Youth Worker Mock Interview
Practice 30 Youth Worker interview questions covering safeguarding, engagement strategies, and conflict resolution.
Question 18 of 30
How do you respond when you notice signs of drug abuse or other destructive behavior?
What You Need to Know
Entry Level
Experienced
Community Answers
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
Part of your responsibility as a Youth Worker is to pay attention to signs of abusive and destructive behavior. You need to know what to look out for so that you can step in to help the youth in your care in an appropriate manner. When a situation is past the point of prevention, you will also need to know how to respond. Your reply will depend on the level of care that the hiring institution offers, and will also depend on whether the center is a dry facility or rehabilitation center.
When you answer this question, take a thoughtful, proactive approach. Show the interviewer that you come prepared for these types of situations. If you're not quite sure what to do, reflect on your education and volunteer experience.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"In my current role, we are a dry facility, so I follow the guidelines and procedures as policy dictates, but that can still happen with the least amount of confrontation and judgment. It is very typical to see high-risk youth who display this behavior, substance abuse, and is precisely the reason why I do what I do, as best as I can. But to stick around, they have to get clean. When they don't, I hope that they come back next time and do the work required to remain in our program."
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"It is not my place to judge; it is my place, however, to support and be as positive and safe as I possibly can. When they come to our center for help, they have often lost that sense-of-self, or it has been taken away from them by previous trauma, pain, and suffering. Accept them for who they are, including accepting their circumstances and their choices, including chronic drug use or self-abuse. The trick is helping them see their self-worth, which they can see more clearly when they are clean and sober, not self-harming, and have access to emotional support."
Interview Coach
Jaymie
A real coach, not AI. I read every answer myself and write back with personalized feedback.
Typically responds within 24 hours.
0 - Character Count
Anonymous Answer
I will respond calmly and clarify the details of drug abuse and report the matter to the supervisor or manager and give and follow the duty of care.
Rachelle's Feedback
Good! If you have ever encountered a situation like this, be sure to use your real-life example.
"If I ever noticed signs of drug abuse, I would follow my duty of care and report the matter to my supervisor or manager immediately."
Anonymous Answer
I would first explain the situation to my supervisor and follow the relevant procedure. If I had the opportunity to sit and talk with the young person about it, I would emphasize my duty to support them and let them know that they are not alone, that there is hope, and that they are worth more to themselves and everyone else when they are not taking drugs. I would not judge them and still remain close to them so that I can offer help where I can.
Stephanie's Feedback
Great responsive! This comes across as very intentional and non-judgemental.
Anonymous Answer
I would check with a child, will report to the supervisor immediately to prevent future self-harm.
Stephanie's Feedback
In the "Revised Answer" section, I have included slight suggestions for revising your response.
Any time I observe signs of drug abuse or other destructive behavior, I do a safety assessment to make sure that the student is not in immediate danger. I would check in with the young person and also report my concerns immediately to a supervisor to prevent future self-harm.
Anonymous Answer
I try to notice destructive behavior as soon as possible and then try to intervene before it escalates. There are many times where I have watched a group of children play and someone isn't cooperating with another resident and I can see that someone is going to get hurt or a toy may be wreaked leaving both residents mad in the end. I try to remind them to take turns and usually a clock or timer so they know when to switch helps a lot. That is one way I try to respond quickly to situations where I can see it being destructive in the end.
Stephanie's Feedback
This is a great start, but I suggest also including a brief statement about how/when you loop in a manager, once you notice signs of drug abuse or other destructive behavior that indicate a young person may not be safe.
Unlock All 30 Youth Worker Questions
Unlock expert responses for behavioral scenarios and safeguarding questions interviewers prioritize.
Get StartedJump to Question