Youth Care Worker

The Youth Care Worker (YCW) provides direct care supervision for children placed in a VQ residential setting. This role is responsible for fostering a safe environment that facilitates learning and behavioral management in a supportive manner in accordance with VQ, local, state, and Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) General Residential Operation policies and procedures (26 TAC Chapter 748).   

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Youth Supervision and Engagement:
• • Provide direct supervision of children in care and maintain line of sight at all times.
  • Provide oversight during recreation, mealtime, leisure time, and play.
  • Develops positive rapport with youth while serving as a role model to create a safe and caring environment utilizing a trauma informed approach.
  • Teach, coach, and supervise children in activities of daily living including morning, bedtime, and overnight procedures, hygiene and cleanliness, housekeeping, meals, intramurals, sports, academics, and extracurricular activities both on and off facility.
  • Interact with children including playing games or during recreational time.
  • Conducts orientation and overview of program services and program rules.
  • Provides essential needs to children such as clothing, hygiene products, shower, bedroom assignments, and cooking meals when needed.
  • Assists with the planning and coordination of special educational events, acculturation activities, holiday celebrations, recreational outings, and school drop off/pick-ups.
  • Assist with children's appointments including but not limited to legal, medical and dental.
  • Administer over the counter and prescribed medications.
• Safety:
• • Maintain a safe, clean, and hazard-free facility by maintaining clean common areas, restrooms, kitchen, laundry, and outdoor areas.
  • Responsible for reporting all maintenance and supply needs.
  • Assist in the evacuation of children as needed due to inclement weather conditions, natural disasters, or other unforeseen occurrences.
  • Responsible for the documentation of the child's progress, behavior, and health while in care.
  • Observe, report, and document identified behavior patterns and required information that merit documentation such as progress notes, close observation, nightwatch checklist, bed check logs, outing logs, incident reports, etc.

• Training and Compliance:
• • Assist with providing training to new hires regarding role responsibilities within VisionQuest.
  • Participate in departmental, all staff, mandatory, and needed training opportunities.
  • Follow Occupational Health and Safety protocols.
• Other tasks and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor(s). 

SKILLS & ABILITIES: 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Organized with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Must be able to demonstrate ability to be culturally sensitive and understanding of all children served. 
• Ability to handle and maintain confidential information. 
• Must be able to assist with emergency situations. 
• Demonstrate and maintain emotional intelligence for effective self-care and as a role-model for the Youth Care Worker team.
• Ability to follow established policies and procedures.
• Ability to collaborate with peers, colleagues, and others to achieve mission goals and objectives.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE: 

• High school diploma or equivalent degree.  
• 1 year employment experience in the child welfare field working with children and/or adolescents in a social service setting.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Flexible schedule (evening, weekends, holidays) to facilitate program services.
• Cleared tuberculosis test results.
• May be required to pass a drug test.
• Cleared background checks from appropriate entities, including Child Abuse and Neglect and FBI criminal background.
• Obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) certification.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be eligible to drive to facilitate program services as required.
• Must become a Certified Residential Child and Youth Care Practitioner within 180 days of employment.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• May lift and carry up to 10 pounds frequently, up to 20 pounds occasionally, up to 50 pounds infrequently.
• Performs tasks that may involve standing or walking 50% of the day; sitting 50%of the day.
• May bend, stoop, reach and grasp as necessary.
• Must be able to provide First Aid and CPR.
• Must be able to perform physical holds as instructed in Crisis Prevention Intervention training (CPI).