Transition Coach

Job Description

Job Description

Join our team today! At Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, we are dedicated to empowering Youth, fostering hope, and creating brighter futures. Our mission is to be advocates, educators, coaches, and role models for the Youth we serve. We strongly believe that every young individual deserves a chance to thrive and reach their full potential.

As one of the Top 100 Places to Work in Chicago according to the Chicago Tribune for the past 13 consecutive years, Mercy Home prides itself on prioritizing the growth and well-being of our team. We provide comprehensive training as well as ongoing professional development opportunities throughout your time here. Mercy Home for Boys & Girls is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to Diversity and Inclusion.

If you're passionate, driven, and dedicated to making the world a better place, then we want you on our team. The committed workers at Mercy Home provide healing, guidance, and opportunity to young men and women in need.

How You’ll Make an Impact:

Nothing brings greater life satisfaction than helping others. As a Transition Coach , you will act as an advocate, role model and guide for the young adults who live in our residential programs. You can change the trajectory of their lives!

As one of their primary support figures, you will work with others to assist the young adults at Mercy Home in re-establishing themselves in a secure environment that will empower them to pursue their goals with confidence. If you're compassionate and willing to serve, we invite you to join our team. Together, we can cultivate positive relationships and engage in meaningful activities and interventions.

In this Role, you will:

• Builds a therapeutic relationship with young adults and their caregiving systems.
• Works with young adults to assist them in planning and achieving their goals across all relevant domains.
• Provides individualized services and supports to best meet the needs and goals of the youth.
• Coaches the young adults, teach skills, and guide social problem solving.
• Works with the Program Managers to refer a youth for specialized services as necessary and consult with those professionals.
• Works with the team to provide youth with different levels of coaching (e.g. initial assessment and planning, active coaching, maintenance coaching, and follow-up).
• Participates in supervision with the Program Manager.
• Engages in case reviews (i.e. review efficacy of treatment being provided and consistency with the Mercy Model).
• Participates in team meetings, which will include examination of youth treatment.
• Utilizes effective interactional skills (e.g. solicit youth input throughout interactions; acknowledge youth input through active listening; remain nonjudgmental; use a pleasant and steady voice tone; express enthusiasm when appropriate; attune to youth and utilize good caregiver affect management; express empathy, concern, care and encouragement; offer assistance as needed; set limits and expectations when appropriate; provide praise)
• Is responsible for all quarterly Individual Treatment Plans and the implementation of these plans.
• Communicates promptly and accurately within the program/Agency and with external bodies (i.e. employers, schools, family, supports, legal personnel, housing programs, etc.).
• Provides transportation for youth as necessary.
• Accompanies youth in the community to work on building their skills in all transitional domains.
• Implements structure of the program.
• Restrains youth as necessary.
• Maintain a structured, safe, and supportive environment
• Support daily routines including wake-up, appointments, meals, and programming
• Ensure consistent expectations, boundaries, and accountability
• Monitor and assess youth’s progress adjusting plans as needed to ensure successful transition to program or independence.
• Offer ongoing support and mentorship to foster youth’s personal and professional development.
• Follows guidelines and procedures to ensure accurate and safe distribution and proper documentation of youth medications.
• Employs all aspects of de-escalation and behavior management techniques as outlined in CPI protocol.
• Learns, aligns with, and executes the treatment philosophies, modalities and practices of the Agency.

What we need from you:

• At least 21 years of age.
• At least a Associate's degree in behavioral or social science fields.
• Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) preferred
• Demonstrated experience working with youth who have experienced developmental adversity and/or trauma (at least two years’ experience preferred).
• A valid Illinois driver’s license, ability to drive a van, maintain a clear driving record, and retain driving approval through the Department of Children and Family Services.
• Regular and predictable attendance.
• Ability to have a flexible work schedule. Ability to adjust schedule to meet program and youth needs.
• Ability to work both independently and as an active member of an interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Is open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Desire to work with and enjoyment being around young adults.
• Has a sense of shared, appropriate humor.
• Possesses good relationship and coaching skills.
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor (e.g. respect for others, responsive to feedback, open to other points of views, willingness to learn new skills, does not personalize) while exercising judgment and discretion in work.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and professional journals.
• Ability to write reports and correspondence.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as the ability to become proficient in other software packages and programs.
• Ability to attend required Agency trainings and maintain necessary training compliance. Flexibility to attend daytime trainings or sessions outside of regularly scheduled hours.
• Promote, support and role model the use of Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) theory and practice for all co-workers in de-escalating situations.
• Actively engage in learning and integrating developmentally appropriate, attachment-informed, and trauma-responsive theory and practice consistent with the Mercy Model of Care and ARC Framework.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and goals of the Agency.

Basics Information / Schedule Details

This job is a full-time position (40 hours per week). The schedule will be 2nd shift.

Pay range is between $24-$25/hour

Locations: West Loop (boys) campus- 1140 W. Jackson Blvd Chicago, IL 60607

For information on benefits please follow this link- -mercy-home-2/benefits/

Why You Will Love Working Here:

At Mercy Home, our commitment to providing the best care for the Youth we serve extends to ensuring our team receives top-of-the-line training and professional development.

We are a Top Workplace as awarded by the Chicago Tribune.

Mercy Home for Boys & Girls is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to Inclusion and Diversity

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