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Bootstraps Outreach Support Worker

Bootstraps – Employment Outreach & Support Worker

Who we are:

For over 30 years, Aunt Leah’s Independent Life Skills Society has delivered programs that help prevent youth in foster care from becoming homeless and vulnerable mothers from losing custody of their children. To support them on their journey to adulthood, we provide housing, education and life skills training.

 

Job Summary:

This position will support Aunt Leah’s Place’s current Bootstraps program objectives to increase the labour force participation and reduce the unemployment rate of young adults at risk in British Columbia facing barriers to Employment. Bootstraps is a multi-funded program designed to provide supportive employment resources for high-risk & multi-barriered youth by creating ‘in-house’ employment opportunities in collaboration with Aunt Leah’s Bootstraps Program. This position will support participants with overcoming barriers to employment and connect participants to available training and/or employment opportunities to gain valuable work experiences

Reports To: Bootstraps Coordinator

Salary: Starts at $22.68/hr

 

Education & Qualifications:

  • Minimum 2 years of post-secondary education in a relevant field of study
  • 1 to 2 years of relevant experience in a similar role, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Experience in social work, career development, employee mentoring/coaching and/or youth engagement is considered a valuable asset

 

Requirements:

  • Satisfactory Criminal Record Check and Local Police Information Check
  • Undergo & Maintain MCFD contracted agency caregiver clearance
  • CPI – Non-Violent Crisis Prevention Intervention Training, or willingness to obtain
  • First Aid – Level C w/ CPR, or willingness to obtain
  • Ability to work flexible hours

 

Assets:

  • A valid BC Class 5 driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle
  • Proof of vehicle business insurance of $5 million liability
  • Clear Driver’s Abstract

 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

  • Ability to work closely with participants to facilitate sustainable employment, training and/or education
  • Strong communication skills both verbal and written
  • Ability to handle sensitive information and maintain confidentiality
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Cultural competency
  • Ability to identify barriers to employment and appropriately address them
  • Perform job searches and resume writing with participants and other basic employment support as needed
  • Computer proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and virtual meeting software
  • Ability to select and screen appropriate participants to put forward to potential employers
  • Ability to act, engage and support participants through trauma informed lens
  • Ability to coordinate with multiple stakeholders to ensure participants are set up for long term employment success
  • Ability to work collaboratively with the Bootstraps Coordinator and other Aunt Leah’s staff to incorporate employment and life skills development for participants and connect participants to access employment opportunities
  • Knowledge and understanding of wrap-around supports at Aunt Leah’s and the broader community
  • Attention to detail with an ability to complete documentation accurately

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Essential Functions:

  • Promote education and skills development as being key to labour market participation
  • Provide intake and orientation on the elements and goals of the Bootstraps program
  • Develop and follow through on Individual Service Plans (ISPs) identifying training needs, key steps, timelines, resources and milestones to sustainable employment or substantive education/training
  • Support participants complete assessments through Career Cruising self-exploration and planning software
  • Provide job search assistance and pre-employment guidance and coaching
  • Support participants with overcoming barriers to employment and connect participants to available training and/or employment opportunities to gain valuable work experiences
  • Coordinate with Aunt Leah’s Social Enterprises (Aunt Leah’s Thrift Store, Aunt Leah’s Christmas Tree Lots, and Aunt Leah’s Donation Centre Warehouse) to connect suitable participants to a Youth Training Program to develop employability skills; soft skills development, creating healthy training and employment networks and connections –to participate sustainably in the labour market
  • Support, encourage, and collaborate with participants through developing a trusting relationship and using a trauma-informed approach to practice
  • Help incorporate appropriate and targeted essential skills development through the core modes of Skills for Success – Reading, Writing, Problem Solving, Numeracy, Digital, Creativity and Innovation, Communication, Collaboration and Adaptability
  • Provide participants with employment sessions which cover the core areas of Career & Occupational Information, Career Decision-Making Processes (Planning and Goal-Setting), Job Search Techniques, Job Application Processes, Resume and Cover Letter Preparation, Job Interview Preparation and Conduct; and, How to Accept, Start and Maintain Employment
  • Arrange for participants to obtain official certification which could include First Aid, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), SuperHost, or Food Safe
  • Set participant up for success by providing transportation supports, work appropriate clothing and other employment supports as applicable
  • Collaborate with the Life Skills department to ensure that Essential Skills programming and curriculum is appropriate and trauma informed for at-risk youth and Indigenous participants
  • Conduct creative outreach to engage participants in and from foster care in the Bootstraps program
  • Coordinate with the Employer Engagement Officer to connect participants to employers for work experience placements and/or direct hires
  • Perform administrative duties including but not limited to: documenting case notes through electronic database, file management, submitting cheque/visa requests for program participants, internal reporting and tracking, data entry and maintaining various excel spreadsheets
  • Incorporate understanding of wrap-around supports and work with the Case Manager to refer participants to applicable Aunt Leah’s programs/services to ensure participants are given the stability of housing, food security and social/emotional outreach
  • Participate in on-call as scheduled and is able to support and attend as required
  • Work as a positive and cooperative team member, attend meetings and participate in Society committees and events as required and /or directed
  • Perform other related duties that do not affect the nature of the work

 

Working conditions:

  • Primarily based out of Seymour Office in Vancouver, may be required to work from New Westminster Office occasionally; this position may require travel to various locations within Metro Vancouver
  • Full-time Regular; generally, 37.5 hours per week; an average shift is 7.5 hours/day; Monday to Friday shift schedule, scheduled monthly by the Bootstraps Coordinator. Some flexibility is required including occasional evenings and weekends
  • On-call rotation as per the on-call roster
  • Work can be performed in an office environment and/or in the community with the flexibility to work remotely as required

Living Wage Employer: As a certified living wage employer, we are committed to compensating our employees a living wage that allows working families to support the healthy development of their children and participate in the social, civic, and cultural lives of their communities. Embracing a living wage policy aligns with our Strategic Goals and provides our staff a great place to work.

We Offer: A comprehensive benefits package that includes dental, extended health care including vision care and prescription, RRSP matching, generous vacation and personal time package, and an employee discount at our Thrift Store.

To Apply: Please send your resume and cover letter, quoting Bootstraps Outreach Support Worker in the subject line, to [email protected] . Short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.

 

We encourage qualified people of all gender expressions and identities, sexual orientations, visible minorities, Indigenous persons, and persons with disabilities to apply if you are interested in supporting our mission and mandate.

Bootstraps Outreach Support Worker
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