Start of positions
* September 6th 2017 - FULL TIME - West End 24 Hour Safe Space Outreach Worker (37.5 hours per week)
* September 7th 2017 - onwards - FULL TIME - Wahkohtowin Adult Group Mentor (25hrs) + Support Role for West End 24 Hour Safe Space (up to 10hrs) (35 hours per week)
Spence Neighbourhood Association is looking to fill a part-time full-time Outreach Worker position (30-35 hours per week). Throughout the summer months, this position is mainly overnight hours with the bulk of the hours falling between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am, and the occasional shorter overnight shift (11:00pm-3:00am) for 37.5 hours per week.
This position will transition in September 2017 to a 35 hour a week position that includes 25 hours per week as the Wahkohtowin Adult Outreach Mentor and up to 10 hours per week supporting the West End 24 Hour Safe Space for Youth.
What is the West End 24 Hour Safe Space for Youth?
The West End 24 Hour Safe Space for Youth (also known as WE24) operates out of 430 Langside Street and provides an overnight space for youth ages 13-26 to rest, relax, access food,resources and basic needs, in a supportive, kind, warm environment. The West End 24 Hour Safe Space for Youth is open all Friday, Saturday, and school holidays (including summer holidays - 7 days a week) from 11:00pm-7:00am.
What is the Wahkohtowin Strengthening Families Program?
Wahkohtowin is a Cree word that means kinship or the state of being related. The Wahkohtowin- Strengthening Families Project (SFP) is a five-year project funded by the National Crime Prevention Centre under the Ministry of Public Security. The project is a 14-week, curriculum-based program that engages youth who are facing systemic challenges and barriers between the ages 11-17 along with their families. This initiative involves and supports the entire family in developing skills that will enhance parenting skills and empathy and promote effective parenting styles. The program builds decision-making and life skills in youth, including: stress management, conflict resolution, refusal skills, and empathy. It strengthens family bonds and promotes positive communication and the ability to jointly solve problems.
The Wahkohtowin-SFP is a collaborative effort with partners that include Ka Ni Kanichihk, N’dinawe, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM), the University of Manitoba, and the Spence Neighbourhood Association. A Wahkohtowin-SFP Adult Group Mentor will work as part of a team of professionals and under guidance from the Site Coordinator.
Who is the ideal candidate?
The ideal candidate will be a warm, welcoming, kind adult who has exceptional skills at building relationships with community members. Outreach workers must operate from a strength-based point of view, and have creative ideas for programming and positive activities. Candidates must be well-versed in community resources, social services and providing mentorship. Facilitation skills will be key, especially as the Adult Group Mentor, as the primary role of this position is to review and deliver curriculum faithfully to ensure fidelity. Candidate must be able to carry out appropriate record keeping functions including report writing, case notes and data collection. Both program (Wahkohtowin and WE24) use a wraparound model to connect individuals to their culture and community, thus understanding of the West End Community, and knowledge of various cultural practices would be seen as an asset. Additionally, the candidate must be a reliable, responsible team-player willing to discuss viewpoints, listen to team members, share in decision making, and contribute positively to the workplace environment and culture. All staff will endeavour to ensure a warm, respectful, and welcoming program environment for participating individuals.
AS THE 24 HOUR SAFE SPACE OUTREACH WORKER:
Primary responsibilities Include:
- Completing opening and closing duties for the building/WE24
- Build relationships with, mentor and support youth from the West End of Winnipeg
- Provide crisis support for Outreach youth and their families
- Facilitate and support youth in exploration and identification of their own culture
- Prepare meals for youth accessing the 24 Hour Safe Space
- Connect Outreach youth to supports and resources in the community
- Address basic needs (safe place, food and clothing) of Outreach youth
- Complete daily progress reports, statistics and assessments of Outreach youth
- Participate in planning and implementation of family and community events
- Work a variety of shifts including evenings, weekend overnights, and days as needed by youth
- Provide volunteer and employment support to youth
- Organizing training that supports development for youth
- Transport youth
AS THE WAHKOHTOWIN ADULT GROUP MENTOR:
Primary responsibilities Include:
- Review, understand, deliver weekly curriculum for adult members of the families enrolled
- Facilitate conversations and dialogue in a healthy and respectful way
- Participate in weekly staff meetings, and facilitate weekly meetings with families
- Maintain regular contact with participants, and support participants as required
- Assist in data collection, and regular documentation as supervised by the Site Coordinator
- Greet and assist Elders and visitors and set up and clean up weekly sessions
- Maintain, in cooperation with other team members, the physical facilities of the program site in accordance with accepted norms of health and safety;
- Assist in the arranging of transportation and child care, managing child care for participants when needed;
- Assist with behaviour management and contribute toward participant retention and program sustainability, assuming responsibility for other tasks that may be assigned
- Assist in promoting the program in the community and recruiting new participants
Desired qualifications:
- Must be a ‘team-player,’ who cares for others and contributes positively to the workplace culture
- Must have strong communication skills and committed to acting with professionalism
- Experience working with at-risk inner-city youth and families and/or understanding of inner-city issues
- Understanding of barriers, and experience working with Indigenous and Newcomer youth and their families
- Experience in mentoring or counselling individuals, including in crisis situations
- Understanding of resources available for youth and families within the inner-city
- Understanding of culture, cultural identities and resources (specifically Newcomer and Indigenous)
- Able to manage a flexible work schedule, work in times of crisis, and under pressure
- Must keep accurate files, incident reports, attendance and other data pertaining to the project
- Knowledge of ‘Google Environment’ (ie. Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets etc.)
- Ability to provide a current criminal record check, child abuse registry check
- Must have a Class 5 Driver's license and be a safe driver willing to transport youth in agency vehicles
- Commitment to cultural reclamation practices
Assets:
- Relevant education or experience in one-on-one mentorship, wraparound model, social work, community development, inner city studies, lived-life experience, or other applicable fields.
- Relevant training including: current First Aid & CPR, ASIST, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
- Experience working with youth involved in or vulnerable to gangs and gang recruitment
- Experience working with youth involved in or vulnerable to sexual exploitation
- Experience working with youth with addictions and/or mental health issues
- Experience working with LGBTQ* community and other marginalized groups of youth
- Understanding of the Youth Criminal Justice System, Child and Family Services, WPS, etc.
- Understanding of Restorative Justice theory and practices
Spence Neighbourhood Association highly encourages Indigenous, Newcomer, people of colour, women, and individuals with lived-life experience as it pertains to this role, to apply.
Hours and remuneration:
In the role of West End 24 Hour Safe Space for youth Outreach worker SNA agrees to pay $17 per hour. In the role of the Wahkohtowin Adult Group Mentor SNA agrees to pay $18.70 per hour. Required CPP, EI, and tax deductions will be made and employer contributions will be paid.
The Spence Neighbourhood Association would like to encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the diversity of our community.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: Tuesday, June 13th at 4:00pm
SUBMIT RESUME & COVER LETTER TO:
Spence Neighbourhood Association
Attention: Lin Howes Barr
615 Ellice Ave, R3G 0A4
E-mail: youth at spenceneighbourhood.org
