Atlas House - Youth Care Specialist

Positions Summary:

The Youth Care Specialist position is responsible for providing ongoing supervision and care for male adolescents. This position assists in the treatment and supervision of youth in the custody of the Department of Human Services through the provision of individual and group skills training, recording daily observations, targeting treatment goals, and by maintaining a structured living environment in accordance with program expectations. The position is responsible for assisting in the day-to-day operation of a residential facility. The position provides quality youth care and close, intensive supervision of male adolescent clients.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor degree in social work, juvenile justice, psychology, sociology, or related OR equivalent education, experience and/or training which is defined, at a minimum, as one year work experience AND two years education, training, or additional work experience. [Note: No less than 50 percent of Direct Care Staff shall have a Bachelor's Degree or 2 years' experience working with youth]

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Genuine concern for young people and the ability to treat all people with dignity and respect, and openness to learning and implementing a Positive Youth Development approach to youth work.
• Ability to work effectively within: culturally diverse populations; team dependent models; crisis management; strength-based theoretical orientation; adolescent development; and family reunification.
• A commitment to on-going training and a willingness to receive and act upon feedback.
• Ability to accurately read, record, and interpret information and complete written documentation that meets contract and program guidelines.
• Ability to provide visual and auditory supervision of program and youth.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a broad variety of people, including youth, families, staff, supervisors, and community partners.
• Ability to stay calm and emotionally available in an environment serving young people who require a high level of supervision and redirection from staff.
• Ability to exercise independent discretion and judgment within program guidelines.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-dependent environment and to act on the agenda of the program.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries working with youth and in handling confidential information.
• Ability to climb and descend at least two flights of stairs.
• Ability to escort and supervise clients in the community which may require standing and walking up to an hour at one time.
• Ability to stay awake and alert throughout entire assigned shift and to perform routine dorm checks and facility walk-throughs.
• Ability to effectively monitor safety and demonstrate group management skills and effectively de-escalate potentially chaotic or volatile situations.
• Ability to regularly attend scheduled shift, be punctual for scheduled shift and meetings, and be in a condition suitable for assuming responsibilities of position.
• Manual dexterity allowing performance of routine office tasks such as writing, phone use, filing, copying, and use of computer keyboard.
• Manual/physical capability to bend, stoop, kneel, and reach, as well as occasionally lifting up to 20lbs (including overhead) in order to perform functions such as accepting donations or unpacking groceries.
• Ability to perform and/or supervise routine household tasks such as cleaning, cooking, washing and folding laundry, emptying trash, sweeping/mopping, etc.

Other Requirements:

• Driving is required. All employees who drive for work purposes must have and maintain a valid driver's license for state of residency, have a driving record that permits coverage under the corporate auto liability policy, and complete the agency's driving approval process before driving for work. If driving a personal vehicle for work purposes drivers must also have personal auto liability coverage ($100,000/$300,000 levels strongly recommended). Employees are not to drive for work purposes until they have received written authorization to do so.
• Bloodborne Pathogens training is required on first day of employment and annually thereafter.
• Must complete Mandatory Abuse Training within the first 30 days of employment and annually thereafter.
• Provides emergency first-aid, as needed, and must have and maintain standard first-aid/CPR certification.
• Must pass criminal history background check.
• Food Handler's Certification required within two weeks of hire.
• Must obtain National Provider Identification Number through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System within 5 days of hire.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establish an environment conducive to treatment by providing intensive supervision and safety for clients during client sleep and awake times.

• Stays awake and alert from beginning to end of shift.

• Provide sight and sound supervision of clients throughout your shift, checking individual clients every 15 minutes unless special circumstances require more frequent monitoring.

• Supervises and assists clients in completing bedtime and morning routines in accordance with daily schedule, program policies and supervision expectations.

• Performs periodic security checks of the interior part of the facility.

• Assures that facility is locked after hours, the security alarm is armed and outside security lights are turned on.

• Performs recordkeeping responsibilities in a timely manner.

• Completes daily progress notes and incident reports by the end of each shift.

• Quality assures client's daily progress notes for completion and missing documentation and signatures.

• Reports missing progress notes and progress note errors to Program Supervisors each week.

• Tracks and inputs clients BRS service units into computer and provides weekly Tally reports to the Program Director or his/her designee for review.

• Files clients progress notes on a weekly basis and other filing as assigned.

• Assures the security and order of progress notes in the file cabinet.

• Maintains ongoing inventory of paper goods and cleaning supplies and provides documentation to the Program Director or his/her designee each month.

• Teaches, monitors, and encourages clients' personal hygiene and grooming.

• Teaches chores and supervises their completion modeling cooperation and involvement in accordance with sanitation and program guidelines.

• Conducts morning checks of clients' rooms ensuring that they meet program expectations.

• Assures that all bedroom windows and doors are locked prior to escorting clients to breakfast.

• Performs minor household, administrative, and maintenance tasks.

• Monitors cleaning supplies to insure proper storage, use and availability

• Prepares and refills all cleaning solutions insuring correct chemical dilution and informational labeling.

• Completes meal preparation for breakfast and for other meals as required. Prepares and serves meals to clients in accordance with USDA standards and regulations.

• Cleans night staff area at the end of each shift.

• Assists in the coordination of services provided by the skills training team.

• May assist in assuring that each client receives the required amount of billable services daily and weekly.

• May conducts individual and group skills training on a planned or as-needed basis congruent with the treatment plans and individual skills training objective for each client.

• Assures that client's cultural, medical and educational needs are addressed.

• Maintains current working knowledge of the client's history, issues and treatment plan.

• Provides a nurturing environment and close intensive supervision and therapeutic interventions for clients at the residential treatment facility.

• Manages overnight interactions and crisis situations constructively ensuring the physical security and safety of facility residents.

• Supports and monitors developmental learning sequence, expectations, privileges and restrictions in accordance with program policies and procedures.

• Provides security for and dispenses and documents prescribed medicine according to program medication management policies.

• Provides emergency first aid as needed and maintains current standard first aid certification.

• Conducts periodic fire drills as needed and is proficient with program's emergency procedures.

• Assures that client's daily schedule is followed.

• Models respectful communication with clients.

• Oversees the day-to-day operation of the residential treatment facility and performs house management as assigned by the Program Supervisor or Program Director.

• Assures the physical condition of the facility and completes maintenance requests and damage reports to ensure compliance with Program, Agency, DHS licensing, Public Health, state, and local Fire Marshall standards.

• Assures that security of facility and is responsible for program issued keys.

• Provides group work for residents.

• Facilitates house meetings to plan activities, discuss house issues, review accomplishments, and resolve conflicts in a manner which enhances development of a positive peer culture.

• Facilitates group skills training sessions assisting individual clients in skill development in specific target areas of comprehensive treatment plan.

• Maintains current client records in a timely manner in accordance with program procedures and funding contract standards.

• Writes progress notes in accordance with OAR standards for all individual and group skills training.

• Writes periodic incident reports as needed.

• Completes daily staff communication and individual client logs at the end of each shift.

• Participates in program meetings and activities.

• Attends all in-house trainings.

• Participates in monthly staff meetings.

• Models and encourages direct, respectful and professional communication among staff members and facilities development of a positive staff support network.

• Participates in the daily shift exchange debriefing at the beginning and end of each shift.

• Models cultural sensitivity and encourages diversity among staff members and clients, facilitating a respectful living environment.

• Makes cultural presentation as assigned by Supervisor.

• Actively seeks out and participates in diversity training.

• Meets with the Supervisor and participates in supervision.

• Performs other program-related duties as assigned by the Supervisor, Program Director, or Executive Director.

Working Conditions:

• May involve exposure to communicable diseases, including a variety of illnesses and infections such as the common cold, TB, Hepatitis, flu, meningitis, and HIV.
• May involve exposure to upset, angry, severely traumatized or emotionally disturbed children, adolescents, adults, and families.
• May involve time in excess of routine schedule and/or overtime, including evening/overnight, weekend hours, and/or holidays.
• May involve exposure to information that graphically describes physical, sexual and emotion abuse of children and may experience vicarious trauma.
• May require working and providing services at locations other than program site (i.e., schools, café', clinics, etc.,) and may, therefore, be exposed to environments not under agency control (i.e., second-hand smoke, varying hygiene practices, etc.).