Youth Development Professional

Job Description

Job Description

Job Overview of Youth Development Professional

In this position, the Youth Development Professional will function as a member of the Treatment Team and will provide Individual Counseling, Group Therapy, Educational Services and Expressive/Art Therapy to children in the designated unit to which the beneficiary is assigned.

In this position, the beneficiary will counsel, observe and provide behavioral training, outreach support, advocacy and treatment to children and their families to facilitate reunification and/or long-term out of home placement. Additional case management duties include ensuring that the individuals served are supported to lead emotionally and physically healthy lifestyles in preparation for long-term placement. This may include, but is not limited to, exercise and nutrition training, community integration, psycho- educational therapeutic counseling, human rights advocacy, medical advocacy, medication administration, social and life-skills training, as well as educational and life planning. 

Essential Duties of Youth Development Professional

Key duties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Participate on the treatment team to support the development of behavior interventions, collect data, and facilitate youth progress. Implement strategies contained within behavior intervention plans identified through functional behavior assessments;
• Implement Trauma Informed Care treatment model (Skills for Life) and/or Applied Behavior Analysis. These services are designed to meet specific therapeutic needs based on individualized annual plans, goals, and objectives;
• Communicate with youth and family members. Document transactions with internal/external care providers and information relevant to social, educational, psychological, or treatment history. Maintain youth records and monitor youth’s progress to facilitate the adjustment of the rehabilitation or treatment plan as necessary;  
• Provide training, advocacy, needs assessment, and treatment to youths and their families with the goal of reunification and/or the reduction of long-term out of home placement. Manage a schedule for youth to obtain services, such as medical care, therapeutic recreation, living skills, community integration, and career exploration; 
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary clinical team to lead to the development and implementation of individualized comprehensive treatment plans that provide for individual counseling, group therapy, nutrition, medical, recreational, and social programming;
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary educational team to lead to the development and implementation of individualized education plans that provide for individual educational support to include, but not limited to, differentiated instruction, adaptive services such as speech therapy, vocational training, and life skills instruction; 
• Teach lessons on of daily living skills. Ensure that the individuals served are supported in preparation for placement in a less restrictive environment. This may include, but is not limited to medication administration, exercise and nutrition training, community integration, human rights advocacy, social and life-skills training, as well as educational and life planning; 
• Assist students by the instruction, modeling, and practicing of written/verbal processing relating to behavioral choices and responses.  Demonstrate proper verbal and physical intervention techniques per Treatment Model protocol, as well as knowledge of students’ Comprehensive Treatment Plan (CTP) and knowledge of students’ compliance with specific treatment strategies; 
• Maintain a therapeutic and professional relationship with students; provide required supervision of students (i.e., eyesight, earshot).  Report any instance/allegation of student abuse to Supervisor; comply with Mandated Reporter status; report potential safety hazards immediately; demonstrate awareness of environment; react promptly and appropriately, to any situation that should arise. Ensure completion of all documentation required for safe and effective student care, operation, and compliance. 
• Assuring the safety of each resident and for the cottage community 
• Actively supervising the residents at all times, based on their age and level, to assure everyone’s safety.
• Supervising the residents by participating with them in scheduled activities
• Ensure that assigned youth attend appointments including, but not limited to psychiatry, medical, etc.
• Ensure that physical spaces of cottage are clean, neat and organized 
• Ensure that applicable paperwork is completed and submitted in timely fashion
• Enacting the program schedule as written and on time
• Using all aspects of Sanctuary in the care s/he provides
• Using all aspects of trauma sensitive care in the services s/he provides
• Using all techniques of TCI to prevent triggering, to intervene early to prevent escalation to crisis, for safe management of any crisis that does arise, and for assuring safety and learning after any crisis.  This includes becoming skilled in LSIs and conflict resolutions, and conducting them for even minor conflicts, to minimize the occurrence of larger conflicts. 
• Assuring that Safety Plans and ICMPs are in place, available to all staff and actively used to guide treatment.
• Understanding the importance of and takes responsibility for teamwork and good communication
• Planning and enacting smooth transitions from one activity to the next
• Must have flexibility to move to any residential cottage based on program needs 
• Supports overall strategic plan of the organization
• Ability to adhere to our organization’s core values and commitments

Essential Qualifications of  Youth Development Professional

Key qualifications include:  

• CPR/First Aid certification preferred (in-service trainings are mandatory)
• Bachelor’s degree plus one year of experience working with children or adults with developmental or behavioral disabilities
• Computer proficient and navigate Microsoft Office suite
• Multi-lingual a plus  
• A valid driver’s license in good standing for a minimum of 3 years 
• The ability to maintain a driver’s license in good standing according to our policy is required
• Ability to access and utilize ADP app on smartphone or other device for access to agency programs

Benefits of Youth Development Professional of Youth Development Professional

• Generous PTO, 4 weeks of vacation, holidays, personal and sick time
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Benefits
• 401(k) Employer Contributions
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flex Spending Accounts
• Employer Paid STD, LTD and Life Insurance
• Professional Development 

Physical/Travel Requirements 

• lift
• reach
• walk
• climb stairs
• bend
• kneel
• Candidates who are successfully hired must participate in our Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training which concludes with a written and verbal test, and you will be evaluated on conducting a proper physical restraint.

The employee must be able to meet these requirements with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Disclaimer

Nothing in this job description restricts Andrus’ right to modify the duties/responsibilities of this job at any time, with or without advanced notice.

EEO Statement 

Andrus is an equal opportunity employer