Youth Development Worker (YDW) – Pathways to Education ProgramFull-time (35 hrs. per week), contract (Nov. 2024 to Jul. 2025) – $23.92 to $28.34 per hour salary commensurate on experience & education About Unison:
Unison Health and Community Services is a non-profit, community-based organization that serves neighbourhoods in North West Toronto. Operating out of six locations, Unison offers core services that include primary health care, counselling, health promotion, Early Years programs, legal services, harm reduction programs, housing assistance, adult protective services, Pathways to Education™ and a Diabetes Education Program. Unison’s mission is working together to deliver accessible and high quality health and community services that are integrated, respond to needs, build on strengths and inspire change.
Unison Health and Community Services is committed to working from an inclusive, pro-choice, sex positive, harm reduction, anti-racist, anti-oppression and participatory framework.
We are seeking a full-time, Youth Development Worker (YDW) to build relationships with students by providing financial, academic, and social supports; monitoring individual student progress and encouraging cross-program participation within Unison and with other support agencies. The YDW will report to the Program Supervisor, Pathways to Education.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
· Establish and maintain effective relationships with parents/guardians, volunteers, school/community partners and within the Unison team through regular contact and communication.
· Use Knowledge of Ontario High school Curriculum, EQAO Assessments and credit accumulation to support students’ succesfully progress through each grade of high school.
· Support students in developing an action plan for meeting identified goals;
· Provide information and resources to support the student/family to carry out the action plan.
· Make appropriate service referrels for students to support their well-being.
· Work with students to regularly evaluate their plans, recognize their successes and to set new goals.
· Provide students with information on alternative forms of programming when necessary and collaborate with Program Facilitators to collect and maintain clear records on students who are participating in Alternative forms of programming.
· Provide advocacy on academic, post-secondary, employment readiness and other issues relevant to the student’s overall well-being.
· Collect, review and document student information to identify where additional support and follow-up may be required i.e.) timetables, attendance records, report cards etc.
· Maintain accurate and up to date physical and digital student files.
· Collaborate with school administration and teachers to ensure students’ learning needs, Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and differeing abilities are accomodated.
· Contact parents/guardians where appropriate, to discuss student progress and participation in school and programming.
· Participate in Pathways team meetings and maintain ongoing communication with Program Facilitators to strategise on improving student engagement and participation.
· Participate in ongoing client conferencing with other Pathways team members.
· Facilitate academic and social supports programming usually between 4:00-8:00 p.m.
· Collaborate with youth program support workers around administration, programming, and security and safety routines at programming sites.
· Supervise, orient, and support programming volunteers.
· Manage group dynamics among students and volunteers including addressing challenging student behavior and supporting volunteers with group facilitation and management.
· Model for volunteers the skills and techniques for positively engaging students.
· Organize space, routines and materials for academic and social programing.
Job Specific Qualifications:
· Relevant diploma, degree, certificate or professional training in area related to youth, including but not limited to social work, community development, social services, education, or recreation.
· 2-3 years of experience working with youth in one or more of the relevant areas.
· Knowledge of approaches to providing support to youth with special needs, youth at risk and youth from low-income and/or culturally diverse communities.
· Detailed knowledge of the secondary school system and post-secondary transitions as well as an understanding of the strengths, capacities, barriers and challenges faced by students in the program.
· Knowledge of community and social service resources, particular services for youth which can support their individual emotional and social development.
· Experience serving Unison’s priority populations including youth facing barriers, people with mental health and addictions and LGBTQ2IA+
· An understanding of issues affecting the Lawrence Heights, Neptune and Lotherton Pathway communities.
· Ability to communicate in another language is an asset, particularly if it is a language spoken in the community.
· Proficient computer literacy skills;
· Evening work is required (3 evenings/week) and some weekend work from time to time.
Interested candidates are asked to email a résumé with covering letter by 4:00 pm on Friday, October 18, 2024 to:
Hiring Committee – Youth Development Worker
Unison Health and Community Services
hirings@unisonhcs.org
Please cite UN_2024_056 in the subject line of the email.
We welcome applications from people who are reflective of the diverse communities we serve, including those who might need accommodation.
Where needed, accommodations for applicants with disabilities will be provided, on request, to support their participation in all aspects of the recruitment process.
Please note that due to the volume of applications, only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 7 months
Pay: $23.92-$28.34 per hour
Expected hours: 35 per week
Benefits:
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
Flexible language requirement:
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Evening shift
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 2024-10-18
Expected start date: 2024-11-01