Youth Care Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Youth Care Specialist

STARTING WAGES: $24.00/hour

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or equivalent (copy required upon initial hire date)
• Valid New York State Driver’s License (copy required upon initial hire date)
• Yearly Physical (required within one month after the initial hire date)
• Ability to work with a diverse population presenting a variety of cultural, socioeconomic, developmental, and sexual identities. Must have the ability and willingness to establish and foster healthy and supportive relationships that acknowledge individual identities and encourage personal growth.

PREFERRED:

• BS or AAS Degree in a Related Field
• Previous Child Care Experience

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Must successfully complete all required background checks:

§ NYS Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR)

§ Multi-State Sex Offender Registry (SOR)

§ NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) fingerprinting

§ NYS Justice Center Staff Exclusion List (SEL)

§ NYS OMIG Medicaid Exclusion List

§ Out-of-state child abuse register inquiry of any state in which the person resided within the last five years (if applicable)

§ NYS License Event Notification Service (LENS)

§ Office of Inspector General (OIG)

1. Must successfully complete Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI)

HOURS:

A-Shift Sunday 9:00 am – 12:30 am

Monday 2:30 pm – 12:30 am

Tuesday 2:30 pm – 12:30 am

Wednesday 1 pm – 2:30 pm (Mandatory Staff Mtg) 2:30 pm – 7:30 pm

* All staff receive an early night when staffing allows

B-Shift Wednesday 1 pm – 2:30 pm (Mandatory Staff Mtg) 7:30 pm – 12:30 am

Thursday 2:30 pm – 12:30 am

Friday 2:30 pm – 11:30 pm

Saturday 9:00 am – 12:30 am

* All staff receive an early night when staffing allows

POSITION LEVEL:

• Responsible to the Cottage Manager

POSITION OBJECTIVES:

1. To help create and maintain a healthful, safe, and therapeutic environment for the children in the cottage(s)
2. To help implement each child's individual treatment goals.
3. To provide positive role models for children in the care of the Agency.
4. To ensure that the basic psychological needs of the children for nurturance, structure, and counseling are met.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB:

1. Supervision of the cottage environment as it pertains to knowing the whereabouts of each youngster at all times is an essential job responsibility of the Youth Care Specialist. Report missing children immediately to the Administrator on Duty or Cottage Manager.
2. Provide support to children in crises through the use of therapeutic crisis intervention techniques.
3. Provide input to treatment team meetings for the planning of each child's treatment goal(s) and techniques.
4. Help implement individual treatment plans with each child.
5. Act as a positive role model for the children by engaging in activities productively and in support of accepted societal norms and values.
6. Instruct, guide, and assist children in the following areas:
   a. Organization and care of clothing and personal belongings
   b. Selection and coordination of dress
   c. Personal health, grooming, and hygiene
   d. Personal habits and conduct
   e. Social conduct and interaction in the cottage and the William George community
   f. Constructive use of leisure time
   g. Maintenance of clean and neat rooms and shared cottage facilities
   h. Money management
   I. Eating and sleeping habits
   j. Study habits
7. Help children develop trusting relationships by actively engaging in activities with them and by expression of caring through role modeling, life space interviews, and constructive discipline. Be where children are (during waking hours); walk with them to and from Ewald Dining Center for meals, and other program activities, (e.g., school) to provide ego support.
8. Help children abide by the established cottage rules and the Agency policies and procedures
9. Supervise and help children in the performance of house jobs.
10. Inventory and mark clothing and personal belongings of children.
11. Collect and store clothing and belongings of children who are absent without leave (AWOL).
12. Supervise children's manners and behavior during meals at Ewald Dining Center.
13. Be informed about the health needs of the children, and monitor self-administration of medications according to the State Education Department and the Office of Children and Family Services.
14. Store medications in the locked areas and cabinets provided in each cottage.
15. Refer children to the Health Services Department for all medical problems and examination and treatment by the nurses and physician
16. Participate in, and supervise children at campus recreational activities.
17. Evaluate children's performance on the daily level system evaluation sheets according to the guidelines and individual goals, and review them with the children to encourage progress.
18. Prepare written incident reports on critical incidents and forward them to the Cottage Manager.
19. Participate in the Unit/Cottage meeting, providing pertinent observations to the Cottage Manager.
20. Transport children to off-campus appointments and for travel home as assigned.
21. Responsible for adhering to and performing all duties in accordance with every safety standard, practice, and policy of The William George Agency. This includes but is not limited to, a review of The William George Agency’s Safety Policy and attending all required safety-related training.
22. Perform other duties assigned.
23. To adhere to all rules, regulations, policies, and philosophy of The William George Agency and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

About The William George Agency for Children’s Services

The William George Agency for Children’s Services is located on a 650-acre campus nine miles northeast of Ithaca, in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. It is a private not-for-profit residential treatment center licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) that serves both male and female youth between the ages of 12 and 21, and their families, who present with significant mental health issues, behavioral difficulties, and substance abuse issues. Our programs offer an array of treatment modalities specifically designed to meet the needs of our youth.

The William George Agency for Children’s Services is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunities without regard to an individual’s age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

The intent of this job description is to provide, in broad terms, the general functions and responsibilities of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific job duties and responsibilities for any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Outstanding Benefits Package

Working at The William George Agency for Children’s Services comes with benefits that exceed salary alone. There are personal rewards including comprehensive health and retirement plan options. We also offer generous paid time off in an effort to support your work-life balance.