Child / Youth Care Worker

Transitional Center Inc; East St. Louis (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization focused on rehabilitation is seeking a Youth Care Worker to supervise adolescents in a residential treatment facility. The successful candidate will engage with youth in therapeutic activities, de-escalate crises, and ensure compliance with policies and procedures. Candidates must be at least 21 years old, possess a high school diploma or GED, and demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively in a structured environment.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and insurance.
• Ability to work with a variety of persons including parents and other agencies.

Responsibilities

• Supervise youth assigned on wing.
• Participate in crisis de-escalation and restraint as needed.
• Document all interactions with youth accurately.

Skills

Ability to work cooperatively

Crisis de-escalation

Documenting youth interactions

Maintaining calm demeanor

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Responsible for supervising youth assigned to on wing.

Experience

Previous experience working with difficult adolescents

Requirements :

Youth Care Worker (YCW) Position Requirements :

Child / Youth Care Worker shall work under the supervision of Team Lead and Unit Coordinator and shall have the following qualifications :

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Must hold a high school diploma or GED certificate
• Must be in good physical and mental health
• Must have the ability to work cooperatively with other staff and a variety of persons external to the program, including representatives of other institutions and agencies and parents of the children.
• Must understand all TCI’s policies and procedures
• Must have a valid driver’s license and valid / current auto insurance policy
• Must be able to pass the TCI de-escalation and restraint training assessment

Annual Evaluations : Employee job description was written to be followed in its entirety meaning that each area is equally as important as the other and that each area will be evaluated as such. Once employee signs job description, the employee will not receive any other notifications, warnings or reminders to follow job description. Evaluations for TCI staff will take place annually. Any employee with 3 or more unsatisfactory areas will be terminated, transferred to another position or placed on a professional development plan.

Performance Areas

Performance areas are the evaluation components that will be utilized to measure the employee’s success. Employee performance evaluations are a time when management can meet individually with employees to discuss past behaviors, actions, and improvements, and to discuss employment performance goals to set for the future. By indicating and outlining expectations of the employee's job, there is less confusion about what is required of the employee's position. One of the most important issues to address in employee evaluations is the areas in which the employee can make improvements to perform their duties more efficiently. This can be done through the setting of personal goals and designated paths set to achieve them. TCI uses 4 measures for measuring each performance area : E=Excellent, S=Satisfactory, N=Needs Improvement and U=Unsatisfactory. If an employee receives an E=Excellent in any area, this means that the employee has no room for improvement in this area. U=Unsatisfactory means that the employee is consistently not performing in this area at even a satisfactory level. An employee having 3 or more unsatisfactory areas will be terminated, transferred to another position or placed on a professional development plan at the COO’s discretion.

Performance Area I : Standards (E=Excellent, S=Satisfactory, N=Needs Improvement and U=Unsatisfactory)

• Participates in appropriate and TCI approved crisis de-escalation, restraints or seclusion as needed and documents appropriately _____
• Fills out correctly all UIR documentation. Team lead will be first signer and submit documentation to Unit Coordinator at end of shift _____
• Practices proximity control and is up and mobile, circulating and interacting with youth appropriately _____
• Any time YCW is sitting, it should be with a youth playing a game or watching TV _____
• Stays on wing and in position assigned _____
• Provides structure and follows TCI programming with youth in care _____
• Supervises youth on outings or activities following all policies and procedures as assigned by the Unit Coordinator _____
• Facilitates all non-therapeutic groups on wing as assigned _____
• Verifies and calculates correctly all point sheets_____
• Knows all TCI policies and procedures _____
• Wears uniform shirt (Blue TCI shirt) each shift _____
• Wears badge each shift _____
• Verifies and reports all issues and concerns related to youth to Team Lead and Unit Coordinator _____
• Reports all issues and concerns related to the center immediately to Unit Coordinator and / or COO per policy _____
• Reports all violations of policy and procedure to Unit Coordinator and / or COO _____

Performance Area II : Clinical (E=Excellent, S=Satisfactory, N=Needs Improvement and U=Unsatisfactory)

• Supervises and interacts therapeutically with 3 assigned youth throughout shift _____
• Learns and reviews clients’ treatment plans and are follows and documents all interventions _____
• Reports all youth concerns to management immediately _____

Performance Area III : Communication (E=Excellent, S=Satisfactory, N=Needs Improvement and U=Unsatisfactory) YCW will communicate effectively with all youth assigned to them on the YCW’s shift and maintains excellent communication with Team Lead and Unit Coordinator

• Discusses all wing dynamics, moods of youth, and all other issues that may affect dynamics of upcoming shift with previous and current Unit Coordinators _____
• Meets with youth assigned to for first few minutes regarding all issues or upcoming shift events _____
• Maintains proper communication with youth according to their individual needs _____
• Shares observations, concerns, and issues regarding youth during shift and reports to team lead and Unit Coordinator _____
• Maintains respectfulness of all youth in care by earning respect not demanding respect _____
• Is respectful of all co-workers and management staff _____
• Speaks appropriately to youth including not cursing at or in ear shot of youth at any time _____
• Maintains that all issues are communicated appropriately per policy to Team Lead and Unit Coordinator during shift _____

Performance Area IV : Documentation (E=Excellent, S=Satisfactory, N=Needs Improvement and U=Unsatisfactory) YCWs will maintain daily shift documentation that is in italics highlighted :

• Completes and signs off on End of Shift Checklist for each shift indicating that all documents are filled out correctly and completed _____
• Supervises, verifies youth cleaning time and completes Cleaning Checklist for each youth assigned to _____
• Conducts 15-minute head counts and documents every 15 minutes on the 15 Minute Headcount Checklist for each youth assigned _____
• Verifies and signs off on Room Maintenance / Damage Checklist for each youth assigned _____
• Fills out all SER paperwork for all events witness or restraints led and brings to Unit Coordinator before end of shift. Does not leave shift until paperwork is completed _____
• Fills out Laundry Checklist when on shift during laundry day _____

Performance Area V : Attendance (E=Excellent, S=Satisfactory, N=Needs Improvement and U=Unsatisfactory)

• Attends weekly team meetings for the assigned wing _____
• Reports to work on time, dressed appropriately with TCI shirt and badge, and completes shift as scheduled _____
• Follows all attendance policies and procedures at all times _____

Performance Area VI : Duties as Assigned (E=Excellent, S=Satisfactory, N=Needs Improvement and U=Unsatisfactory) Youth Care Worker will complete all duties as assigned by upper management to meet current and future needs of the Agency

• Complete all duties as assigned on shift by Unit Coordinator or other Management _____

Working Conditions :

• Physical Effort : Mental / visual stress related to viewing of computer screens and printed material for prolonged periods. Lifting limited to a box of forms weighing 7-8 pounds. Prolonged periods of sitting. May experience stress related to productivity requirements.
• Work Environment : Normal office environment with limited exposure to health or accident hazards. Note : We are a therapeutic residential treatment facility and at times, it can be noisy and stressful. This position has no interactions with youth.
• Equipment Used : Computer, telephone, printer, calculator, fax machine, and copy reproduction equipment
• At TCI, we have a positive, family oriented working approach while treating each other with respect.

Physical Elements Required :

• Lifting and carrying 5-7 pounds, be without physical limitation that would impair ability to fulfill the functions of the position. Must have sufficient mobility, physical stamina to travel all over facility and to participate in a therapeutic crisis intervention full, prone restraint.
• Frequent bending, stooping kneeling, and reaching, stretching;
• Standing for long periods of time;
• Work requires the ability to work both indoors and outdoors
• Must be without emotional limitations that would impair ability to fulfill the functions of this job including freedom from substance abuse.
• Organizing and coordinating schedules and events in an organized manner
• Ability to maintain a calm demeanor
• Ability to work within a closed environment