POSITION TITLE: Child and Youth Support Specialist
REPORTS TO: Team Lead, Child and Youth Case Management
POSITION TYPE: Full-time Permanent
LOCATION: Calgary, Alberta
What We Do:
Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society provides a continuum of care and integrated wrap-around services to women and their children fleeing domestic violence. We facilitate transitional housing and offer longer-term, safe places for women and children to call home while they begin to rebuild their lives. Discovery House is about hope and healing using anti-oppressive and trauma-informed practices.
What Our Employees Love:
- Three weeks of vacation to start.
- A blend of community engagement, office collaboration, and flexibility in planning the work day to support both impactful work and work-life balance.
- Additional time off including Wellness Days, Professional Development Days, and Sick Days.
- Benefits Package and Employee and Family Assistance Program.
- A dog friendly workplace.
- We observe all Statutory Holidays (including the optional ones), and employees may substitute religious holidays for celebrations that are relevant to their cultural identity.
- Opportunities to actively participate in various committees including Health & Safety, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Indigenous.
- A 2SLGBTQ+ welcoming environment.
- Potlucks, celebrations, work-life balance, and plenty of fun.
- Being a part of a reputable not-for-profit organization (7-time winner of Top 100 Rated Charities in Canada!)
We are building towards an inclusive and equitable workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we live in, creating the opportunity for every employee to reach their potential. We welcome applications from people in all underrepresented groups, believing we are at our best when everyone has a seat at the table. If you some but not all the qualifications for the position, but are willing to learn, we invite you to apply. Accommodations are available upon request throughout every stage of our recruitment process.
Join our team and be part of a transformative organization committed to ending domestic violence. As advocates of Empowerment, we believe in unlocking the potential in every individual, fostering resilience, and empowering positive change. Our Tenacious spirit drives us to get things done and make a lasting impact, while our commitment to Inclusion ensures that everyone belongs and is welcomed in our community. Embracing Curiosity, we continually learn, innovate, and adapt to break the cycle of domestic violence. Through Collaboration, we build strong connections and work collectively to create a safer, more equitable world for all. If you're passionate about making a difference, join us in our mission to empower, thrive, and create positive change together.
What You’ll Do:
Reporting to the Child and Youth Team Lead, the Child and Youth Support Specialist provides trauma-informed, strengths-based support to children, youth, and caregivers impacted by family violence. The role is responsible for delivering comprehensive services, including intake and admission, assessment of immediate and longer-term needs, case planning, psychosocial and parenting support, referrals to community resources, evaluation, discharge planning, and follow-up. The Support Specialist fosters a safe and supportive environment while providing compassionate case management and intervention services throughout the client’s involvement with the program.
The Support Specialist works closely with the Parenting Program Coordinator and Domestic Violence Counselling team to ensure alignment and integration of parenting support and programming, fostering a coordinated, Care Team approach to delivering trauma-informed, strengths-based counselling.
This position also requires the facilitation and running of group sessions and, for this purpose, will be required to work some evenings and weekends.
- Address all aspects of the needs of the children and youth including health and emotional well-being, parenting and childcare, playroom and developmental checklist, education, safety, recreational and community support, legal and custody, and financial
- Work closely with the Parenting Program Coordinator and Domestic Violence Counsellor, to ensure alignment and integration of parenting support and clinical programming in the delivery of psychosocial support
- Facilitate the transition of children and youth to Discovery House programming
- Provide group and one-to-one art, therapeutic play, and expressive activities to children and youth, and one-to-one parenting sessions with Caregivers
- Utilize assessment, screening, and quality assurance tools to support positive client outcomes and strengthen the effectiveness of services.
- Review, evaluate and document all changes in the child’s behavior and/or development
- Provide and manage providing psychosocial support to children and youth integrating trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches into case management and parenting support, including engagement, assessment, planning, intervention, and appropriate referrals for long-term support
- Maintain documentation and statistics as required for program standards
- Liaise with school-based educators and medical staff regarding the child’s education and health care needs
- Assist children to develop safety plans for their time at the shelter and in the community
- Advocate on behalf of child clients and mother clients regarding parenting needs
- Liaise with Adult Case Managers and Mental Health team regarding the client’s needs
- Collaborate with Team Lead when a report to Child and Family Services is deemed necessary
- Support the Child Development Centre by engaging with children aged 0-5 years
- Participate in care team planning to enhance service delivery
What You’ll Bring:
- Bachelor of Child Development or Social Work and registration with ACSW; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered
- Minimum of two years of experience working with children and families; case management and/or outreach experience is an asset
- Understanding of basic Child and Youth care practice, crisis management, providing psychosocial support to children and youth, and trauma-informed practice
- Knowledge of trauma and its impact on a child’s brain development
- Understanding of the Housing First model and women’s shelters in the non-profit sector
- Knowledge and understanding of how children are affected by domestic violence
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
- Valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle required, accompanied by a minimum of $2 million liability insurance coverage and business insurance (or documented provision from the insurer that allows for the occasional transportation of clients).
The successful candidate will be required to complete a Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check and an Intervention Record Check.
If you think you're the right fit
Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] stating the job title in the subject line. We thank all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
We thank all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work, and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Iyarhe Nakoda Nations (Bearspaw, Chiniki, Goodstoney), the Métis Nation of Alberta, District 5 & 6, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
Pay: From $50,169.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- Mileage reimbursement
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement
- Wellness program
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Calgary, AB T2A 7R7: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Please summarize the relevance of your background to this position. Alternatively, you may include a cover letter along with your resume.
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (required)
Experience:
- case management and/or outreach: 1 year (preferred)
- working with children and families: 2 years (required)
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Calgary, AB T2A 7R7
