Youth Services Officer

at  Ministry of Children Community and Social Services

MAKE A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY IN THE LIVES OF YOUTH IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW

Do you have a desire to work with young persons in conflict with the law? If you would enjoy working with a diverse and challenging client group, where you can make a difference every day, then consider a career as a Youth Services Officer.
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, Youth Justice Division, is seeking dedicated professionals to join their multi-disciplinary team(s) as a Youth Services Officer providing primary/direct services to youth within a secure detention/custody setting.
The Youth Services Officer position will provide you with an opportunity to work with an employer that promotes diversity while you support and deliver programs and services to youth in the Ministry’s care. The goals are to keep youth active and engaged, focusing on specific risks and needs of youth related to reoffending, teaching new skills, keeping youth safe, resolving conflict, and employing intervention techniques and strategies to model pro-social behaviours and help youth make better choices upon their return to the community.
We are looking for compassionate people who will bring awareness, sensitivity, and mindfulness towards diversity and understand the challenges and barriers that youth from marginalized groups may face.

The five (5) available Youth Centres for this posting are:

• Cecil Facer Youth Centre – Sudbury
• Donald Doucet Youth Centre – Sault Ste. Marie
• Justice Ronald Lester Youth Centre – Thunder Bay
• Roy McMurtry Youth Centre – Brampton
• Sprucedale Youth Centre – Simcoe

KNOWLEDGE

You have proven knowledge of:

• sociological issues impacting on youth and youth/adolescent development theories
• case management and group work principles and techniques
• gender responsive therapeutic programming and treatment approaches
• mental health and behavioural disorders, including symptoms and causes of deviant behaviour
• cognitive behavioural intervention philosophy and techniques
• youth justice related legislation such as the Youth Criminal Justice Act, Child, Youth and Family Services Act, and Human Rights Code

SKILLS

• You can demonstrate respect and sensitivity to the diverse social, cultural, linguistic, developmental, and interpersonal needs of youth
• You have written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills
• You have interviewing, mentorship, coaching and counselling skills.
• You can build positive relationships with youth.
• You have facilitation and team-building skills.
• You have analytical, interpretive, reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• You can use business software and operational systems.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO DO IN THIS ROLE?

As part of a dedicated team of multidisciplinary professionals in one of Ontario’s five youth centres, every day will be an opportunity to work with a diverse and challenging client group where you will:

• Supervise youth on an assigned rotating shift in a secure custody/detention facility setting that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Ensure the safety and security of youth, staff, the youth centre and community
• Provide community escort duties to ensure the safety of youth, staff, visitors and the public
• Support and deliver structured rehabilitative programs and reintegration services
• Use relationship custody and cognitive learning behavioural approaches to foster respectful, caring relationships and create a learning space for life and pro-social skills