We Never Give Up!

Our powerful mantra is made even more compelling by the fact that sometimes it is very hard to commit to. This is because the children, young people and families who come to our many doors are in trouble and sometimes that trouble is very serious. Most of the time the answer is not easy, and sometimes it feels like very little, if any, progress is being made.

Children in trouble are afraid and they lash out in all directions and behave in ways that are confusing and upsetting. Parents or caregivers of these young people are afraid too, and they sometimes show this by being angry and resistant when they do not mean to be. Our work is to offer help and hope. This requires all of us to be non-judgmental, calm in a crisis, knowledgeable, curious and hopeful.

Most importantly, our top priority here is safety – for both our staff and clients. We strive to be Exceptional About Safety.

We also work hard on creating a lively, family-like environment and enjoy engaging in a number of gatherings and celebrations over the year. These include our Never Give Up Galas, our popular Stampede Breakfast, our Indigenous gatherings, the annual Pride parades (Calgary and Lethbridge) our annual Service Recognition and holiday season get-togethers. Our Social Club is in charge of some of the fun – and they do a bang-up job!

Definitely!

The Woods’s Homes Academy is a 2-week onboarding program, with a mix of theory and practice, along with opportunities to gain insight and practical skills through the lens of ‘3 Pillars’, Therapeutic Crisis Training and more. You will gain knowledge, skills and understanding of our vision, our mission, and our values – the cornerstones of Wood’s Homes that our Youth and Family Counsellors embody within their role.

Training at the Academy helps prepare you for your role as a frontline worker. You will have opportunities to learn from our experienced trainers who have worked within a variety of programs within Wood’s Homes.

Upon completion of the Wood’s Homes Academy, you will qualify as a Youth and Family Counsellor I or II. Your specific skillset, attributes, and experience will be assessed, and you will be placed within one of our programs accordingly.

Our training is based on the valuable feedback we receive from our staff.

Our mission at Wood’s Homes: We build good mental health and wellbeing so that everyone can thrive in their community!

We firmly believe that everyone deserves good mental health. We work hard to continue being nationally recognized as one of the best mental health treatment organizations in Canada. Our hope is that Wood’s Homes is the first place that people think to call when they have a problem, big or small.

We’ve been gathering evidence about the work we do, since 2001. Our Research Department helps to guide our work through the regular collection of measurable information from programs and services across our agency.

Our innovative ideas are widely sought-after and people continue to refer children and young people to us who are deemed “impossible.” We love a good challenge!

We can only do this with experienced, well-trained and educated professionals like you! People who have a desire to help others and care for them through thick and thin, energy and enthusiasm to burn and who are not overwhelmed by challenges, but rather focused on success.

Shift Work:
Having children in our care is a 24 hour-per-day, 7 day-a-week commitment. You should expect to work shifts, including nights, evenings, weekends and holidays.

Exposure to Trauma, disturbing events:
Children and young people who come to the doors of Wood’s Homes come with past experiences of trauma, abuse, abandonment, neglect, domestic violence, etc. They often come with disabilities that hamper good thinking processes and an inability to regulate their emotions as well. You will experience the pain and upset these clients feel and at times it can be frightening. It is our job to accept it, listen to it, protect it and manage these behaviours and the feelings beneath them with safety first, respect, kindness and forgiveness.

Consider the following points:

Wood’s Homes offers training for all staff in a wide variety of ways to handle disruptive and aggressive behaviours. We also expect that you are coming to this position with some practical and theoretical knowledge and skill that we expect you to use well.

It is also important to understand that your therapeutic role is very important. You will be a treatment specialist in some way not a babysitter or a disciplinarian. As such, you will be called upon every day to use the knowledge and skills you already have and bring to your position to benefit and understand the challenges of all clients who come to the doors of this children’s mental health centre.

This job demands more curiosity, and less control. What our clients do and say are keys to their future mental health and it is our job to encourage the expression of both their experience and their emotions. When a client feels safe with a staff member, often he or she will have to bear the brunt of many an outburst. This is uncomfortable and confusing most of the time. But curiosity is key as well as being able to stand back and realize that your feelings are insignificant it is the unknown for the client that is key.

The majority of our employees are represented by a union CUPE, Local 4731. The pay ranges for these positions are shared at time of interview.

Our group benefit carrier is Sun Life Financial. Wood’s Homes offers a comprehensive benefits package for union employees which includes health and dental coverage, vision care, insurances (life, accidental death and dismemberment and short- and long-term disability), and an Employee & Family Assistance Plan.

Vacation for all union employees begins at 3 weeks per year!

Wood’s Homes has a number of other enhanced benefits for its employees such as a Computer Literacy Program, a Christmas/New Year’s floater day, special leave (as defined in the collective agreement), and a number of in-house training and professional development opportunities.

Wood’s Homes is accredited every three years through Accreditation Canada as well as licensed under Child & Family Services (Region 3) with requirements to ensure that employee professional requirements are current.

As such, the majority of Wood’s Homes employees are professionals, and are required to have completed a recognized post-secondary education. Some positions require that you be registered with your professional association (or have this in process). These requirements can be viewed in each Career Profile.

Wood’s Homes is also recognized as an Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program and is able to offer training, seminars and workshops for credit. In addition to these ACE program opportunities, Wood’s Homes has a number of employees who are certified in-house trainers who provide core training programs such as Suicide Intervention, Medications/Universal Precautions and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training.

• Current Criminal Record Check (no older than 6 month) with the Vulnerable Sector Search [CPIC]
• Child Welfare Information Check (no older than 6 months) [Intervention Check]
• Drivers Abstract (No more than 6 demerits)
• Standard First Aid Level C Current Certification
• Copies of Educational Diplomas/Degrees
• Copies of registration with professional body (i.e. Chartered Psychologist, registered Social Worker, Nursing)
• Copy of all Relevant Training (Suicide Intervention Training, Safe restraints)

Click here to explore career opportunities at Wood’s Homes.