Life Skills Specialist

Life Skill Specialist - Job Description

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 enviroment to youth (ages 12-17) and young adults (ages 18-24), who have been referrred to us by the state of Florida or private counselors.The Independent Living 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. Other s are simply struggling to find their way in life. AHM staff works with residents through the treatment team, educational assessment, individual counseling, life skills training, and by simply meeting the basic human needs for 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 adult life of independence and self-sufficiency.

Position Description

• Implement quality care for the young adults in the program
• Follow policies and procedures
• Work closely with your supervisor to ensure the participants recieve quality care abd treatment that meets their needs
• Complete documentation in a timely and accurate manner
• Provide general supervision and coaching within the mission of AHM

Status: Non-exempt, Part-time

Supervisor: Transition Program Manager

Compensation: $250.00 weekly plus free housing and utilities

Benefits

Time off: Life Skills Specialist are allowed 3 consecutive days of paid time off at a time per month. On the 4th day of consecutive leave the time off will be deducted from the LSS's pay Using the rate of $35.71 a day. Holidays celebrated by the organization can be taken as paid time off. See the personnel manual for a list of holidays. All time off requests must be approved by the program administrator.

Hours (an estimated breakdown of weekly hours)

• Upkeep of the property - 3 hours
• Building relationships & assisting with life skills - 6 hours
• Reporting, documentation, and checking/responding to emails - 4 hours
• Trainings, staff meetings, and misc. - 2 hours

This is just an estimation of one's weekly duties broken up into hours, actual hours and duties may vary.

Minimum Qualifications

• Some college required
• One-year experience with at-risk youth or adults
• Support the mission and vision of AHM
• Possess and maintain a valid Florida driver's license
• Must have and maintain a clear MVR (motor vehicle record)
• Must be 21 or older for insurance purposes
• Must passs and Maintian a county of residence check, federal background check, drug screening, civil check, child abuse record check, and a 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 function; preferably Microsoft Word, Excel, and Publisher, as well as general email and attachement functions

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Living on-site at the transition home. Sleeping at the home every night is not required. Please notify the Program Manager if you will be away for more than 1 night.
• Overseeing the care of the homeThis includes reporting any maintenance needs and ensuring general needs. Needs such as, but not limited to: sweeping, mopping, and taking out the trash.
• Monthly facility and bedroom checks documented and maintenance needs submitted.
• Assisting residents with life skills such as job searches, grocery shopping, cooking, resumé building, enrolling in college, etc.
• Establishing general house rules with the residents.
• Reporting any concerns or violations of the house rules and/or the program's policies and procedures to the Program Manager (and any other appropriate contacts).
• Meeting regularly with the Program Manager.
• Helping to complete the admission and orientation process for new clients.
• Completing an intial assessment and first service plan with each new resident.
• Completing monthly service plans updates.
• Complete 40 hours of annual training and professional development.
• Work with team members of all backgrounds, helping to create a culture of respect and inclusivity.
• Provide services in a way that is sensitive to diverse cultures and socioeconomic populations.
• Make quality control a part of you daily focus and participate in data review and analysis as needed.

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 organizing and relating information in an understandable format.
• Skill in critical thinking and planning.

Physical Requirements

• You should be able to independently perform (with or without accommodations) the following tasks:
  • Exhibit manuel dexterity and mobility.
  • Possess auditory, olfactory, and visual skills.
  • The ability to walk and/or stand for extended periods of time.
  • The ability to lift and/or carry up to 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 suppplies.
  • Be able to physically intervene should an altercation commence between residents and de-escalation techniques have failed.

Required Cognitive Abilities

• You should be able to independently perform (with or without accommodations) the following:
  • Function in a structred enviroment within significant time constraints, make rapid decisions in urgent situations, and meet deadlines.
  • Demonstrate good judgement and make appropriate professional and procedural decisions under stressful and/or emergency conditions, emergent demands, and distracting enviroments.
  • Demonstrate a willingness to assist with and perform a wide variety of procedures common to the residential care setting; including but not limited to:
    • Accessing information from books, reference manuels, computers, papers, and electronic documents to perform duties and to safely use equipment.
  • Prioritize, organize, and utilize time-management skill to perform tasks.

Training Required

• At least 40 hours of annual DCF, COS, or other required trainings.

Performance Review Period

• Inital 90 day review
• Annual review

Special Considerations

Providers, whether male or female, may have to intervene in situations where residents may be unclothed such as in bedrooms, restrooms, or shower areas. Though not the norm, employees are expected to intercede and to de-escalate in emergency situations. Crisis Pervention Intervention (CPI) trainings will provide the knowledge and understanding necessary for utilizing hands on safety holds in these emerency situations (when necessary). There is a high potential risk of physical harm to the employee during these circumstances.

Notice

• Under Title VII, religious organizations are permitted to give employment preference to members of their own religion. The exception applies only to those institutions whose "purpose and character are primarily religious."
• Anchor House Ministries retains the right to change this job description to meet the needs of our organization.