youth worker

outreach worker

family support counselor

cook

youth specialist

Pacific Community Resources Society

A typical day in this job is fast-paced and varied. It involves supporting staff through complex client situations, managing documentation and coordination, and responding to the evolving needs of both youth and the team. The work demands flexibility, sound judgment, and the ability to problem-solve in real time.

Through this role, I’ve learned to lead under pressure, navigate uncertainty, and think critically. The experience has strengthened my capacity for relational leadership and adaptability.
Leadership at PCRS expresses strong intentions around communication and staff development, but consistent follow-through and structured support are often lacking. The culture at the front line is compassionate and collaborative, though there can be a disconnect between leadership messaging and day-to-day realities.

The hardest part of the job is managing the increasing complexity of client needs without sufficient professional development or training to match those demands. The most rewarding aspect is working directly with clients and staff, seeing growth, resilience, and moments of real change unfold.

Also been working with pcrs for more than a decade. Have seen them take on various new contracts throughout the years I've been with them. It is because of certain demands of these contracts, there has also been changes in management. Unfortunately, I have seen first hand of these mismanagements, especially those who somehow worked their magic and moved up quickly without much experience in non-profit or social services industry in general. Staff then become "replaceable" and many end up going on sick leave due to burnouts and "cattle-herding" of clients they do daily on the job. And why there are many turnovers. These highly-valued staff end up working for partners, rival agencies or finding much better work elsewhere outside of the contract. Pcrs either need to advocate in changing the policies of these contracts, obtain contracts that actually meet the "values" the company claims to have, trash these contracts altogether or they will lose their most invaluable asset - highly skilled and experienced workers. Mind you, not all of pcrs work environment is like this - I am mainly speaking of their "newer" contracts outside of youth and family services. People who work in these specific contracts will know what I am speaking of.

Worked here for almost 10 years. Frontline staffers like myself receive little to no recognition, especially when we work with vulnerable persons. Some management have little knowlege of different contracts and think they can "make up" rules so that they have power and control. Although this organization supports anti-bullying, they sure do it quite often in some management levels. The "favourite" ones are protected, even though they barely do any real work but chat all day compared to frontline staff that deal with real people's lives and lived experiences. They claim they have a liveable wage but the cap is not enough for the amount of work frontline staffers put up with on a daily basis. Caseloads are high and thus many utilize sick days and leave due to stress and burnout. And dont get me started if you're auxilliary. You are treated like commodity, very little formal training, no vacation or paid sick days, in lieu of benefits and management do not give a reasonable timeline if a contract is extended or terminated. The management obviously looks out for themselves and their "favourites". It's true that most quality emloyees may love their job but will leave the company due to their boss.

Managers will promise you all the good perks of the company in the beginning of your role but will eventually not care for you in the long run. 

You will be doing frontline work that can be extremely draining. Managers have no care or empathy for your well being. You will feel like their hands will be in everything because they do not trust you as well as they do others. They will talk badly about you to others, make rash decision without consulting. You can tell who their favourite person is and will make it very obvious with the tasks that are given and how well they are praised. There was little to no support within my role, with no clear objectives and ways of measuring them. Extremely ableist, to the point where they will mock you if you do your job differently even if it is done well. 

This is the typical work place that says they will treat you like family and in turn will treat you like a toxic family member.  They will not care if you’re experiencing burn out and will scold you for taking time for yourself. Consider yourself expendable and leave! Otherwise you will experience dread and anxiety when showing up to work. 

The work itself is great. The programs have such room for improvement and they really make you feel like you are a part of the planning process when it comes to policy and best practice, but it's lip service. This is the kind of company that will smile to your face and try then talk smack behind closed doors. Management is more often than not, not attentive or quick to actually address the root of problems, but rather just do whatever it takes for everyone to stop bothering them, without actually fixing the issue.  

Best hope you get in good with the right crowd, as there are a few "mean girl" type groups of employees and managers that can make just doing your job quite challenging. Lots of workers constantly looking for some sort of wrong speak to get you in trouble etc.

That said, they do pay alright. Benefits, OK. and they encourage you to take all your PTO when you can. And they are understanding when you get sick or need some time away to decompress. 

Pacific Community Resources (PCRS) is an award winning, accredited, not-for-profit society serving Lower Mainland communities since 1984. 

The agency provides alternate education, employment, addiction counselling and prevention services, housing support, and cultural enrichment for children, youth, adults and families.

The agency partners with individuals, businesses, other agencies and governments to ensure access to effective, high-quality community resources for people who are often vulnerable or marginalized from society.

Pacific Community Resources is committed to community-based research, advocacy, and community development to identify service gaps and strategies to address social problems such as poverty, child abuse, mental health, substance abuse, violence and homelessness.

PCRS currently deliver more than 40 programs serving thousands of individuals from Vancouver to Chilliwack.

PCRS does a great job of basing its services around the needs of the individuals that its staff serves. There is a strong culture of going above and beyond to support participants, who are often facing difficult life circumstances. I'm always impressed by the range of services that PCRS offers. Management is supportive and the organization seems to take efforts to function as more of a community organization than a business. Although the job can be challenging at times it is rewarding, and I feel supported by colleagues at PCRS.  One drawback is that the pay is mediocre. However, the defined benefit pension plan helps offset this somewhat. Overall, I think PCRS is a great place to work.

I was in the July-September 2018 placement in the Barista's Training Program at PCRS in Surrey,BC, at the Guildford location. Before, During and after the program the staff and the people you meet stick with you. The staff is pleasant, energetic, and passionate about the work they do. Judy and Rob were the best facilitators and working with the Vancouver PCRS was a hoot and a change of scenery. I still get praise from people about this work program. I picked up valuable skills in this program that it would have taken me years to learn. The hardest part of the job is dragging yourself out of the bed in the morning, but to be pleasantly surprised by the facilitators energy and smiling faces.

Management is very bad with low learning and knowledge how to deal with their employees. If the manager likes one because the employee always agrees and compliments the manager, he/she gives this employee the recognition and promote him with low caseload for this favorite employee, Sometimes I think this is not a Canadain organization. It is similar to organizations in underdeveloped countries. 
Benefits are ok but salary is low when compared with other not profit 
organizations.
This organization is often practicing politics. 
I do not recommend this organization to anyone who has solid values and morals.

Horrific training. Unorganized. OHS - Safety concerns. Management needs training. Toxic work environment. Completely surprised after hearing good things. Like walking on egg shells. Other colleagues I know in organization having concerns and doubts and are waiting to jump ship.

Dont want to be all negative... some really great people... but organization needs to better understand whats going on. Worst place I ever worked as far as disorganization and toxicity and distrust. Felt like I had to model healthy management and Im not even a manager.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Youth worker 2 salaries reported	$31.52 per hour
Outreach worker 2 salaries reported	$31.52 per hour
Family support counselor 2 salaries reported	$42.49 per hour
Cook 2 salaries reported	$26.52 per hour
Youth specialist 1 salary reported	$31.52 per hour

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