Youth Advocate jobs in Toronto, ON

Organization Overview:

Our Place Peel is a growing, community-based, non-profit charitable organization that is focused on providing shelter and outreach support for homeless and disadvantaged youth in the Peel Region. We are a leading organization recognized in the community for our commitment to providing youth in need with a safe environment and access to services to help them achieve independence and foster growth.

Our Place Peel’s mission is to empower youth through prevention, intervention and support in accessing safe and sustainable housing. Their vision is for all youth to have a place to call home.

What We Can Offer You:

• Paid Time off
• Casual dress
• On-site parking
• Training and education allowance
• 100% employer-paid benefits
• Wellness program
• Employee and family assistance program
• Opportunity for Growth!

Position Profile:

The Housing First For Youth (HF4Y) Intensive Case Manager provides intensive, client-centered case management to vulnerable and chronically homeless youth (ages 16–24) in the Region of Peel. Working within a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and harm reduction framework, the Case Manager supports youth in achieving housing stability and long-term well-being through assessment, planning, facilitation, care coordination, engagement, evaluation, and advocacy.

The Housing First For Youth (HF4Y) Intensive Case Manager empowers youth by drawing on their strengths and capabilities, promoting positive youth development, and facilitating timely access to the necessary supports to reduce the risk of homelessness and improve quality of life.

The Housing First For Youth (HF4Y) Intensive Case Manager will lead, engage and deliver the fundamentals of case management based on the following:

• Trauma-Informed Care as the Foundation
• Youth-Centered Assessment & Engagement
• Holistic & Individualized Care Planning
• Multidisciplinary Coordination & Advocacy
• Harm Reduction Approach
• Housing First for Youth Principles
• Relationship Building & Emotional Regulation
• Boundaries with Compassion
• Strengths-Based & Anti-Oppressive Approach
• Ongoing Review & Adaptation

Case Management Focus:

Leading from a racialized, trauma-informed framework and Housing First For Youth principles and best practices, provide intensive case management using a variety of strategies and approaches, including:

• Assessment
• Goal setting
• Referrals and accompanying youth to appointments
• Coordinating peer and group work
• Building life skills
• Troubleshooting and practical support
• Mediation
• Providing opportunity
• Advocacy
• Supporting collaboration and engagement
• Systems navigation and capacity building
• Helping youth build and maintain positive relationships and connections to meaningful people in their lives

Role Overview:

• Demonstrate relentless engagement efforts and a strong belief in the capacity of youth to succeed
• Conduct assessments, utilize care planning tools, facilitate care coordination, and advocate for options and services to meet youth’s comprehensive needs in order to achieve greater life stability
• Provide case management to support and assist youth in developing and following through with comprehensive case plans that are designed to concentrate on barriers impacting housing readiness/stability and factors that promote connection, belonging, long-term wellness, and independent living skills
• Utilize culturally appropriate interventions to help youth develop actionable goals
• Manage individual progress of youth case plans and follow-up to ensure progress towards goals is being made; adjust goals as necessary in conversation with the youth
• Develop, plan and implement a regular in-person visit schedule with youth where they are residing, with a requirement of in-person contact regularly as planned, more as required based on need and acuity as well as youth choice.
• Coordinate with internal and external partners to help clients secure affordable and appropriate housing using a Housing First for Youth model and to ensure wraparound services are being offered, based on assessment of needs and goals. This may include, but are not limited to:
• Health care providers
• Mental health and wellness services
• Addictions supports
• Ethno-specific services and supports
• Housing and landlord relationships
• Aftercare supports
• Youth-specific supports that may include employment, education, connection with community, and more
• Support youth in their housing goals by connecting youth to local services, increasing youth's familiarity with local/preferred neighbourhood, and promoting a youth's pro-social community involvement to decrease social isolation
• Accompany youth to viewings and meetings when necessary and act as an advocate/support person
• Demonstrate skill and situational awareness when engaging and/or transporting youth in the community to maintain appropriate safety precautions
• Provide and/or coordinate with partners to provide life skills teaching to help build client capacity to maintain housing, especially focusing on tenancy skills and knowledge
• Promote and encourage youth engagement and positive youth development in care path planning and establishing goals through engagement and rapport-building
• Compile statistical information and prepare monthly reports as required for program evaluation and development and track key performance indicators
• Maintain accurate records and abide by record keeping policies, including data entry into the client database
• Participate on committees and task forces with other agencies addressing issues facing youth
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Services or related field, a Masters would be considered an asset [or equivalent education (diploma) and experience combined with a registration/certification with a related accredited body, i.e., RSW, RSSW, RP, CYCP.
• Experience supporting youth through evidence-based practices and frameworks.
• Cultural competency sensitivity and commitment to working through an anti-oppressive, antiracism framework.
• Knowledge of housing first for youth, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction practices.
• A minimum of three years’ case management experience supporting individuals, preferably with youth experiencing chronic homelessness, mental illness, and/or substance usage in obtaining housing, employment, educational and community engagement.
• Ability to work collaboratively, problem-solve and motivate people with a proven skillset in interpersonal mediation and de-escalation skills.
• Strong organizational, time management and planning skills with a proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Understanding of issues relating to youth homelessness and the barriers youth face in attaining and maintaining their housing, as well as an understanding of the broader sector in Peel.
• Experience with program evaluations and informed consent.
• Knowledge of OW, PHIPP, ODSP, CAS and other forms of financial aid to obtain housing or prevent housing loss.
• A willingness and ability to work based on the needs of programming and youth, which may require evening work and weekends.
• A valid Ontario Driver’s License, access to a vehicle and $2,000,000 (minimum) liability car insurance coverage is mandatory.
• Must be able to travel and support youth in the community and all Our Place Peel locations (local travel is required on a regular basis).
• Valid CPI/ UMAB and First Aid/ CPR certifications.
• Satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Police Check that meets the standards of Our Place Peel.
• Must be able to work flexible hours including weekends, evenings and holidays and be work at multiple locations in Peel region, including designated emergency shelters, transitional housing, and in the community.
• Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to applicable legislation.

How to Apply:

If you are a compassionate, highly motivated and results-oriented individual, with a passion for supporting youth, please send your updated resume and cover letter by clicking "Apply Now". We thank all applicants for their interest in Our Place Peel. We thank everyone that applies. Only qualified candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Our Place Peel is an equal opportunity employer. Accommodations for disabilities will be provided to support participation in all aspects of the recruitment process upon request.

We are dedicated to providing an atmosphere free from barriers in order to promote equity, inclusivity and diversity. We celebrate and welcome the diversity of all employees!

DISCLAIMER

This job posting is general in nature and is not designed to contain or to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $51,732.00 per year

Application question(s):

• Do you drive or have access to a vehicle?

Work Location: In person