Youth Engagement Support Staff O/N (Nancys)

Job Description

Job Description

The Youth Engagement Support Staff (YESS) will possess excellent communication and organizational skills and provide support to young people that is strength-based, trauma-informed and harm reduction focused. The YESS will model our mission of providing absolute respect and unconditional love to all young people and will value working within a multi-disciplinary team to create a safe, inclusive environment for all.

The YESS is responsible for continuous youth engagement, activities, and implementation of youth identified success plan goals. Other functions include crisis intervention and de-escalation, documentation in multiple databases, and facilitation of assigned activities.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Provide unconditional positive regard to young people regardless of their behavior.
• Support Case Management services with the goal of developing positive relationships with young people through the utilization of the case management system, including:
  • Welcome young people to the program, ensure they feel comfortable, safe and understand the program structure, opportunities for engagement, and access to supplies that they might need.
  • Build a supportive relationship with youth that encourages them to find their voice and connects them to opportunities, experiences, and resources that enrich and enhance their lives.
  • Support identified Success Plan goals with each young person.
  • Support the youth’s progress of self-identified goals and coach young people to plan, implement, and follow-through with tasks.
  • Motivate young people to explore and improve wellness, education and employment, financial literacy and social navigation goals and any other areas that will impact their success plan.
  • Monitor youth while taking medication and enter Medication Logs.
  • Engage with youth in daily House Activities. To include assisting in completing chores, dining, joining the gym and other fun activities, bus tickets, and on-going movement throughout the day.
  • Explore and participate with youth in outside activities, which can include trips, walks to parks, visiting college campuses and other experiences that expose and enrich a youth’s time with CHNJ.
  • Provide crisis de-escalation and intervention as necessary according to training and best practices.
  • Document Intake, Orientation and Transitions into ETO, HMIS and case files.
  • Document regular daily progress notes in young people’s case records (HMIS and ETO).
  • Document pertinent information in Youth Incident Report, Medication Logs and House Activity Logs.
  • Facilitate if assigned youth group activities which support the 5 resiliency objectives: Wellness, Social Navigation, Financial Literacy, Education and Employment, on a regular basis.
  • Perform all duties assigned by the supervisor to meet the needs of young people while ensuring adherence to the daily program schedule.
  • Make copies of any forms or documents as assigned.
  • Prepare welcome kits. Sort new donations, organize unit storage closets, replenish youth supplies as requested and/or needed.
  • Do laundry as assigned for youth linens.
  • Clean and prepare vacant residential space to be ready for new intakes.
  • Maintain youth common areas according to cleanliness standards.
  • Count medication nightly and document on medication log, notify supervisor of any inaccuracies.
  • Rotate youth files according to the annual system.
  • Attend supervision with supervisor and meetings as assigned.
  • Attend professional development training as assigned.
  • Read and respond daily to all emails, calendar invites, and any other agency communications.
  • Cover the front desk when required.
  • Cover all areas of the building as assigned.
  • When assigned to transport youth in agency vehicles.
  • Utilizing agency resources for agency use only which include but are not limited to vehicles, computers, telephones.
  • Assists as needed with fundraising affairs and special events which may be conducted outside the employee’s normal work schedule.

Applicant must be available to work the following schedule: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10:00PM -8:00AM

Days off: Thursday, Friday & Saturday

Hourly Rate: $21.77

Experience and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, Sociology, Social Work or related field preferred.
• Preferred experience with young people ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness or human trafficking and or lived experience.
• Knowledge of public benefits and community in NJ.
• Must be a self-starter and team player with the ability to work well with others.
• Knowledge of adolescent development and ability to build positive rapport with young people.
• Excellent communication skills as demonstrated by concise, timely and professional correspondence, both written and verbal.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred but not required.
• Must have a valid NJ driver’s license and good driving record.
• May need to transport clients/staff if required using agency transportation.

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 403B Retirement Plan, Paid Time Off (Sick, Personal, Vacation & Holidays).