Child and Youth Care Worker (Casual)
About The Position
This is a temporary casual role for a Child and Youth Care Worker where a child’s trust, joy, and sense of safety depend on the worker showing up fully present. The role requires a commitment to making a lasting impact in the life of a child who needs it most. The work will test patience, stretch creativity, and demand accountability, but offers the chance to make a difference. Expectations are clear from the start to prevent disruptions that can be heartbreaking for children and the team. Success looks like a child smiling because they feel genuinely cared for, inviting the worker into their world, respecting boundaries, and navigating complex emotions with patience, empathy, and consistency. This role is significantly different from a daycare or childcare position, focusing on understanding the underlying causes of behavior and responding in a therapeutic, relationship-focused way. It involves providing individualized, trauma-informed care, supporting children and youth with complex behavioral, emotional, and trauma-related needs, actively building trusted, meaningful relationships, and teaching coping skills, modeling healthy boundaries, and providing consistent emotional support. This work is intensive, relational, and specialized, requiring empathy, patience, and the ability to understand behavior as communication. A daycare environment typically focuses on group routines, play-based learning, and general supervision, with children generally coming from stable home environments and care being short-term and group-based, emphasizing routine and safety rather than therapeutic intervention or long-term relationship building.
Requirements
- A deep passion for supporting youth with complex behavioural and emotional needs.
- Patience, compassion, and the ability to stay calm in tough situations.
- A balance of playfulness and structure, you can laugh, run, and play, but also hold firm boundaries.
- Knowledge (or willingness to learn) around trauma-informed care, wholistic well-being, and child development.
- Own a reliable 4-door vehicle to transport the individual(s).
- An active Alberta Class 5 Driver's License.
- A clear Alberta 10-year Driver's Abstract (10 years driving experience is not required).
- A current Standard/Intermediate First Aid with CPR Level C (Canadian Provider in person, or blended).
- $2 Million Alberta Auto Insurance Liability coverage.
- Clear Criminal Record with Vulnerable Sector Check obtained in last 5 months.
- Clear Intervention Record Check obtained from Children Services in last 5 months.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in youth care, working with complex behavioural needs, social work, or related fields is an asset.
Responsibilities
- Build trust through playful engagement and mentorship.
- Guide youth through crisis in challenging situations by using role modelling, encouragement, and crisis intervention strategies.
- Support them with your presence, engagement, and accountability.
- Create moments of joy, whether that’s organizing a game, cooking together, or teaching life skills.
- Document daily activities and observations with attention and care.
- Collaborate with Program Supervisors to support individualized therapeutic plans.
Benefits
- Career growth opportunities in a growing, award-winning organization
- Innovative technology to assist in your daily routine of providing care
- Mobile App. access technology
- Cornell University TCI Training (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention)
- Ongoing training & professional development
- Instant access to your wages ahead of payday through ZayZoon
- A collaborative and diverse organization supporting you through your journey in making an impact in the lives of youth
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
