DSS Child Care Staff

Job Description

Job Description

Would you like to work for a non-profit where your contributions make a major impact on the lives of the children and families that we serve?

Join a family of experienced mental health professionals and counselors dedicated to providing kids, and each other, the kindness, respect, and encouragement they need to succeed. If you would like to work for an organization where the decisions YOU make can impact youth and families of Central Virginia, then Elk Hill Farm, Inc. is the place for you!

Elk Hill was honored as a 2026 Richmond Times-Dispatch Top Workplace. These awards are based solely on employee feedback and recognize the great culture that exists at every level of the organization.

If you want to work for a Richmond Times-Dispatch Top Workplace organization where your decisions can impact youth and families of Central Virginia, then Elk Hill Farm, Inc. is the place for you!

We are an organization that:

• Is honored as a 2026 Richmond Times-Dispatch Top Workplace
• Is a Top Workplace Meaningfulness Award recipient
• Has talented, hardworking employees
• Advocates for mental health issues
• Offers competitive benefits, pay, and pet insurance for full-time staff
• Provides a generous time-off and holiday package
• Offers a 401(k) plan with a 5% employer match for full-time staff
• Provides tuition assistance
• Elk Hill is celebrating 50+ years of supporting youth and families across the Commonwealth of Virginia! Stability. Adaptability. Longevity.

Primary Function: To participate as a team member in the creation and maintenance of a safe, caring environment in which residents can effect a positive change in values, attitudes and behavior through a community-based group home model. Child care worker shall have responsibility and guidance and supervision for children to whom he or she is assigned including overseeing the child or children’s physical care, development of acceptable habits and attitudes, management of resident behavior, and helping to meet the goals and objectives of any required service plan.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain a high standard of childcare during coverage, including appropriate documentation of each shift. This also includes overseeing the physical care of the facility’s youth, their development of acceptable habits and attitudes, providing behavior support and intervention, and helping youth meet their goals and objectives as outlined on their service plan.
• Provide a positive role model at all times
• Build positive, caring relationships with youth
• Model high personal and professional standards in interactions with residents, families, agency workers, and fellow staff members
• Assist in training new personnel
• Assist in evaluating a youth’s pre-placement visits
• Organize and facilitate group activities
• Facilitate medical visits
• Assist in constructing and implementing individual service plans for students
• Participate in staff development training
• Assist in organizing, scheduling, and leading a wide range of group activities and community service projects
• Perform other duties as requested by the facility’s Residential Program Director

Core Competencies and Experience

• Must demonstrate sensitivity to Elk Hill’s service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics
• Prior residential experience preferred
• Successful experience in working with youth in a group home or other residential setting preferred
• Knowledge of professional boundaries and an ability to role model appropriate behaviors to youth.
• Ability to provide sound documentation during routine shift coverage
• Strong relationship skills with the youth being served as well as with professional colleagues
• Knowledge and understanding of cultural diversity and the impact of various socioeconomic characteristics on our youth
• Ability to work effectively with others and be flexible in work hours
• Must have up-to-date certification in the facility’s Behavior Management Program and have the ability to apply such skills as needed and required in the day-to-day interactions with youth
• The ability to support constructive family contact and involvement in community activities as appropriate
• Ability to engage, support, and work effectively with others, including but not limited to the treatment team and other internal and external stakeholders
• The temperament to work with, and care for, children and families with special needs
• Must have up-to-date certifications in approved courses for CPR/First Aid
• Must have a valid certificate in an approved medication aide training class
• Maintain valid driver's license and good driving record.
• Good physical health and remain current with annual TB screening and other certifications.
• Sense of humor

Credentials and/or Education:

• Must possess a bachelor’s degree in human services; or,
• An associates degree and three months experience working with children; or
• Be a high school graduate or have a GED and have six months of experience working with children. Child care staff with a high school diploma or GED with NO experience working with children may not work alone, but may be employed as long as they are working directly with the program director, case manager, child care supervisor or a child care worker with one or more years professional experience working with children.
• Must be at least 21 years old
• Must have up-to-date certification in the facility’s Behavior Management Program and have the willingness and ability to apply such skills as needed and/or required in the day-to-day interactions with youth
• Must have up-to-date certifications in approved courses for CPR/First Aid
• Must have a valid certificate in an approved medication aide training class
• Maintain valid driver's license and good driving record, preferred (note- those who do not have a valid driver’s license or an approved driving record will not be allowed to drive on behalf of Elk Hill)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Good physical health and remain current with annual TB screening and other certifications.
• Ability and willingness to physically perform all functions of the facility’s Behavior Management Program
• Ability to traverse inside and outside of the property, or other locations, including uneven terrain or stairs
• Periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Occasionally lift up to 25 pounds, regularly lift up to 15 pounds

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Periodic transportation of a client as needed or required
• Periodic transportation of other staff members as needed or required
• Periodic travel to other locations as needed or required

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is at the forefront of what we do at Elk Hill, and we enforce respectful communication and cooperation between all. Elk Hill does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. It is the policy of Elk Hill to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or candidate with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship for Elk Hill. Contact Human Resources for more information.

Note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities or actions may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. Elk Hill Farm, Inc. reserves the right to change or reassign job duties or combine positions at any time.