Child and Youth Engagement Worker (12-17)
Posting #: 4308 Posting Date: May 21, 2026 Posting Closing: June 30, 2026
Have you heard of us?
Wesley is a long-standing local non-profit and living wage organization. We are passionate about our work advocating for harm reduction, housing, poverty eradication and food security in Hamilton, Halton and Brantford. We’re committed to diversity & inclusion and a healthy work life balance. We would love for you to join our team!
Are you the one we’re looking for?
We are seeking a dynamic, highly motivated Child and Youth Engagement Worker to join our existing Halton Family Shelter and Children, Youth and Family Services Teams who demonstrate our values of compassion, accountability, responsiveness and empowerment; to our clients, families and each other.
The CYEW’s will complement an existing Wesley staff team operating a family shelter to specifically support the needs of children and youth 0-17 residing within the family shelter, with a flexible range of engaging and age appropriate activities and supports.
This is a 2-year contract, full-time, unionized position beginning approximately June 1/26, and running until June 1, 2028. Hours per week: 40. Rate of pay: $24.38.
Key Responsibilities:
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Actively engage and support Children and youth (and their families), 0-6, 7-12 and 13-17 within the family shelter with ongoing, regular and flexible, age and developmentally appropriate activities and supports.
- Work collaboratively and professionally with the shelter team, parents, schools, etc to increase opportunities and decrease risk factors for children and youth temporarily displaced due to lack of housing;
- Actively support families with access to subsidy, childcare, enrolment into school and other appropriate children and youth supports;
- Enter and maintain accurate and complete service data as required, in a timely manner;
- Knowledge of and sensitivity to the life experiences and diverse needs, identities and cultural backgrounds of all unhoused families at the shelter;
- Attend team meetings regularly to collaborate on program development and communication.
- Ability to plan and prioritize spending within budget.
- Ability to use a risk lens in a variety of settings and take appropriate action.
- Will support families post shelter for up to 3 months in their new homes to ensure supports and connections are in place (ie., enrolled in new school);
What you will bring:
- Registered Early Childhood Educator, Child and Youth Worker or Social Service Worker Diploma or degree in a related field.
- A strong preference and priority for a minimum of two years of related experience working with at risk children and youth 0-17 and their families in a relevant setting;
- Must have a minimum of 1 year working with 12-17-year-olds;
- Dynamic engager with experience establishing trusting relationships and developing ongoing and regular developmentally appropriate activities and supports with Children and Youth & their families;
- Knowledge of and sensitivity to the life experiences and diverse needs, identities and cultural backgrounds of families in a shelter setting;
- Knowledge and a clear understanding of historical and intergenerational trauma of the Indigenous people of Turtle Island;
- Knowledge of Indigenous and non-Indigenous community supports and services including knowledge of and how to access: childcare, Subsidy, Early On Child & Family programs, before and after school care, youth supports including recreation, counselling, etc.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a part of a multidisciplinary team;
- Strong communicator and demonstrated ability to work co-operatively and effectively with a range of service providers across a range of settings and services;
- Knowledge and skill in planning and delivering group and individual programs and workshops that are age and stage appropriate, flexibly adaptive and inclusive;
- Ability to work flexible hours (days, afternoons, evenings) including one weekend day/week (Tuesday to Saturday or Sunday to Thursday) with some flexibility.
- Will have up to date First aid/CPR and trauma informed care training and consistently applies this in their work.
- Successful candidates will need to have or take the following trainings offered at Wesley: EDI, positive space, Safe Talk, CPI-NVCI.
Invest in Yourself as we Invest in You! Wesley offers…
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A positive work culture that prioritizes all staff having an opportunity to contribute
- A supportive team that will empower you to achieve great milestones!
- Fun and engaging organizational events such as our Staff Appreciation Event
- Professional development and training opportunities
Please Apply Via: Our Wesley Bamboo Portal:
- Click on this link: https://wesley.bamboohr.com/jobs/
- From there you can access all of Wesley’s job postings
Wesley is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all qualified applicants. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please. More information about Wesley can be found on our website at www.wesley.ca
