Residential Child and Youth Coordinator Job Overview

Empathway Services is seeking a dedicated, compassionate, and experienced Residential Child & Youth Coordinator to provide leadership and support within our residential programs serving children and youth in care.

The Coordinator is responsible for supporting the day-to-day operation of the residential program, providing direction and guidance to staff, coordinating staffing and program activities, supporting youth with complex needs and behaviours, and ensuring that services are delivered in accordance with Empathway's policies, program standards, care plans, and regulatory requirements.

The successful candidate must demonstrate strong leadership, critical-thinking, communication, organization, and crisis-management skills. They must be able to remain calm and professional in challenging situations while maintaining a secure, structured, respectful, and inclusive environment for youth.

The Coordinator works collaboratively with the Program Manager, residential staff, families, MCFD, schools, community agencies, healthcare professionals, and other service providers to ensure that each youth receives consistent, individualized, and appropriate support.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Leadership, Teamwork & Professional Standards

- Provide leadership, work direction, coaching, and guidance to residential program staff.
- Foster a positive, respectful, collaborative, and professional team environment.
- Promote a consistent team approach to supporting youth and implementing individualized care plans.
- Provide orientation, training, instruction, and ongoing guidance to program staff.
- Clarify program policies, procedures, responsibilities, and expectations to staff.
- Assign and review staff duties and monitor that responsibilities are completed appropriately.
- Provide input to staff performance evaluations and identify areas requiring additional coaching or support.
- Encourage accountability, professionalism, communication, and teamwork among staff.
- Facilitate and participate in staff meetings, program planning meetings, training, and in-service sessions as required.
- Supervise, instruct, and monitor practicum students and/or volunteers when applicable.
- Act as a positive professional role model for both staff and youth.

2. Youth-Centred & Trauma-Informed Support

- Provide direct support and mentorship to children and youth in a residential setting.
- Promote a safe, structured, inclusive, and supportive environment.
- Support youth with complex needs, trauma histories, disabilities, and challenging or high-risk behaviours.
- Use appropriate de-escalation, behavioural intervention, and conflict-resolution strategies.
- Support youth in developing life skills, independence, communication, social skills, and positive relationships.
- Participate in educational, recreational, community, and other activities as required.
- Provide transportation and community support when required and authorized.
- Act as an appropriate role model and demonstrate respectful, professional, and culturally responsive interactions.
- Ensure that youth are involved in decision-making to the greatest extent possible based on their abilities, interests, and needs.

3. Crisis & Emergency Management

- Anticipate, recognize, respond to, and manage crisis and emergency situations.
- Assess situations accurately and identify potential risks to youth, staff, and others.




- Develop and implement appropriate strategies in response to challenging or escalating situations.
- Provide appropriate direction to staff during crisis situations.
- Follow organizational emergency procedures and safety protocols.
- Ensure the Program Manager is notified promptly of significant incidents, emergencies, safety concerns, or changes affecting the program.
- Maintain knowledge of emergency procedures, including fire, accidents, serious illness or injury, power failure, evacuation, and other emergencies.
- Ensure emergency procedures are posted and that required drills are completed.
- Support staff and youth in maintaining current knowledge of applicable emergency and safety procedures.

4. Health, Safety & Medication

- Ensure health and safety standards are maintained within the residential program.
- Monitor the health and well-being of youth and respond appropriately to illness or injury.
- Communicate health concerns to the Program Manager, care providers, and other appropriate professionals.
- Administer and document medications in accordance with Empathway policies, program guidelines, and applicable requirements.
- Ensure prescribed medications are administered and recorded appropriately.
- Complete and maintain required health, safety, incident, and medication documentation.
- Identify potential hazards and take appropriate action to reduce risk.

5. Program Planning & Individualized Support

- Coordinate and participate in assessments, goal setting, Individual Support Plans (ISPs), care planning, and program planning.
- Assist with the development, implementation, and ongoing review of individualized intervention strategies.
- Contribute to behavioural assessments and individualized behavioural intervention plans.
- Monitor youth progress and provide recommendations for changes to the Program Manager and appropriate professionals.
- Ensure programs and interventions are implemented consistently by staff.
- Assist with case management by identifying potential concerns, addressing problems, and reporting significant issues.
- Participate in intake procedures, family meetings, individual interviews, and other planning processes as required.
- Work collaboratively with professionals involved in the youth's care, including MCFD social workers, school district personnel, healthcare providers, behavioural consultants, and community agencies.

6. Documentation & Reporting

- Ensure all required program and youth records are complete, accurate, objective, and up to date.
- Maintain required daily records, progress notes, incident reports, communication logs, statistics, and other program documentation.
- Review staff documentation and follow up when information is incomplete, inaccurate, or requires clarification.
- Ensure care plans and other required records are updated as changes occur.
- Maintain accurate participant records, including assessments, intake information, case recordings, educational plans, behavioural plans, and other relevant documentation.
- Provide written and verbal reports regarding youth progress, concerns, incidents, and significant changes.




- Keep the Program Manager informed of matters affecting the program or the delivery of services.
- Maintain confidentiality and ensure sensitive information is handled appropriately.

7. Staffing, Scheduling & Program Operations

- Plan, assign, and schedule staff hours within the program.
- Ensure adequate staffing coverage based on program needs and youth requirements.
- Coordinate shift coverage and respond to staffing changes when necessary.
- Organize and delegate responsibilities to staff to ensure services are delivered according to established plans.
- Monitor day-to-day program operations and identify operational concerns.
- Provide recommendations to the Program Manager regarding program development, procedures, staffing, and service delivery.
- Oversee or participate in program operations in the absence of another Coordinator or as directed by the Program Manager.
- Assist with ensuring payroll and timesheet information is accurate and submitted within required timelines.
- Provide required information to the Finance/Payroll Department.
- Work within established program financial guidelines and assist the Program Manager with monitoring program resources and expenditures.

8. Families, Community & Professional Relationships

- Establish and maintain respectful and professional relationships with families, care providers, staff, community agencies, and professionals involved in supporting the youth.
- Provide appropriate support and feedback to youth and their families.
- Communicate effectively with MCFD, schools, healthcare professionals, behavioural consultants, community agencies, and other service providers.
- Participate in an integrated and collaborative case-management approach.
- Understand the community-service framework and the role of various agencies involved in supporting children and youth.
- Promote positive relationships between the residential program and the broader community.
- Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality in all interactions.

9. Quality Assurance & Regulatory Compliance

- Understand and work within Empathway Services' policies, procedures, program standards, and expectations.
- Assist the Program Manager in ensuring program standards are maintained.
- Support compliance with requirements established by applicable regulatory and licensing bodies.
- Assist with maintaining CARF standards and quality-assurance requirements.
- Identify areas where program practices may require improvement and bring concerns or recommendations forward to the Program Manager.
- Participate in audits, reviews, inspections, and quality-improvement activities as required.
- Ensure required safety procedures, documentation, training, and program practices are maintained.

10. Philosophy & Organizational Values

- Develop and maintain a professional philosophy that aligns with Empathway Services' mission, values, and approach to supporting children and youth.
- Promote dignity, respect, inclusion, safety, collaboration, and transparency in daily practice.
- Demonstrate a commitment to a youth-centred and relationship-based approach.
- Maintain high professional standards and demonstrate ethical decision-making.
- Support a team approach in which staff work collaboratively toward the safety, well-being, and development of each youth.

Pay: From $33.77 per hour

Expected hours: 30.0 per week

Benefits:

- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program

Work Location: In person

📌 Residential Child and Youth Coordinator (Chilliwack)
🏢 Empathway Services
📍 Chilliwack