Youth Worker 1-4 (Relief Roster)(Wood Street)

About Us

At the Department of Opportunities and Social Development (OSD), we are a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services including Child and Family Wellbeing (CFW), Employment Support Services (ESS), Income Assistance (IA), Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and Disability Support Program(DSP).

Through our services, we advocate and help vulnerable Nova Scotians be independent, self-reliant, and secure.  We work collaboratively across the province with a strong dedicated network of supports and employees, to achieve desired and shared outcomes for all.

About Our Opportunity

Wood Street Campus is a specialized treatment and care setting for children in the care of the Minister of OSD. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and provide a structured, relationship-based environment where children and youth can build safety, stability, and skills for success in the community.

We are hiring compassionate, grounded, and creative Youth Workers with a genuine interest in supporting children and youth through day-to-day care, treatment programming, recreation, and community connection.

As a Youth Worker, you will be part of an interdisciplinary team that provides assessment, treatment, programming, case management, and stabilization services.  Your work will help create consistent, caring, and safe daily experiences for children and youth with complex needs.

This posting will establish a Relief Roster for Wood Street Campus. The roster will be used to fill multiple relief opportunities over the coming months.

Primary Accountabilities

As a Youth Worker, you will provide direct care and therapeutic support to children and youth in a treatment setting. You will help create safe, structured, and supportive daily routines while responding appropriately to changing needs, including times of distress. Key responsibilities include:

• Building supportive, professional relationships with children and youth grounded in respect and trauma-informed practice.
• Supporting the development and delivery of life skills, recreation, leisure, and therapeutic programming tailored to individual strengths and needs.
• Contributing to individualized treatment plans, case planning, progress documentation, and day-to-day stabilization supports.
• Supporting children and youth in classroom, on campus, and community settings, including appointments, outings, and transitions when required.
• Using prevention, de-escalation, and intervention strategies to respond safely and in a therapeutic manner during periods of heightened stress, conflict, or crisis.
• Working in a collaborative manner with colleagues, families, guardians, service providers, and community partners to support continuity of care for children residing at Wood Street Campus.
• Maintaining accurate, timely, and professional written records and contributing to team communication and case discussions.
• Supporting orientation and transition planning for children, youth, and families receiving services from the team at Wood Street Campus.
  
  

Qualifications and Experience

You have completed a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as Social Work, Child and Youth Care, Psychology, Counselling, Sociology, Criminology, Human Services, Community Studies, Education, Disability Studies, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Notice to Pending Graduates: If you expect to graduate from a related program within the next few months, you are encouraged to apply.

You bring an understanding of child and youth development, trauma-informed care and relationship-based practice, group care dynamics, and short-term stabilization. You will be able to balance, structure, objective documentation and safety with an approach with children and youth that is empathic and supportive. 

You will be most successful in this role if you demonstrate:

• The ability to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and conflict resolution skills.
• Sound judgment and the ability to make timely decisions in dynamic or high-pressure situations.
• Professional boundaries, discretion, and the ability to manage confidential information appropriately.
• Strong written documentation and report-writing skills.
• Comfortable using common workplace technology such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams or similar platforms.

The following experience would be considered an asset:

• Direct work with children, youth, or families in a group care setting, treatment program, group care, child and family wellbeing, education, , outreach, mental health, addiction, disability support, justice, or community-based settings.
• Experience supporting individuals with complex behaviours, developmental trauma, mental health concerns, substance use, or disabilities.
• Experience with case management systems, shift documentation, incident reporting, or related administrative systems.
• Training or experience in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI), suicide intervention, first aid/CPR, and mental health crisis response.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

This is an excellent career opportunity for many. We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise. Directly related experience may include paid or unpaid work in child and youth care, group living, child and family wellbeing, school-based support, community outreach, disability support, mental health, addictions, recreation programming, or other high-support care environments. Other equivalencies include, but are not limited to:

• A completed 2-year diploma in Child and Youth Care, Social Services, Human Services, Community Studies, Addictions and Mental Health, Disability Support or another related field, combined with at least 2 years of directly related experience.
• At least 4 years of directly related experience supporting children and youth with complex needs or in crisis-response settings.

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs.  For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

Wood Street Campus operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Youth Workers are required to work rotating shifts, including days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays, based on operational needs.

This work takes place in a treatment environment that may include secured areas. You will help maintain a safe environment for children, youth, staff, visitors, and the public by contributing to both dynamic and static security practices.

This role can be physically and emotionally demanding and employees are trained and supported to use approved safety and crisis intervention practices.

Success in this role requires resilience, professionalism, self-awareness, and the ability to work effectively in situations involving urgency, change, and emotional complexity.

Additional Information

You must have a valid driver’s license and be able to travel when required.

A relief employee is an employee who is not regularly scheduled by the Employer, but who works relief assignments on an as-needed basis as operational requirements demand. As such, a relief employee does not have guaranteed hours of work. Please note that when competing for vacancies, a successful Temporary, Term or Permanent Relief Employee who is currently employed with the province will maintain their bargaining unit status, seniority and benefit level at the new workplace.

What We Offer

• Meaningful work where you can make a direct and lasting impact on the lives of children and youth.
• An engaged, team-based work environment where collaboration, respect, and safety matters.
• Access to training, tools, and development opportunities that support your growth at every stage of your career.
• Exposure to interdisciplinary practice and a broad range of career paths within the Government of Nova Scotia.
• A workplace that values inclusion, continuous learning, and service to Nova Scotians.