Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC) is dedicated to providing accessible, equitable, and transformational health and social service choices for the well-being of Scarborough's diverse communities. We cultivate vital community services by promoting healthy lifestyles while delivering a comprehensive range of culturally competent health and social services programming. Our I2CARE values ensure that we, as a work community, treat all with, inclusivity, innovation, collaboration, accessibility respect and equity.
As an employer, we strive for excellence as a workplace and are committed to building a workforce that enhances our capacity to meet the needs of the diverse communities we serve.
In partnership with two grassroots organizations, The Forgiveness Project and Impact 'n Communities, this project offers a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with their extensive experience in supporting individuals affected by community violence.
We are currently looking to hire a:
Violence Disruption Worker (TO Wards Peace)
1 - Full time (35 hours/week), Contract (June 2025 – Mar 2026)
Reporting To: Community Wellness & Engagement Manager
Department: Community Support Services
TO Wards Peace Project (TWP) is a risk driven, community-centric interruption model that takes a public health approach to interrupting and intervening in community violence. This model leverages the lived experience of affected communities to develop and implement effective community engagement approaches, innovative communication tools, social media strategies and focused investment geared at violence prevention and interruption. The integrated approach will combine community based, social media and hospital-based violence interventions.
The model features frontline risk intervention services led by Violence Disruption Workers who have lived experience and deep connections with the Scarborough community, which strengthens their capacity to build rapport and constructively intervene with youth most vulnerable to being involved in serious violence and crime. Performing some of the work in an office environment but mainly in community, they will utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills to mitigate safety risks and interrupt conflict within specified geographical areas. By engaging and developing trusting relationships with youth in their cohort, Violence Disruption Workers will support the building of their capacity/skills, setting life goals, connecting them to a relevant and culturally appropriate spectrum of services and shifting their views around community violence.
We are looking for individuals that demonstrate a commitment to making positive changes to themselves, the youth they serve and the community.
Major Responsibilities:
Administrative
- Manage a caseload of ten (10) young people and their families.
- Inform and access a spectrum of culturally appropriate and relevant services.
- Make appropriate referrals to TWP social workers and other appropriate community services.
- Ongoing participation in mandatory training and personal capacity building activities.
- Required participation in therapeutic group sessions and regular one on one sessions to support personal wellbeing.
- Collaboration with the TWP team to inform the development, design and delivery of the project.
- Communicate and be responsive to the Program Lead and other members of the project.
- Documentation of engagements with youth and conflicts resolved.
- Engage with the evaluation team to inform the reporting and evaluation of the project.
- Collaborate with online social media intervention models and hospital-based interventions where appropriate.
- Working within the approved scope of work for the project.
Outreach and Engagement
- Establish strong collaborative partnerships with all stakeholders and community partners.
- Conduct direct community-based engagement and outreach in Scarborough and establish a consistent presence with youth in the local neighborhoods.
- Work collaboratively with intervention team, youth and their families to develop a customized care coordination plan.
- Conduct intake and assessments in collaboration with the Program Lead.
- Provide in-person mentorship, supports and connections to resources for youth who are impacted by gun/gang violence, incarceration, grief/loss, exposure to community violence.
- Identify risk factors and pivotal points of interruption to prevent escalation and reduce the impact of violence.
- Identify and strategically intervene in situations that could result in severe community violence (i.e., retaliation, targeting, etc.).
- Engage in restorative justice practices to de-escalate conflicts and encourage resolutions.
- Building and maintaining healthy and constructive relationships with cohorts, their families and community partners.
- Maintain awareness of historical and newly emerging community tensions, conflicts, alliances, etc.
- Other duties as assigned.
Key Qualifications:
Education and Preferred Knowledge:
- Completion of High School or equivalent.
- Diploma or Degree in social services or a field relevant to youth development, family development, social justice systems, or equivalent combination of education and experience, is considered an asset.
- Lived experiences of incarceration, street culture, and/or community violence through exposure.
- Practical experience providing direct support and/or program delivery to youth vulnerable to involvement in serious violence and crime.
- Experience working with hard-to-reach youth.
- Knowledge and understanding of gun/gang violence, violence interruption and intervention strategies and conflict resolution.
- Understanding of the barriers and challenges faced by racialized communities.
- General knowledge of community and social service resources, in particular services for youth in the Scarborough community.
- Experience and understanding of the historical context and landscape of community and gun violence in the city of Toronto, with an in depth understanding of the community.
- Knowledge and understanding of systems navigation (e.g., education system, justice system, Toronto Housing, incarceration, etc.).
Required Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to work independently or as part of a larger team, while balancing multiple priorities.
- Ability to work a flexible work schedule including days, evenings and weekends.
- Experience and sensitivity working with diverse populations and stakeholders.
- Strong ABR (Anti-black racism) and anti-oppression lens.
- Strong connection to the Scarborough community.
- Ability to manage confidential content and work in a discreet manner.
- Strong and demonstrated ability to form relationships with individuals while maintaining healthy boundaries.
- Strong interpersonal, leadership, partnership development, and networking skills.
- Effective documentation, communication and organizational skills.
- Knowledge of positive youth development principles and strategies.
- Experience in community development an asset.
- Experience with traditional, non-traditional, formal and informal outreach strategies aimed at youth.
Remuneration: $25.60 - $28.91
Band: H
Please note: All other conditions of employment are set out in the collective agreement between SCHC and SEIU.
Please reply in confidence to HR: By email: [email protected]
Note: Please quote TWP-VDW-2 in the subject line.
If you require any accommodation, please advise Human Resources. As a condition of employment all new hires must be legal to work in Canada. You will also be required to undertake a Vulnerable Sector Screening with Police Services. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.
SCHC values equity, inclusion and accessibility. We welcome those who have a demonstrated commitment to upholding these values and who will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, newcomers, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or LGBTQ2S+
SCHC is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for all stakeholders including our clients, employees, job applicants, suppliers and any visitors who may enter our premises, access our information or use our services. We respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and its associated regulations. SCHC will provide accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process. If selected to participate in the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, please inform Human Resources staff of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require.
www.schcontario.ca.
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Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 9 months
Pay: $25.60-$28.91 per hour
Expected hours: 35 per week
Benefits:
- Company events
- Employee assistance program
Education:
- DCS / DEC (preferred)
Experience:
- Practical: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: In person
