Location: 147 Besserer St, Ottawa

Reports to: Coordinator, Downtown Services and Drop-In

Employment Status: Full time Permanent

Bargaining Unit Status: Included (Youth Worker)

Annual Salary: $64,646.60 - $77,604.80

Language requirements: English is essential; French is essential

Bonafide Occupational Requirements (BFOR): N/A

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, some evenings and weekends may be required

Reference Number: 26-103

Closing Date: October 30th, 2026

Posting Stage: Internal and External

Job Summary:

Founded in 1960, the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB) is one of the largest and most comprehensive non-profit agencies in Ottawa and a registered charity. It provides mental health services, employment programs, emergency shelter, community, health and housing services, and justice programs to youth in the Ottawa area, serving between 2,500 and 3,000 at‑risk individuals aged 12+ and their families every month. YSB employs 400 caring professionals in a unionized environment in over 22 locations across Ottawa.

Under the general direction of the Director of Community Services and the immediate supervision of the Coordinator of Downtown Services and Drop-in, the Diversion Case Manager will complete a strength-based assessment of a clients housing needs when seeking emergency shelter. They will identify and support the client in accessing safe alternative accommodations by engaging with the client’s family, friends and other natural supports. Additionally, for clients without diversion options they will provide support in navigating and accessing shelter services and other appropriate community resources.

Please note that this program will continue to develop over time; potentially necessitating changes to the work in order to maximize efficacy.

Principal Duties:

- Act as the first point of contact for youth seeking to access emergency shelter, receiving referrals from various internal and external community partners.
- Engage with the young person in the completion of the Diversion Assessment tool(s) to identify safe and stable alternative shelter options.
- Identify, engage and strengthen family, chosen family and other natural support networks as a primary diversion strategy, utilizing mediation, conflict resolution, family engagement and collaborative problem-solving approaches where safe and appropriate.
- Partner with the client to create, document and facilitate individualized case plans to support the stability of their alternative shelter options.
- Support clients in identifying, accessing and strengthening their circle of non-professional supports (e.g. family members, extended family, chosen family, friends, Elders, mentors and other supportive adults) through resource mapping, mediation, family engagement, conflict resolution.
- Support young people in accessing services within and beyond YSB, providing referrals when necessary.
- Provide ongoing mobile case management through active follow-up, accompaniment, home visits and community-based meetings with youth, family members, natural supports, landlords and service providers.
- Provide up to date knowledge on community resources and assist in navigating and accessing client directed social supports (e.g. social assistance, social housing, counselling etc.)
- Collaborate regularly with youth,



family members, chosen supports and professional service providers to coordinate services, strengthen natural support networks and promote housing stability. Support systems include internal or external professionals, family members or other natural supports.
- Manage the distribution of emergency funding to young people to prevent housing loss, or secure safe housing options.
- When diversion is not an option, provide supports in navigating and accessing shelter services and other appropriate community resources.
- Ensure both electronic and physical client files are maintained according to YSB policies and procedures.
- Complete all required training, with opportunities to opt-in to additional training offered by the program to support continuous skills development.
- Contribute to program and service development and evaluation.
- Attend and participate in supervision and staff meetings.
- May be required to supervise students and volunteers as required.
- Act in accordance with applicable legislation. YSB’s policies and procedures as well as the collective bargaining agreement.
- Follows safe work practices as established by YSB and the program.

Job Specifications/Qualifications: (The qualifications are appended to the and are not intended to be part of the )

- Diploma or degree in social sciences, social work or relevant field
- Three years direct experience working with youth and providing case management
- Strong knowledge of case management practices, community resources (relevant to youth homelessness and family members), time management and communication skills
- Proven experience with client profile (youth 16-24; unstably housed and varying degrees of acuity); including understanding of intersectionality of Homelessness and LGBTQ2S+ identity.
- Demonstrated experience engaging family members, caregivers, chosen family and other natural supports in service planning and youth-focused interventions.
- Demonstrated skills in mediation, conflict resolution, family engagement and strengths-based intervention.
- Demonstrated ability to outreach to youth in formal and informal settings
- Demonstrated ability to work with flex funds and manage established budget process
- Demonstrated ability to engage with family members, chosen supports, landlords and housing providers.
- Demonstrated ability to work within and outside of team environments
- Demonstrated knowledge of housing and social service supports for youth in the community
- Solid assessment and problem-solving skills
- While the position is based out the YSB Drop-in it is expected that outreach to other locations and organizations will occur with frequency
- Knowledge of Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing, and the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization on Indigenous peoples
- Speaking Inuktitut is an asset
- Access to a vehicle will be considered an asset

Additional Qualifications:





- Successful applicants will be required to provide a clear Vulnerable Sector Check obtained within the past six (6) months, as a condition of employment with YSB.
- To confirm language proficiency required for this position, successful candidates may be requested to undergo an oral and written assessment conducted by a third-party provider, arranged by YSB. Candidates must meet the minimum required linguistic profile before their employment start date.

What we offer:

- An opportunity to join a vibrant team and be part of truly meaningful and rewarding work;
- 15 days of annual vacation + 2 personal days;
- 100% YSB-paid group health benefits for eligible employees;
- A team where you get to be yourself everyday and where you have the freedom to innovate;
- Holiday pay, as determined by YSB polices and the Collective Agreement in place

Additional compensation:

- This position may qualify for overtime at 1.5 rate after 40 hours worked per week, as determined by YSB polices and the Collective Agreement in place;

Please be advised that the number of overtime hours is not guaranteed, varies by position and is determined based on each program’s operational needs, YSB policies and Collective Agreement in place.

Disclaimer:

This indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbents may be asked to perform other duties as required.

Join us!

If you think this vacancy is a good fit, we would love to hear from you. Please visit the career section of our website to submit your resume and one-page cover letter. Don’t just tell us what we want to hear, tell us your story and why you would make a great addition to our team.

We know applying to a job takes time and thank all candidates for their interest. While we are not able to get back to every candidate, we will ensure shortlisted applicants are aware of their status and will do our best to provide feedback if that can be helpful. Please be advised that although ADP has embedded AI functions YSB does not use this AI function to make hiring decisions.

All recruitment decisions including the screening of applications are made by our hiring team, who review each application with care and consideration. We value the individuality and potential of each applicant and strive to create an inclusive hiring experience. If you have any questions about our recruitment practices, we encourage you to reach out to our Talent Acquisition Coordinator.

At YSB, we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community. We encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ community and/or people with intersectional identities. Accommodation will be made available for applicants with a disability throughout the hiring process, kindly make your needs known in advance.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply. In the event a qualified candidate is not found, candidates that do not meet the qualifications indicated on the posting may be considered. Qualified candidates may be contacted at any time throughout the application window, upon the closing date.

📌 Bilingual Diversion Case Manager, Downtown Services and Drop-in (Ottawa)
🏢 Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa
📍 Ottawa