Youth Care Specialist I

If you answered "Yes" to the questions above, then YOU are exactly the person we have been looking for to join our growing team The mission of the Children's Attention Home is to provide nurturing care and life-changing services for youth and families in need. Every person on our 60+ member team has an important role that leaves a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.

As a provider of residential services to children who have experienced situations of abuse, neglect, or homelessness, we must take the utmost care when reviewing candidates. Hiring policies are taken directly from the state and federal standards under which we operate. All candidates must agree to a SC Central Registry Check, SLED check, and fingerprinting.

Position Summary and Purpose:

Youth Care Specialists (YCS) are responsible for providing a safe, healthy, nurturing environment for the residents of the Children's Attention Home. YCSs are responsible for guiding and supervising all daily living activities of the residents, while maintaining a positive, supportive, and secure home atmosphere.

Primary Job Functions:

• Supervises, provides care and assists with daily living activities of all residents of ages.
• Assist residents 14 and older with Independent Living skills.
• Assist residents with treatment goals and provide progress to Care Coordinator/ Social Worker.
• Maintains a daily behavior modification program for each resident.
• Provides ongoing guidance and support for each resident.
• Accompanies residents on appointments, activities or outings.
• Create, engage, and participate in therapeutic activities with the resident.
• Work with the resident on utilizing coping skills.
• Provides transportation as necessary.
• Participates in educational, recreational and cultural activities for residents.
• Supervises residents and provides assistance during study or homework time as necessary.
• Completes documentation of residential services provided, including forms, logs and reports, confidential and complete files for each resident.
• Completes required bed checks every 15 minutes, when residents are sleeping or napping.
• Utilize de-escalation techniques to prevent potential crisis situations
• Performs domestic tasks, including but not limited to: housekeeping, cleaning, laundry services, and preparing and serving nourishing meals.
• Administers over-the-counter medication and first aid as needed.
• Ensures a safe environment in accordance with agency, local, state and federal standards and guidelines.
• Attends a minimum of one residential staffing and/or cottage meetings a month.
• Attends and participates in a required number of meetings, trainings, education hours, and teammate

Secondary Job Functions:

• Intervenes, responds to, assesses and reports on critical incidents and emergencies. This may include assisting with de-escalation (Non-Violent Crisis Intervention.)
• Follows established reporting procedure for minor accidents, injuries, and/or behavioral issues.
• Form mutually respectful and trustful working relationships with peers. Models appropriate team building skills and behavior.
• Works with teammates to ensure required staff to resident ratios.
• Serves as a role model for the residents.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Competencies:

• Communicate well with fellow employees and comfortable working as part of a team.
• Ability to lead and instruct individuals and teams.
• Creative problem-solver.
• Must have excellent communication skills and the ability to utilize those skills on a daily basis to connect with internal clients, external clients, and employees in a timely manner.
• Ability to independently manage workload, set priorities, meet deadlines, work under pressure and adjust to change.
• Demonstrate integrity, strong character and a strong commitment to the mission and values of the organization when working with employees.
• Self-motivated and able to operate with little supervision while working under pressure with tight timeframes and deadlines.
• Demonstrate maturity in decision-making and initiative all while being a team player and collaborator.
• Work well under pressure with tight timeframes and deadlines.
• Strong project management skills.
• Excellent management of multiple tasks.
• Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
• Present self in a professional manner and have ability to interact with all levels of organization and outside contacts.
• Analysis skills ability to review a problem and recommend appropriate solutions based on knowledge of job and company procedures.
• Interpersonal skills listen to others, work well in a team environment.
• Ability to present ideas clearly and concisely.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Adaptability adapt to change in the work environment, manages competing demands and ability to handle frequent changes.
• Dependability consistently at work on time, follow instructions, respond to manager's instructions.
• Strong computer skills including some Microsoft Office software programs and industry specific computer software.
• Ability to work extended hours including nights, weekends, holidays.

Education and Training:

A high school diploma or its equivalent is required. Preference will be given to those with more extensive educational qualifications and/or additional work experience in a related area.

License:

A valid driver's license is required and must be maintained throughout employment.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

Must be physically able to operate a variety of office equipment including a computer, telephone, etc. Constant: standing, walking. Frequent: repetitive use of hand, bending neck and waist, squatting, climbing, kneeling, twisting neck and waist, simple and power grasping of left and right hand, fine manipulation of left and right hand, reaching above shoulder level, reaching below shoulder level. Lifting objects up to 75 pounds from below the waist to a height of 3 feet. Restraining, with assistance, minors up to 18 years of age, weighing 150 pounds or more for up to 30 minutes. Occasionally running up to 75 feet over uneven ground.

Disclaimer and Acknowledgement:

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.