The Program
606 Spirit 6 House (Located in Clareview)
Spirit of Our Youth homes provide Indigenous culturally-based programming, home-based accommodations for children and youth age 3 to 17. Currently this community-based program is home to youth between the ages of 4 and 10.
Through positive role-modeling and a trauma-informed approach to care, our youth workers focus on empowering youth by helping them plan for their future and create healthy relationships with their families & communities.
Each youth has access to individual supports, traditional Indigenous teachings, cultural opportunities including sweats, sharing circles, smudging, pipe ceremonies, feasts, round dances, languages as well as, access to community Elders and Knowledge Keepers.
In Your Role You Will
Typical overnight shift may include:
- 11pm (overnight awake) ensure a consistent, healthy and safe environment for children in care, including regular bed checks every 30 minutes.
- As you are supporting young children and youth who may have experienced trauma, you will provide night time supports as required, which may include comforting/soothing from bad dreams, changing sheets (bed wetting), etc.
- Other night shift activities include - cleaning the home, meal prep or baking for next day, researching community and cultural events and activities for the youth, completing paperwork (log book, contact notes, medication, critical incident reports etc.)
- From time client(s) wake to 8am- provide wake up calls to youth according to schedule, assist/model a regular morning routine: prepare and serve/eat breakfast family-style with the kids, assist younger kids with brushing teeth/hair, dressing, etc
- 8am - day shift arrives, ON SCHOOL DAYS - drive the school-aged children to school in company van before finishing shift.
- Be a positive role model for the children & youth and an empathetic, encouraging listener.
- Ensure individuals basic needs are met and teach/mentor age-appropriate living skills.
- Assist with operation/maintenance of the home(May include cleaning, laundry, dishwashing, vacuuming or assisting the youth in care with the completion of these tasks, etc.)
- Cooperate with other team members to plan, support and/or deliver culturally appropriate programs, services, workshops, and outings.
- Full job description available upon request.
The Position
The schedule for this position is approx. every Thurs, Fri & Sat 11pm to 8am (awake). Scheduled times and location may vary. Hours are set by the employer and are not negotiable.
As an Overnight Awake Youth Worker, you are part of a trauma-informed team who provide a safe and supportive home within Indigenous culturally based programming (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit). You will be responsible for providing support, supervising children & youth, household cleaning duties, completing log notes/reports, as well as handling any crisis situations that may occur.
Criminal Record Check/Ministry Check Statement
*** Prior to confirmation of employment all applicants must provide a current (dated within 6 months of hiring date) Criminal Record Check and Children's Services Intervention Record Check. These checks can take up to 6 weeks to obtain, please ensure you prepare accordingly.
As An Ideal Candidate You Possess
- Min. 2 years' experience Child and Youth Work, in a group home &/or community setting
- Experience supporting/teaching Indigenous children/youth, is an asset
- Certificate, Diploma or Degree in Social Work, Child and Youth Work, other human services, Education, Sociology or Psychology, Criminology, etc.
- Must be able to handle crisis situations, to ensure safety for youth in the program.
- First Aid/CPR Certificate
- Suicide Intervention, Self Harm, Crisis Intervention and Medication Administration training
- Indigenous Awareness and cultural diversity training
- An understanding of Indigenous cultural practices and traditions
- Able to work and follow Spirit of Our Youth Homes Inc. policies and procedures and adhere to Alberta Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act.
- Able to lift 50 lbs.
MUST HAVE a valid drivers license for minimally 3 yrs.
MUST HAVE excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
Not sure you meet the requirements? We still welcome you to apply, as we may be able to consider diverse combinations of skills, education and experience.
What WJS Canada does
In 2013, Spirit of our Youth became part of WJS Canada, the largest privately-owned national social services company in Canada. While operating autonomously, Spirit has full access to the extensive WJS Canada resources. Each day 600 dedicated WJS employees provide a wide range of proven and innovative services to more than 1300 people in three provinces. WJS serves many First Nation and Métis communities in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, emphasizing cultural diversity and respect.
Spirit of Our Youth was started in 2000 out of a passion for helping Indigenous youth. Currently, Spirit Of Our Youth operates 4 Community Group Care Programs in the City of Edmonton.
Our Employees Enjoy
- Staff training and opportunities to learn/work in a wide array of programs.
- An empowering balance of independence and supervision.
- Best practices programming and innovative client care.
For more information on Spirit of Our Youth, services and career opportunities, visit www.spirityouth.ca or call 780-474-7140
Website reference
For more information on Spirit of Our Youth and WJS Canada or to apply for this position, visit our website at www.spirityouth.ca.
Closing Statement
No candidate will meet every single desired qualification. If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to learn more about you! Please apply.
Equal-Opportunity Employer
Our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment is unwavering. We believe that varied backgrounds and experiences fuel innovation and success. As an equal-opportunity employer, we prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion across all operations. We're seeking candidates passionate about contributing to our multicultural teams and enriching our workplace with their unique insights and cultural sensitivity.
We encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply and join us in fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment.
No telephone calls please. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified.
