Student Parent Support - Youth Outreach Worker

About this position

We are a dynamic community-based health centre promoting social justice and health equity in the Regent Park neighbourhood and Downtown East area of Toronto. We operate out of several locations and provide a wide variety of services including: primary health care, chiropody, physiotherapy, health promotion, social work, community health, immigrant and refugee services, harm reduction and homeless programs, Pathways to Education, infant and child development programs, parenting programs, youth outreach and employment services. We currently have the following opening with our Child, Youth and Family Services team:

Student Parent Support Worker

Full-time Permanent Position 35 hours per week

Salary Range: $24.36 - $29.34 per hour plus benefits and HOOPP pension

Position Summary:

The Student Parent Support Worker / SPSW is responsible for organizing and delivering program activities designed to support students academically, build social capabilities, and foster post-secondary readiness for high school students. The Student Parent Support Worker assists with developing and delivering extra-curricular activities and events, for Pathways students. This position’s critical responsibilities include planning, organizing, maintaining safe and effective programs, while creating formal and informal learning environments, programming groups and events, guest speakers, trips, one to one meetings, and volunteer support for successful engagement and student participation.

Responsibilities

Program activities:

• Facilitate and monitor evening programs and events, including tracking and reporting of student attendance and engagement
• Assist with program development and planning, including organizing special events, guest speakers and excursions
• Work collaboratively with co-workers and Coordinators, to develop and maintain programs and expectations
• Work collaboratively with program partners including post-secondary institutions to build and maintain professional partnerships and engaging and relevant programs and events
• Recruit, monitor and support Volunteer Tutors and Mentors providing feedback and techniques as well as opportunities for volunteers to collaborate in program development

Relationship with Students, Parents, and School and Community:

• Become familiar with the strengths, capacities, and challenges, faced by students enrolled in the Pathways to Education Program. This is achieved by maintaining regular bi-weekly contact with students, and having regular contact with parents/guardian and school staff;
• Support Pathways students to attend school regularly, by monitoring attendance and communicating effectively with school staff, parents and program staff;
• Liaise with school staff, parents, and others working directly or indirectly within the Secondary Schools where appropriate. This includes identifying needs, goals, and interests of Pathways students to promote their academic success, while connecting participants with resources and supports.
• Ensure Pathways students receive their financial supports (TTC tickets) and distribution is tracked efficiently;

Administration and Team Work:

• Collect school attendance, and credit summaries from schools on a regular basis and manage records;
• Complete reports on activities and programs
• Document interactions with students, parents, school staff, and others, in accordance with program policies in the Pathways database.  Documentation should include support provided, referrals, updates, students’ accomplishments, and students’ challenges.
• Participate in team meetings to ensure that there is strong collaboration, between all Pathways staff and program components;
• Participate in ongoing program evaluation and program development efforts, including the development of workshops and specialized activities designed to meet the needs of students
• Maintain knowledge of Secondary School curriculum, and a working knowledge of post-secondary requirements.
• Other tasks as assigned, from time to time

Qualifications and Skills required:

• Post-Secondary Degree or Diploma in Education, Child and Youth work, Social or Community Development work or Post-Secondary qualifications that meet requirements of Project Management and Planning;
• Knowledge of Ontario Secondary School curriculum and challenges, preferably gained through direct experience with secondary school teachers, administrators and support staff
• Experience in developing, implementing, managing and evaluating programs for high school aged youth
• Direct experience and knowledge of supporting youth within an educational, setting
• Experience in working in partnership arrangements through collaborative methods
• Experience and foundational knowledge on approaches to providing support to a wide spectrum of youth needs;
• Proficient at a high level with digital communication methods & platforms
• Knowledge of and experience in de-escalation methods
• Experience understanding group dynamics, and anti-oppression principles
• Strong interpersonal, and communication skills
• Understanding of and grounding in adolescent development
• Ability to work collaboratively within, and across teams
• Understanding of Anti-oppression principles
• Able to work effectively with a diverse client population including people with various cultural, and economic backgrounds, mental health and/or addictions issues
• Ability to work effectively with people of various cultural, age and economic backgrounds
• Knowledge of the Regent Park area and issues affecting families living within the Regent and Moss Park Communities
• Must be up to date with COVID vaccination for the safety of clients and staff

Regent Park CHC is committed to equity in our hiring and employment practices. Applications are encouraged from qualified individuals who are Indigenous people, members of racialized communities, individuals of diverse sexual orientation and gender identification, persons with disabilities and others protected under the Human Rights Code as well as individuals with lived experience in the Regent Park community. This is a bargaining unit position with OPSEU Local 5115.