Child & Youth Worker

Unit Summary

Step into a job that opens countless doors. As Ontario’s most comprehensive healthcare system, providing advanced care to people of all ages from across the province, we offer endless opportunities. You can explore advancement opportunities, take professional development courses, and stretch yourself as a leader, all at HHS. We are the largest employer in the greater Hamilton region, and play a vital role in training the next generation of health professionals in collaboration with our academic partners, including McMaster University and Mohawk College. Hamilton Health Sciences is a hospital system of 18,000 staff, physicians, researchers and volunteers that proudly serves south central Ontario residents. We also provide specialized, advanced care to people from across the province.

The McMaster Children’s Hospital Eating Disorder Program is a clinical service for children and adolescents with an eating disorder. The focus of this service is on children and adolescents with a diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and related eating disorders. The program provides outpatient, day treatment and inpatient care. The inpatient unit provides 6 inpatient beds and 4 day treatment places. Care is provided through a multidisciplinary team consisting of nurses, physicians, dietitians, child and youth workers, psychiatry, social workers, psychologists, and child life specialists. The philosophy of care is applied in a family-centered care environment.

Position Summary

The Child and Youth Workers role primarily supports the inpatient and day program through unit group supports. As a member of the multidisciplinary team the CYW works with the inpatient child/adolescent and their family to provide a range of resources. These include observation, assessments, education, strategies for coping, support, therapeutic interactions, and activities which offer emotional support, developmentally appropriate education related to the patient's diagnosis, and activities which augment the team's treatment plan.

The Child Youth Worker enables children, adolescents and their families to maintain optimum development, realize normal living patterns, minimize psychological trauma and maximize adjustment as they adapt to changes in health, hospitalization and life situations. Through preparation, education, therapeutic activities, and other intervention strategies, the eating disorder patient population is provided with the opportunities for gaining a sense of mastery for learning, communication, self-expression, family involvement and peer interaction.

Schedule Work Hours

Occasional days, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays

Qualifications

1. Diploma in Child and Youth Counseling or Degree in Child and Youth Care
2. Current Full – Professional Certified Membership with the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Counselors
3. Minimum of 2 recent years experience, as a Child Youth Worker in an acute, tertiary care pediatric setting primarily with children and adolescents with an eating disorder and /or mental health issue(s).
4. Demonstrates clinical expertise in assessing, planning and implementing interventions for children and adolescents and their families with an eating disorder and /or mental health issue(s).
5. Understands the role of community supports for the child/adolescent and family
6. Demonstrates organization, problem-solving and conflict management skills
7. Certification in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) preferred
8. Participates in ongoing professional development
9. Able to work in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary team, and changing environment
10. Demonstrated skill in effective crisis management

Hamilton Health Sciences fosters a culture of patient and staff safety, whereby all employees are guided by our Mission, Vision, Values, and Values Based Code of Conduct. Hamilton Health Sciences is a teaching hospital and all staff and physicians are expected to support students and other learners.

To be considered for this opportunity applicants must apply during the posting period. All internal and external applicants may ONLY apply via the Careers website. This job posting is for an existing vacancy.

Hamilton Health Sciences is an equal opportunity employer and we will accommodate any needs under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Hiring processes will be modified to remove barriers to accommodate those with disabilities, if requested. Should any applicant require accommodation through the application processes, please contact Human Resources at 905-521-2100, Ext. 46947 for assistance. If the applicant requires a specific accommodation because of a disability during an interview, the applicant will need to advise the hiring manager when scheduling the interview and the appropriate accommodations can be made.

This competition is open to all qualified applicants, however, qualified internal applicants will be considered first. Past performance will be considered as part of the selection process. If you are a previous employee of Hamilton Health Sciences, please note: the circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment. Proficiency in both Official Languages, French and English, is considered an asset.