Direct Care Worker

Direct Care WorkerThe Administration for Children's Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services and provides subsidized childcare vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement, and programs for youth in the community. The ACS Nicholas Scoppetta Children's Center (NSCC) provides children with a temporary living environment that is non-judgmental, supportive, caring, and structured, and strives to heal past and ongoing trauma. We believe that every child deserves safety, happiness, health, and love in our care, no matter how long or short their stay. Children in our care are prepared to transition to placement or achieve permanency after their stay at the Children's Center. In caring for our kids, we prioritize the values of acceptance, compassion, respect, equality, growth, education, development, promoting self-esteem, tolerance, and the preservation of self-identity.NSCC is comprised of Pre-Placement Services, the Office of Placement Administration, Social Work, Case Planning Unit, and Program Development and Staff Wellness. The Office of Pre-Placement Services within NSCC is responsible for providing a safe and nurturing environment for children and youth between the ages of 0-21 years of age. The Office of Pre-placement services is a 24 hour a day, 7-day program that is dedicated to ensuring the social, emotional, medical, educational, and mental health needs of children and youth are being met. The Congregate Care Specialist is responsible for overseeing children and youth placed in the Children's Center, city congregate care facilities and related functional areas of ACS and for providing administrative support. The Congregate Care Specialist responsibilities will include but are not limited to:Oversee the care, development and guidance of dependent, neglected, traumatized, and emotionally disturbed children at the Children's Center.Create a welcoming, trauma-informed environment for all children entering and exiting the Children's Center.Conduct individual and group orientation for youth to support NSCC program expectations and transition to placement.Closely supervise youths at congregate care facilities, non-secure detention facilities, and during sponsored visits and activities.Chaperone and/or transport youth to and from appointments, school, activities, court appearances, and other community-based activities.Participate and assist in planning group and individual activities.Monitor and supervise children in assigned areas.Assist children with personal hygiene, when necessary.Intervene in crisis situations by assessing imminent danger and attempt appropriate de-escalation intervention when necessary.Conduct frequent room inspection and personal searches in order to maintain a contraband free and safe environment.Utilize approved physical restraint techniques to ensure safety of residents and staff, when necessary.Observe changes in behavior and reports aberrations.Answer phones and provide requested information or directs inquiries to appropriate staff.Complete required log entries, tracking sheets, incident reports, and other relevant documentation which supports the monitoring of youth admission/exiting, and youth being released from the Children's center.Assist children and youth with educational and recreational activities.Shop for clothing, supplies, and materials as necessary.Special Note: Candidates may be required to work various shifts including holidays, weekends, and overnights.Minimum Qualifications:A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and two years of satisfactory full-time experience working with children or youths in a congregate residential institution or non-secure detention facility; orAn associate degree or 60 semester credits from an accredited college, including 12 semester credits in psychology, sociology, social work, human services, criminal justice, education, nursing or cultural anthropology; orA satisfactory combination of education and experience that is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. College education may be substituted for the required experience in "1" above on the basis that 30 semester credits, including 12 semester credits in psychology, sociology, social work, human services, criminal justice, education, nursing, or cultural anthropology from an accredited college or university, is equated to one year of experience. However, all candidates must have at least a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent.This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.