Knowledge and experience working with high-risk youth
- Knowledge and experience working in the area of gender based violence – intimate partner violence, sexual assault and/or sexual exploitation
- Experience with community-based programs and related community support systems
Knowledge:
- Well established understanding of child and adolescent development
- Well established understanding of youth engagement skills and intervention approaches
- Well established understanding of sexual health
- Well established understanding of risk assessments and safety planning for intimate partner violence
- Established practice in maintaining appropriate and confidential boundaries and other basic professional ethics
- Established practice involving families, foster care system, community, intervention programs, MCFD and other systems in service planning with youth
- Demonstrated awareness of community resources for youth
Skills and Abilities:
- Demonstrated ability to work constructively and cooperatively in a team setting.
- Demonstrated ability to use basic engagement techniques and evidence-based approaches.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with others in both group and one-on-one settings.
- Ability to apply professional ethics to the general work situation.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective collaborative and constructive liaisons/relationships with a variety of individuals and groups, including clients and families, MCFD, other agencies etc. and provide effective community referrals.
- Maintain timely and accurate documentation, confidentiality and duty to report practices.
- Prepare and deliver appropriate, clear and concise oral and written communication.
- Good organization, time and management skills.
- Ability to perform basic computer skills and use of technology.
Conditions of Employment:
- The hours of work are 20 hours per week with scheduled hours between Monday to Friday
- The first 6 months of employment constitute a probationary period, at the end of which a performance appraisal is conducted to determine the suitability of the employee for further employment.
- Must have clearance from the Authorization for Criminal Records Search prior to commencing employment.
- Must have Emergency First Aid certification.
- Follows the Code of Ethics, Mission Statement, and Policies and Procedures of The Victoria Youth Empowerment Society and abide by the relevant rules and reporting guidelines as set out by MCFD and other appropriate governing bodies.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and be in good driver standing as this position will require the use of your personal automobile in the performance of these duties.
Special Working Conditions:
- This position is required to work in a stressful environment often dealing with youth in crisis situations.
- This position may require some flexibility in work hours.
- There is moderate exposure to undesirable environmental working conditions which may require certain safety precautions i.e. client aggression, exposure to client health issues, etc.
- Much of this position requires working collaboratively in an outreach and community-based capacity.
Pay: $28.00-$30.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Vision care
Work Location: In person
