Youth Care Worker - Casual

Join Our Team: Make a Lasting Difference in the Lives of Youth
Are you passionate about helping young people discover their strengths, heal from trauma, and build brighter futures? At Nightwind Treatment Centre, we’re more than a workplace—we’re a community dedicated to growth, learning, and transformation. Our Youth Care Workers (YCWs) play a vital role in creating safe, nurturing, and empowering environments where youth can thrive.
As a Youth Care Worker, you’ll be part of a dynamic therapeutic team that believes every young person can and will do well—if they can. You’ll bring compassion, creativity, and resilience to your work each day, helping youth navigate challenges, develop life skills, and reconnect with their cultural identity. Whether you’re just starting out in the field or bringing years of experience and formal education, there’s a place for you here.
Nightwind offers four levels of growth—YCW1 through YCW4—each designed to match your expertise and encourage continuous professional development. This is your opportunity to make a tangible difference while advancing your career in a supportive, culturally grounded, and trauma-informed environment.If you’re ready to bring hope, healing, and heart to your work—join us at Nightwind and help create positive change in youth stories.
Youth Care Worker YCW1, YCW2, YCW3, YCW4 Reports to: Program Manager/Team Leader and Shift Supervisors Reports: None
Under the direction of the Program Manager/Team Leader and Shift Supervisor, Youth Care Workers are responsible for maintaining a healthy and safe routine for persons served, contributing to an effective treatment environment. Expertise Nightwind has four Youth Care Worker Classifications. The following differences will determine the classification between YCW1, YCW2, YCW3 and YCW4: YCW1 – New full-time staff and casual staff who include little experience, no formal education, no mandatory coursework and no CYCAA designation.Skill level: Early skills demonstrating the learning of duties and responsibilities. Requires consistent supervision to complete all duties. YCW2 – Experienced casual staff and new full-time staff with all mandatory courses and experience but no formal education and no CYCAA designation. Skill level: Emerging independent work skills following the duties and responsibilities of the position. May require some supervision to meet the highest levels of skill. YCW3 – Experienced full-time staff with formal education and mandatory courses but no CYCAA designation.Skill level: Advanced skill level capable of making difficult choices and working well independently, relating to the duties and responsibilities of the position. YCW4 – Experienced full-time staff with formal education, mandatory courses and CYCAA designation.Expert skill level capable of making difficult choices and working independently. This designation provides leadership and support to other YCWs and consistently demonstrates a high level of skill in completing duties and responsibilities. This classification maintains a level of knowledge and skill which enables them to make policy and procedure recommendations to the Service Team. Duties & Responsibilities Attitudes

• Maintain the philosophy that “every child will do well if they can.”
• Utilize a trauma-informed approach by maintaining healthy relationships with colleagues and persons served, and the effective prevention and resolution of conflict

Environment

• Maintain a culture of learning, professional growth, trauma-informed practice, cultural relevance and overall focus on healing and treatment for persons served

Person-Served Support

• Perform all job duties in accordance with the NWTC Code of Conduct and the Child and Youth Care Association Ethical guidelines
• Be familiar with all medication plans and ensure medication is administered correctly
• Complete pre- and post-shift debriefs with colleagues
• Ensure persons-served are maintaining a healthy routine, including school, cultural activities/learning, education, treatment, recreation, life skills and sleep
• Support the emotional health of persons served by listening, supporting effective conflict resolution and maintaining safety
• Promote safety in all activities of the program
• Be familiar with the process of new client orientation upon arrival, according to NWTC Policies & Procedures
• Assist in therapeutic activities, including Alateen, smudging, grounding activities, stress reduction, conflict resolution, healthy relationships, group therapy and by maintaining an effective treatment environment
• Ensure that the program is clean and that persons served are learning important life skills
• Consult with persons-served on food preferences and support healthy meal planning, preparation and clean-up
• All other duties related to providing support to persons served

Human Resources

• Ensure all mandatory training is current
• Ensure that the personnel file is updated in accordance with legislation, contractual obligations, accreditation standards and NWTC Policy and Procedure

Finance

• Follow NWTC Policies and Procedures and supervisor direction regarding expenses and reporting of expenses, including float,s and managing receipts
• Promote effective cost-saving measures to maintain high-quality care and remain fiscally responsible

Risk Management & Safety

• Ensure the Risk Management Plan is being followed to respond to risks within the program effectively
• Compliance with all safety procedures, including the Emergency Response Plan
• Ensure critical incidents are completed, tracked and reported according to NWTC Policy and Procedure

Communications

• Promote positivity and hopefulness with persons-served, colleagues, stakeholders and members of the public
• Maintain confidentiality and abide by the Oath of Confidentiality, NWTC Code of Conduct and the Child and Youth Care Association Ethical guidelines

Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience with Indigenous culture
• Experience working with Indigenous children and youth in care is essential
• Bachelor's or Diploma in Human Services or equivalent
• At least 2 years of experience working with youth