Youth Worker

What We Do

YESS is a not-for-profit agency working with youth facing difficult realities. Based in Edmonton, our Youth Support Centre provides immediate and low-barrier 24/7 sleep support and individualized wrap-around supports for young people aged 15 -24.

We work collaboratively within a network of care, focused on the prevention of youth homelessness by providing youth with the necessary supports to stabilize their housing, improve their wellbeing, build life skills, connect with community, and avoid re-entry into homelessness.

We are committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion, and to cultivating an environment where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. YESS is an equal opportunity employer and always strives to ensure all employment decisions are grounded in equity, fairness, and merit.

What You Will Do

The Youth Worker will support the youth by providing the highest quality of care with a trauma-informed lens and role model socially and professionally acceptable behaviours. Our 16 - bed shelter provides a safe, secure, and immediate place to stay for youth 15 - 21 years of age.

The shelter provides beds for sleeping, basic needs like food, clothing, showers and laundry, school supplies, and packed lunches if youth are attending school or going to work.

Location: 9310-82 Avenue, Edmonton AB

Responsibilities include:

• Building healthy relationships with youth 


• Assisting with intakes and crisis diversion


• Conduct intake tours and explain program and expectations to new clients


• Housekeeping duties


• Managing youth access to services: meals, showers, laundry, donations, etc.


• Working with youth to achieve their goals and transition out of homelessness


• Maintaining documentation records and entering information into a database


• Performing clerical duties to maintain youth support, youth goal setting and team communication.

The ideal candidate will have:

• strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills


• be organized and highly detail-oriented


• proven ability to build good relationships


• ability to work with minimal supervision


• creative problem-solving skills


• ability to deal with ambiguity and be flexible


• proven skills to support through a trauma informed scope


• respectful and appropriate behaviours and be a role model for youth

You will be qualified to provide a safe, clean, and secure environment for youth. You have a harm reduction mind set and can provide suicidal ideation intervention and safety planning. You also know how to build community support connections.

What You Bring

• Valid First Aid Certificate completed within the last twelve months.


• Minimum of two to five years’ relevant training or background in the social sector.


• Knowledge of the values, beliefs, and practices of Aboriginal and other cultural and diverse groups.


• Suicide intervention, harm reduction, and crisis intervention training is considered an asset.


• Clear police clearance (PIC) and a Child Intervention (CIRC) check, both obtained within the last six months

YESS is an equal opportunity employer, committed to an inclusive and safe work environment for people of all backgrounds.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.