Child and Youth Care Worker – Edmonton

The Ministry of Children and Family Services funds programs and services to support vulnerable children, youth, families, and individuals to live safely and succeed in Alberta. This includes providing services and resources to protect children and youth from abuse and neglect and effectively address harm that has placed them in need of intervention. Mentoring and support services are available to youth transitioning into healthy, productive adults. The ministry also invests in community-based groups that support prevention and early intervention services such as Family Resource Networks, youth emergency shelters as well as programs that raise awareness and help respond to family violence, sexual violence, and abuse.

Provincial Campus Based Care (PCBC) centres across the province offer 24/7 trauma-informed care and secure services for vulnerable youth (ages 11-17 receiving child intervention services) and their families. PCBCs integrate best practices to help youth reach their potential and address emotional and behavioral therapeutic needs. PCBCs goal is for youth to return to a less intensive form of care, become independent or return to their families. PCBCs encompass several programs to support youth such as Indigenous/cultural supports, recreation therapy services, on-site schools, medical services, transition and connection services, addiction support, occupational therapy and access to facility dogs.

As a Youth Care Counsellor, you will provide direct care and support to youth within a trauma-informed environment. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure a safe and secure environment, assess and identify the specific needs of youth, and implement direct program delivery for vulnerable youth receiving child intervention services via the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (CYFEA) and/or Protecting Sexually Exploited Children's Act (PSECA).

Key Responsibilities:

• Walk alongside and provide direct care and support to emotionally and behaviorally challenged youth.
• Ensure a safe and secure environment consistent with the center’s philosophy and policies.
• Assess, identify and implement the specific needs of youth in care.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to develop and evaluate care plans.
• Work directly with youth and their families to provide comprehensive support.
• Provide input to the multidisciplinary team based on observations and direct interactions with youth.
• Maintain a trauma-informed approach in all interactions and interventions.
• Work in either an open or secure environment as required.
• Case management for youth is consistent with organization policies, procedures, philosophy, goals and learning environment.
• Maintain the physical capacity to respond to crisis situations, including the ability to safely intervene, apply approved hands-on behavioral management techniques, and perform physical restraints when required in accordance with training, policy, and safety protocols.

APS Competencies:

• Creative Problem Solving: Ability to gather information from varied sources, analyze and interpret information to formulate reports and make decisions related to case planning.
• Agility: Ability to prioritize competing workload pressures in an effective manner and contribute to organizational goals.
• Drive for Results: Demonstrates ability to gather, integrate and interpret complex information sets and accomplishes goals and priorities to deliver outcomes consistent with departmental objectives and directives.
• Building Collaborative Environments: Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with a variety of teams within the workplace, community, and other Government ministries/agencies to meet client and ministry goals and objectives.
• Developing Networks: Ability to interact positively, build relationships and work effectively with others.
• Develop self and others: Ability to invest in the development of long-term capability of yourself and others.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Child and Youth Care or related human service profession.
• A valid Alberta Class 5 Driver's Licence and access to a reliable vehicle.

The Ideal Candidate Will Possess:

• Experience in therapeutic campus-based care, group care, or residential treatment settings supporting complex youth.
• Experience working with Indigenous youth, families, or communities.
• Experience applying behavioural intervention and de-escalation techniques.
• Experience with case management.
• Training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and trauma-informed care.
• Certification in suicide intervention or crisis response.

Notes:

• Location: Edmonton, Alberta
• Hours of Work: Up to 38.75 hours per week (7.75 hours per shift). Shifts may be scheduled on evenings and weekends, and additional hours may be required to meet operational or business needs.
• Travel is required for the position.

Benefits and Perks:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information
• Professional learning and development
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.

Pre-Employment Checks:

• Academic credential check
• Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Intervention Record Check
• 5-Year Commercial Driver's Abstract