Support Worker – Youth Transition Program

Job Description: Support Worker – Youth Transition Program

Location: Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico (on site).

Placement: 40 hours over 5 days as determined by a schedule (full time). The post holder will be required to work weekends and some evenings. Minimum commitment of 12 months, 18 months is preferable.

Reports to: Mision Mexico Foundation Director

Our Mission and Focuses

The Misión México Foundation aims to break cycles of poverty, abuse and inequality; providing opportunities for every child and youth that we care for to succeed. Through long-term solutions like education, practical and emotional care and community development, we provide tools and opportunities for children and youth to advance in every aspect of their lives, becoming the best that they can be. Our core focuses are; education and extracurricular activities; safe homes with a family environment; health and wellbeing support; community development, personal development and life skills.

Role Context

Our Youth Transition Program (YTP) is vital to the care and growth of our youth who live in our Mision Mexico Casa and Youth Transition Houses. As our YTP has expanded to work 1-1 with more of our youth, there is the need for more long-term consistency and assistance in our support team.

Our YTP was established in 2014 to enable older youth within the Misión México Home to begin their transition to semi-independent living, and develop the life skills required to eventually live independently. Our YTP works with youth living in our Mision Mexico Casa, aged 14 – 19 years old, and youth living in our off-site Youth Transition Houses, aged 18 – 21 years old. The Support Worker works closely with other staff members in supporting a complex caseload of youth living in our Misión Mexico Casa, aged 14 – 19 years old.

Duties and Responsibilities

Direct Service Delivery and Pastoral Care

• Coordinate and facilitate weekly focus group sessions and activities for youth living in our Misión México Casa.
• Coordinate and facilitate weekly group cooking and budgeting classes for youth aged 14+ living in our Misión Mexico Casa, including shopping for ingredients at a local supermarket.
• Manage Individual Care Plans and development support for youth aged 14+ living in our Misión Mexico Casa. This includes 1-1 focus work with each youth under the Support Workers caseload.
• Provide supervision for the Youth Transition Houses when the Youth Transition Program Coordinator is on annual leave.
• Work a minimum of one shift per week in the Mison Mexico Casa to help with supervision and activities for the Mision Mexico Casa youth aged 11-18 years.
• Respond appropriately and effectively to day-to-day situations including challenging, trauma-related behaviours.
• Consistently be a positive role model in the Misión Mexico Foundation, whilst maintaining the confidentiality and safety of all our youth.

Administration and Project Management

• Undertake and complete administrative tasks and projects as requested by the Mision Mexico Foundation Director.
• Regularly meet with the YTP support team to discuss program progress and youth development.
• Build and manage local partnerships with organisations and individuals who can assist in workshop delivery and life skill learnings.
• Manage and update Individual Care Plans and case files for youth under the Support Workers caseload, providing monthly updates and quarterly reports to the Mision Mexico Director.

Essential Criteria

• Experience working with youth with backgrounds of trauma and/or disadvantaged backgrounds
• Proven ability to engage positively with youth, whilst maintaining a high level of pastoral care and understanding of boundary setting
• Strong conflict resolution, negotiation and problem solving skills
• Ability to demonstrate patience, consistency, empathy, flexibility, humour, honesty and maturity
• Proven ability to work as part of a team and demonstrate leadership qualities
• Valid ‘Working with Children Check’ and undergo a Criminal Records Check prior to employment. Subsequently, staff must report any criminal charges or court appearances.
• A minimum of both conversational Spanish and conversational English, fluent Spanish is preferable
• Experience in basic cooking skills and nutrition knowledge
• Experience in facilitating activities, sports and group work suitable for youth

Desirable Criteria

• Full driving license, with willingness to drive in Mexico if required

Additional

The Support Worker will live in a private 2-bedroom apartment, with another Mision Mexico Foundation staff member. Apart from secured housing, Mision Mexico Foundation will also offer a monthly local salary, monthly health and wellbeing vouchers, crisis support through a professional therapist, group/staff workshops and training, flexibility, and the opportunity to engage with your own personality.

On engagement of the role there will be a 6-week probationary period at which time the Mision Mexico Foundation Director and successful applicant will review the position and future of the role. Annual leave and working hours will be negotiated with the Mision Mexico Foundation Director. This job description is not exhaustive, and is provided to assist the post holder to know what her/his duties are. It may be amended from time to time, without change to the levels of responsibility and in discussion with the post holder.

This role is for a 1 December start date. To apply for this exciting opportunity please email [email protected] with:

1. A covering letter addressing the selection criteria and your suitability for the role based on the skills, knowledge and abilities requirements outlined in the advertisement and role description (Maximum of 2 pages);

2. A current CV or Resume;

3. Copies of any relevant qualifications