Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Youth Worker

In this blog post, we will explore the role of a Youth Worker, a dedicated and compassionate individual who plays a vital role in supporting, guiding, and empowering young people. Youth Workers are professionals who work with adolescents and young adults, providing them with a safe and supportive environment to explore their interests, tackle challenges, and develop essential life skills. They often work in schools, community centers, youth organizations, and other social service settings to create a positive impact on the lives of young individuals.

Get market insights and compare skills for other jobs here.

Main Responsibilities of a Youth Worker

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Youth Worker:

Abide by

Abide by mandatory reporting procedures.

Adhere to

Adhere to all program and agency policies and procedures.
Adhere to the YMCA Child Protection Policies and Procedures.

Adjust

Adjust style as appropriate to the needs of the situation.

Administer

Administer medication to individuals in accordance with established policies and procedures.

Advocate

Advocate and ensure basic needs of participant are being met.
Advocate for and with the clients to encourage them to maintain their rights and dignity.
Advocate for youth and assist them to self-advocate.

Assess

Assess the impact of programs and make improvements as needed.

Assist in

Assist clients / guests with special needs.
Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment programs.
Assist in the compilation and data entry of the participants' profiles and attendance.
Assist the CYW(s) in completing case reports, daily logs and other related documentation.
Assist the TDSB teachers during education periods in section 23 classroom.
Assist the youth in dealing with acute physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms.
Assist with the provision of recreational, cultural, social and / or educational activities.
Assist youth in exploring their educational and career options.
Assist youth with accessing external community supports and accompany them if needed.

Assume

Assume the responsibility for other tasks as assigned.

Attend

Attend all training as directed by your manager.
Attend and participate in team and general staff meetings.
Attend conferences and promotes awareness of division.
Attend internal / external meetings as required and provide summaries to Manager.
Attend monthly staff meetings.
Attend team / division staff meetings and training opportunities as required.
Attend to cleaning and meal preparation.
Attend training opportunities as required.

Be

Be a positive role model and demonstrate healthy behaviors.

Build

Build collaborative relationships with youth.
Build collaborative relationships with youth and support youth to achieve their treatment goals.

Carry out

Carry out any other duties or tasks as assigned from time to time by the manager.

Celebrate

Celebrate diversity and promote cultural understanding among young individuals.

Change

Change behavioral style or method of approach when necessary to achieve a goal.

Clean

Clean, search, and remake resident rooms at discharge.

Collaborate with

Collaborate with community agencies, other organizations, and government personnel.
Collaborate with schools, community organizations, and other stakeholders to provide comprehensive support to young people.

Complete

Complete accurate records of room checks, daily logs.
Complete all documentation and write case notes.
Complete all relevant documentation following standard procedure.
Complete daily logs, incident reports, medication charts and other legal documents.
Complete documentation and reports as required.

Compose

Compose and complete court and violation reports, community collateral, and curfew checks.

Conduct

Conduct / complete risk assessments, and develop and implement case management plans.
Conduct follow-up assessments.
Conduct individual and group counselling sessions.
Conduct workshops on various topics like life skills, career development, and mental health.

Connect

Connect young individuals with necessary resources and support services.

Contribute to

Contribute occasionally to handling client phone calls / inquiries on site.
Contribute to and work toward achieving goals mutually established through the supervisory process.
Contribute towards program evaluation and improvement measures.

Coordinate

Coordinate with kitchen staff and team mates to provide daily means for youth.
Coordinate youth meetings and activities, including recreation and life skills.

Create

Create activity programs for children and youth.
Create opportunities for group to connect and build sense of belonging.
Create rapport and trusting, non-judgmental relationships with youth in Haven.

Deliver

Deliver a mandatory life skills component to every Youth-in-care who is coming of age.

Develop

Develop and deliver activities and therapeutic programs.
Develop and implement therapeutic life skills programs designed for the youth.
Develop and maintain accurate and updated client files / records.
Develop and organize engaging and educational programs and activities for youth.
Develop, co-ordinate and implement the delivery of specific services within the community.
Develop, coordinate and implement the delivery of specific services within the community.
Develop Personal and Professional Competencies.
Develop strong and trusting relationships with young individuals.
Develop Supervision of Youth in the Supportive Housing Program.

Direct

Direct leadership in assigned programs.

Educate

Educate youth about physical and mental health issues.

Empower

Empower youth to set and achieve personal goals.

Encourage

Encourage proper hygiene / morning routines.
Encourage youth to engage in healthy lifestyle alternatives.
Encourage youth to make informed and responsible decisions.

Ensure

Ensure accurate and timely entry of case notes into ETO (Efforts to Outcome system) daily.
Ensure adherence to and role model ACCESS' mission statement and core values.
Ensure all forms of documentation are accurate and complete.
Ensure client's health care and safety are maintained.
Ensure maintenance and cleanliness of unit and property.
Ensure necessary documentation is current and accurate.
Ensure residence is maintained to YESS and Provincial standards of cleanliness.
Ensure Safety of Youth, Staff and Agency Facilities.
Ensure that administrative duties are completed within required timeframes.
Ensure that all youth feel welcome and included, regardless of their background or abilities.
Ensure that each client is receiving basic daily care.
Ensure that the children are never left unattended / unsupervised.

Establish

Establish and maintain safe environments for young individuals to express themselves freely.
Establish, review and maintain action plans with participants.

Facilitate

Facilitate therapeutic family meetings.

Follow

Follow procedure and maintain case records.

Identify

Identify the needs and interests of young people within the community.

Implement

Implement and follow through with Case Management Plans.
Implement behaviour management programs.
Implement life skills workshops.
Implement strategies to prevent risky behaviors and promote positive decision-making.
Implement substance abuse treatment programs and behavior management programs.

Initiate

Initiate, develop and maintain relationships with at risk youth 16 - 24 years of age.

Input

Input client data and case notes into NewOrg and iCARE databases.

Involve

Involve families in the support and development of young individuals.

Keep up-to-date with

Keep up-to-date with youth-related trends, challenges, and best practices.

Lead

Lead group discussions and activities to foster teamwork and social skills.

Liaise with

Liaise with families, professionals and the community.
Liaise with guardians, program partners and other professionals.
Liaise with other social services agencies and health care providers involved with clients.
Liaise with parents and caregivers regarding progress and challenges of participants.

Maintain

Maintain accurate logs, record keeping, and data entry related to youth files and statistics.
Maintain accurate logs, record keeping, including goals, service plans, and discharge summaries.
Maintain a consistent family / home environment for the youth.
Maintain a creative and sensitive approach in meeting the needs of the residents.
Maintain a safe, secure, and clean environment.
Maintain a safe, secure environment.
Maintain clinical recordings in accordance with agency policy and procedures.
Maintain complete and confidential case records for each client.
Maintain facility upkeep including cleaning, laundry, inventory and restocking of supplies.
Maintain positive, professional working relationships with colleagues.
Maintain positive working relationships with other service providers in the community at large.
Maintain program statistics for purposes of evaluation and research.
Maintain records as required.
Maintain required documentation in accordance with accreditation standards.
Maintain statistical records for accountability, funding application and development purposes.
Maintain the cleanliness and safety of the program areas - both staff and youth.
Maintain the cleanliness and safety of the program areas – both staff and youth.
Maintain the day-to-day operation of the program under the direction of the coordinator.
Maintain the Youth database [ARMS database].
Maintain up-to-date group records and individual youth case notes.

Manage

Manage active caseload of child and youth files.
Manage youth case files, including all relevant reporting and documentation.

Mediate

Mediate conflicts between young people when necessary.

Monitor

Monitor petty cash float and maintain accurate financial records.

Offer

Offer counseling and emotional support to youth facing difficulties in their lives.

Organize

Organize life skills programs for groups of children and youth in the community.

Outline

Outline services provided by the program and / or organization.

Participate in

Participate / contribute to case coordination and multi-disciplinary service dialogue.
Participate in agency committees.
Participate in CHV committees as assigned.
Participate in core agency and additional ongoing training opportunities as directed and approved.
Participate in fundraising activities as required.
Participate in mandatory staff training, team meetings, and staff meetings as required.
Participate in ongoing training and supervision / support session on a regular basis.
Participate in quality assurance, evaluation and research activities, as required.
Participate in staff training as required.
Participate in the day-to-day operation of the facility.
Participate in training opportunities and "shadow shifts”.
Participate on a multi-disciplinary team, assessing and treating youth and their families.

Perform

Perform administrative tasks, as assigned.
Perform daily meal preparation and housekeeping duties as outlined in daily shift tasks.
Perform duties of a Primary Worker for assigned clients.
Perform home / community assessments.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Perform other related tasks as assigned by Program Manager or Program Director.

Plan

Plan and conduct fire drills on a regular basis, both at day time and night hours.
Plan weekly activities for youth.

Practice

Practice agency mission, vision, values and guiding principles.

Prepare

Prepare and submit accurate and timely statistical and progress reports as required.
Prepare and submit monthly progress reports on workshops and activities.

Promote

Promote a Commitment and Dedication to the Work of YESS.
Promote the Agency in a positive manner to the outside community.

Provide

Provide activities that encourage respect for the values, customs and traditions of diverse cultures.
Provide a professional level of service to donors.
Provide clearance under the Criminal Reference Check program for Vulnerable Persons.
Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and appropriate referrals to community services.
Provide crisis intervention to clients and support other staff as required.
Provide direct, quality care and supervision to youth in a residential setting.
Provide guidance and mentorship to young individuals, helping them navigate through personal and academic challenges.
Provide guidance on educational pathways and opportunities.
Provide guidance, support and supervision to residents.
Provide individual and group attention to children.
Provide medication management according to Boys and Girls Club of Greater Victoria policy.
Provide mentoring services and assistance with counseling support to members as required.
Provide monthly updates including attendance figures and program outcomes.
Provide supervision and support for the youth that is normalizing, individualized and respectful.
Provide support during times of crisis or emergency.
Provide support to agency wide fundraising initiatives.
Provide support to residents in developing independent living skills.

Raise

Raise awareness about issues affecting young people and advocate for positive change.

Receive

Receive new case assignments based on area of specialty (life skills).

Recognize

Recognize the strengths and talents of young individuals and encourage their development.

Recruit

Recruit and train volunteers in supporting the planning and implementation of programs.

Report

Report any violations of the Act s / he / they become aware of to a supervisor.

Resolve

Resolve conflicts among young people and promote healthy relationships.

Screen

Screen, recruit and train volunteers and support staff.

Set

Set routines and limits- maintains a safe and predictable environment.

Share and review with supervisor on a regular basis.
Share trends of service needs with the Program Manager and compile reports.

Show up

Show up on time to class, physically and mentally prepared (includes commuting time).

Stand up

Stand up for the rights and needs of young people, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

Support

Support and assist co-workers through the sharing of program activities and daily responsibilities.
Support children and youth at risk.
Support individualized life skills programs with client's involvement.
Support recovery plans, Teaches and models life skills and strategies necessary for self-care.
Support the local community.
Support the youth in following their individualized short term goals.
Support volunteers and program placement students.
Support youth to achieve goals as defined on their individual goal plans.
Support youth with daily routines in a structured environment.

Teach

Teach basic life, coping, and social skills.
Teach life skills such as budgeting, grocery shopping, cooking & problem solving.
Teach practical life skills, such as budgeting and time management.

Track

Track the progress of youth participants and evaluate the effectiveness of programs.

Train

Train and supervise program volunteers in collaboration with the Program Manager.

Travel

Travel between offices, work place sites, networking events and scheduled program activities.

Understand

Understand Career Life 10 with emphasis on My Blueprint and find work placements.
Understand emergency protocols, reporting of accidents and evacuation procedures for the center.

Utilize

Utilize appropriate crisis management strategies as needed.

Work

Work effectively independently and as a member of the team.
Work from a harm reduction approach, a relationship based practice and a strength based philosophy.
Work schedule affecting lifestyle.
Work with youth to enable them to grow as individuals to contribute to as members of the community.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Youth Worker:

Crisis Management: Ability to handle and de-escalate crisis situations effectively.
Program Development: Designing and implementing engaging and relevant programs for youth.
Assessment and Evaluation: Skill in assessing the needs of young individuals and evaluating program effectiveness.
Data Management: Keeping track of participant data and program outcomes.
Counseling Techniques: Knowledge of counseling techniques to provide effective support.
Youth Development Models: Familiarity with various youth development theories and models.
Event Planning: Organizing events and activities for young individuals.
Digital Literacy: Proficiency in using technology for communication and program management.
Budgeting and Grant Writing: Ability to manage budgets and write grant proposals for funding opportunities.
Conflict Resolution Strategies: Skill in resolving conflicts among young people.
Case Management: Managing and coordinating support services for individual youth.
Educational Support: Providing academic support and tutoring.
Community Resources: Knowledge of community resources and services available to youth.
Advocacy Skills: Ability to advocate for the needs and rights of young individuals.
Mental Health First Aid: Training in recognizing and addressing mental health concerns.
Group Facilitation Techniques: Leading and managing group discussions effectively.
Cultural Competency: Understanding and respecting cultural differences.
Collaboration: Working collaboratively with other professionals and organizations.
Knowledge of Legalities: Understanding legal and ethical considerations when working with youth.
Youth Engagement Strategies: Techniques to engage and involve young people in program planning and decision-making.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Youth Worker:

Empathy: The ability to understand and relate to the feelings of young individuals.
Active Listening: Listening attentively and without judgment to youth concerns.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to connect with youth effectively.
Patience: Being patient and understanding with young people as they face challenges.
Flexibility: Adapting to the changing needs of youth and program requirements.
Creativity: Coming up with innovative and engaging approaches to work with young individuals.
Problem-Solving: Finding practical solutions to address youth's needs and challenges.
Resilience: Bouncing back from setbacks and staying motivated to support young individuals.
Cultural Sensitivity: Being sensitive to cultural differences and respecting diverse backgrounds.
Leadership: Inspiring and guiding young people to reach their full potential.

Conclusion

As a Youth Worker, possessing a combination of these hard and soft skills will enable you to make a significant difference in the lives of the youth you serve, empowering them to become confident and capable members of society.