Youth Workers administer and implement a variety of social assistance programs and community services, and assist clients to deal with personal and social problems. They are employed by social service and government agencies, mental health agencies, group homes, school boards, correctional facilities and other establishments.
Possible Titles:
Aboriginal outreach worker addictions worker behavioural aide child and youth worker community development worker community service worker crisis intervention worker developmental service worker drop-in centre worker family service worker financial assistance worker group home worker income maintenance officer life skills instructor mental health worker rehabilitation worker social services worker veteran services officer welfare and compensation officer women's shelter supervisor youth worker
Responsibilities:
Community and social service workers perform some or all of the following duties:
Interview clients to obtain case history and background information
Assess client's relevant skill strengths and deficits
Assist clients to sort out options and develop plans of action while providing necessary support and assistance
Assist clients in locating and utilizing community resources including legal, medical, financial assistance, housing, employment, transportation, assistance with moves, day care and other referral services
Prepare intake reports
Counsel clients living in group homes and halfway houses, supervise their activities and assist in pre-release and release planning.
Participate in the selection and admission of clients to appropriate programs
Assess and investigate eligibility for social benefits
Meet with clients to assess their progress, give support and discuss any difficulties or problems
Refer clients to other social services
Advise and aid recipients of social assistance and pensions
Provide crisis intervention and emergency shelter services
Implement and organize the delivery of specific services within the community
Implement life skills workshops, substance abuse treatment programs, behaviour management programs, youth services programs and other community and social service programs under the supervision of social services or health care professionals
Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment programs by tracking clients' behavioural changes and responses to interventions
Maintain contact with other social service agencies and health care providers involved with clients to provide information and obtain feedback on clients' overall progress
Co-ordinate the volunteer activities of human service agencies, health care facilities and arts and sports organizations
Maintain program statistics for purposes of evaluation and research.
Employment Requirments:
Completion of a college or university program in social work, child and youth care, counselling or other social science or healthrelated discipline is usually required.
Previous work experience in a social service environment as a volunteer or in a support capacity may replace formal education requirements for some occupations in this unit group.
Social service workers may be required to be a member of a provincial regulatory body in some provinces.
Additional information:
Progression to professional occupations in social services, such as family and marriage counsellors, social workers, and probation and parole officers, is possible with additional training and experience.
Courtesy of: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada