Lead Youth Engagement Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Shift Available: Monday-Thursday 3pm-1am

Anchor House Ministries is a Christian child welfare ministry committed to helping youth and young men and women in crisis. AHM strives to provide a safe, secure, and nurturing environment to youth (ages 12-17), who have been referred to us by the State of Florida or private counselors. The young adult program for ages 18 – 24 serves young men and women who have aged out of foster care and need support. Residents end up at Anchor House for many reasons. Some have been orphaned, abandoned, neglected, or abused.  Others are simply struggling to find their way in life.  AHM staff work with residents through the treatment team, educational assessment, individual counseling, life skills training, and by simply meeting their basic human needs of nurture, food, and shelter. The team focuses on the healing of the youth so that they can manage their own emotions and build healthy relationships. The goal is family reunification or adoption, when possible, while other youth are prepared to safely navigate the transition into an adult life of independence and self-sufficiency.

Position Description:

• Oversee and implement quality care of the youth in the program.
• Ensure policies and procedures are followed on your shift.
• Work closely with the program administrator and clinical team to ensure the youth receives quality care and treatment that meets their needs.
• Oversee and complete documentation
• Provide direct care and general supervision within the Mission of the organization.

Status: Non-Exempt, Full-Time

Supervisor: Misty Peardon

Full-Time Benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• 403(b) with gift and matching options
• Vacation, sick, personal, and holiday pay.
• Accident Insurance incentive

Compensation: $19 - $22 hourly

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 2 years of experience working with children, or 2 years of college and 4 years of experience working with children. Preferred degree in a human service-related field.
• 1-2 years of leadership and management experience or a demonstrated ability to utilize leadership skills if moving up internally.
• Support the mission and vision of Anchor House.
• Possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License.
• Required: Have and maintain a clear MVR (motor vehicle record).
• Must be 21 or older for insurance purposes.
• Must pass and maintain a county of residence check, federal background check*, drug screen, civil check, child abuse record check, and sex registry check. (These are subject to change based on Federal and State regulations)
• Should be able to demonstrate intermediate to advanced proficiency in Word processing and spreadsheet functions, preferably Microsoft Word, Excel, and Publisher, as well as general email and attachment functions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide trauma-informed direct supervision for abused, neglected, and emotionally and socially handicapped children placed in the treatment program
• Work with the team to teach youth skills in the areas of problem solving, self-management, social interaction, academics, independent living, self-regulation, and employment.
• Participate in treatment team, school, and other staffing tasks as deemed necessary.
• Manage trauma-induced behaviors and utilize de-escalation skills.
• Participate in escorting or holding violent youth as needed.

• Complete daily documentation on medication, self-care, and the youth’s goals. Ensure all documentation, required records, and reports are accurate and thorough.

• Provide transportation.
• Provide supervision and instruction on community outings.
• Maintain a schedule of activities and a routine with all youth.
• Engage and connect with youth who are placed in the treatment program.
• Maintain an encouraging and healing atmosphere for residents’ social, physical, spiritual, and educational development.
• Assist youth in meeting their treatment program goals based on the treatment team’s recommendations.
• Attend regular training and professional development.

• Plans, organizes, and delegates residential activities and operations as assigned by the Program Director.
• Ensures cleanliness, safety, and maintenance of facilities and equipment.
• Ensures assigned staff complete required training.
• Assigns staff their shift assignments: Nurture group leader, meal prep, Shift communication, and transport arrangements.
• Lead and oversee group therapeutic activities.
• Oversees and coordinates shift debriefing

• Plan, prepare, and serve nutritional and attractive food for residents’ consumption.
• Monitor residents’ physical condition and report any medical needs to the supervisor to assure proper attention and documentation.
• Demonstrate and teach the importance of orderliness, cleanliness, and responsibility for the living environment.
• Encourage interpersonal relationships and honor personal privacy.
• Teach respect for the rights of others and responsibility for oneself.
• Demonstrate a Christian lifestyle.
• Work with team members of all backgrounds and make creating a culture of respect and inclusivity a priority.
• Provide services in a way that is sensitive to diverse cultures and socioeconomic populations.
• Make quality control a part of your daily focus and participate in data review and analysis as needed

Supervisor Duties:

• Delegate and oversee work assignments.
• Ensure service delivery is performed according to the organization's mission, policies, procedures, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Provide regularly scheduled supervision and coaching with positive and critical feedback.
  • Maintain documentation of supervision in a running log that includes date and time, name of employee, and a summary of the key points covered.
• Provide flexible support in the event of a crisis or critical event.
• Identify training needs and encourage further development among their employees.
• Assist personnel in increasing their skills and utilizing their training by helping them set performance goals, modeling the skills, or observing the personnel to provide constructive feedback.
• Utilize incentives, personal goals, initiatives, formal supervision, disciplinary write-ups, or improvement plans to ensure the mission of the organization and policies and procedures are being followed.
• Identify the strengths of each employee and assign tasks or modify job descriptions based on their strengths and capabilities. (Note: Any modifications to the job description must be approved by leadership)
• Monitor, recognize, and respond to work-related stress concerns by monitoring workloads, providing peer support, helping employees manage their time, and offering employee services as applicable.
• Provide additional support to new personnel, personnel who have experienced a traumatic event with the service population, personnel who are working to develop competencies or specific licensure/certification, or those with higher caseloads than normal.
  • More frequent supervision
  • Additional training or shadowing opportunities
  • Crisis response and support

Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills:

• Ability to use a variety of computer programs.
• Able to communicate effectively in both written and verbal form.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Skill in motivating and engaging youth.
• Skill in organizing and relating information in an understandable format.
• Skill in critical thinking and planning.
• Skill in leadership and team building.

Physical Requirements

• Independently perform (with or without accommodations):
  • Possess auditory, olfactory, and visual skills.
  • Exhibit manual dexterity and mobility.
  • Walk and/or stand for extended periods of time.
  • Lift and/or carry up to 25-50 pounds from the floor to waist level or higher at least several times per day, and be able to carry the object for a distance of two meters.
  • Handle, install, position, and move items such as materials, equipment, and supplies.
  • Able to physically intervene should an altercation commence between residents and de-escalation techniques have failed.

Cognitive Abilities

• Independently perform (with or without accommodations):
  • Function in a structured environment within significant time constraints, make rapid decisions in urgent situations, and meet deadlines.
  • Demonstrate good judgment and make appropriate professional and procedural judgment decisions under stressful and/or emergency conditions, emergent demands, and distracting environments.
  • Demonstrate a willingness to assist with and perform a wide variety of procedures common to the residential care setting, including ….
  • Access information from books, reference manuals, computers, and paper and electronic medical documents to perform duties safely and use equipment.
  • Prioritize, organize, and utilize time-management skills to perform tasks.

Training Required

At least 40 hours annually of DCF, COA, or other required training.

Performance Review Period

90 Day Review

Annual Review

Of Special Consideration

Youth Engagement Specialists, whether male or female, may have to intervene in situations where residents may be unclothed, such as bedrooms, restrooms or shower areas.  Though not the norm, employees are expected to intercede and de-escalate in emergencies.

Crisis Prevention Intervention training provides the knowledge and understanding for utilizing safety holds in these emergencies. There is a high potential risk of physical harm to the employee during these circumstances.