Direct Support Worker

Job summary

The Direct Support Worker provides 24/7 support in a specialized home to assist youth with life skills, social skills, and community resource access. Responsibilities include crisis intervention, medication administration, behavior management, and facilitating daily activities while maintaining accurate documentation.

Job details

New Directions is a social service agency offering a wide range of resources and services that foster people’s hopes and dreams in their communities. The Youth Supported Independent Living Program, offers supports for youth who have develop more basic skills to live independently with supports and are interested in starting to live more independently as they continue working towards their adult life goals (i.e., work, education, relationships, self-care, life in community, etc.), and solidify their independent living skills (i.e., fully manage their budget, keep up with work and education responsibilities independently, use community resources, take care of their mental and physical health, connect with significant others and community meaningfully). We are currently seeking Direct Support Worker for a specialized home that is designed to assist children and youth to develop life skills, social skills and/or access community resources. Individual care and guidance is provided to align with the needs of the child/youth to assist with mental health issues, behavioral challenges, or addictions. We provide stabilization through predictable structures, clear expectations and positive behavior support. Supports are provided 24 hours, 7 days a week, in fast-paced shift staffed homes operated by New Directions. Position details as follows: Awake overnight: 11pm - 7am shift Responsibilities Include (but are not limited to): * Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team * Demonstrate skills in basic counselling, crisis intervention, conflict resolution and problem solving * Provide support with daily life skills, social skills and /or behaviour management. * Assist with building skills in basic cooking, money management, shopping, and safety skills. * Facilitate physical, recreational, educational, social and vocational activities, and maintain liaison with other agencies, professionals, government officials and the community. * Accompany and/or transport individuals to activities such as appointments, shopping, school, employment or leisure activities. * Recognize, analyze and deal with potential emergency situations such as individuals’ aggressive behaviour to minimize potential harm to the person and/or the public. * Administer medication to individuals in accordance with established policies and procedures. * Actively engage in harm reduction approaches * Ensure health and safety standards are maintained * Attend to the physical, emotional, and medical needs of the children or youth * Ensure that all required documentation is complete and accurate Qualifications: * High School Diploma or equivalent. Preference will be given to candidates with post-secondary education in the area(s) of disability services, Youth Care Worker, and/or mental health * Minimum two (2) years experience working with individuals with intellectual and/or cognitive disabilities. Varying experience and education may be considered * Excellent written and verbal communication skills * ASIST and/or Mental Health Training considered an asset * Demonstrated understanding of Trauma Informed Care * A valid Class 5 driver’s license is a requirement for this position The salary range for this Full-time, one-year term 80-hour bi-weekly position is $17.3239 to $23.3888 per hour, dependent upon education and/or experience. The successful candidate will be subject to Criminal Record Check, Adult and Child Abuse Registry Check, Prior Contact Checks; and must supply a satisfactory driver’s safety rating. Operating a vehicle is an essential duty of this role. Candidates must hold a valid, active driver's license in good standing to be eligible for hire. Providing a copy of your license and/or your license number at this stage is voluntary. However, submitting this information upfront allows our team to verify your status, which can fast-track your application to the review stage. The closing date for all application is October 19th, 2026. We thank all applicants for their interest in New Directions, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Unfortunately, we cannot accept telephone inquiries. New Directions is committed to equity and diversity and especially welcomes applications from persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, and newcomers to Canada. We strive for a skilled workforce that reflects the diversity of the people we support and contributes to the diversification of ideas. Accommodations for accessibility purposes are available for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

What you’ll do

The Direct Support Worker provides 24/7 support in a specialized home to assist youth with life skills, social skills, and community resource access. Responsibilities include crisis intervention, medication administration, behavior management, and facilitating daily activities while maintaining accurate documentation.

Requirements

Candidates must have a high school diploma, with preference for post-secondary education in disability or youth services, and at least two years of relevant experience. A valid Class 5 driver's license is mandatory for this role.

Listed skills

• crisis intervention · Preferred
• Conflict Resolution · Preferred
• Problem solving · Preferred
• Documentation · Preferred
• Communication Skills · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Crisis intervention
• Conflict resolution
• Problem solving
• Life skills training
• Behavior management
• Medication administration
• Harm reduction
• Trauma informed care
• Counselling
• Documentation
• Communication skills
• Safety skills
• Money management
• Health And Safety Standards
• Trauma Informed Approaches
• Leisure And Recreation
• Valid Driver's License
• Mental Health
• Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Cooking
• Crisis Intervention
• Disabilities
• Health Maintenance
• Problem Solving
• Life Skills Development
• Medication Administration
• Money Management
• Positive Behavior Support
• Social Skills
• Verbal Communication Skills
• Diversification (Investing)

Job areas

• Social Services
• Healthcare
• Security & Safety
• Direct Support Worker
• Caregiver / Personal Care Aide
• Companions and Valets
• Personal Care Aides
• Home Health and Personal Care Aides

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