Engagement Specialist - Adolescent Shelter (3661)

YouthCare; Seattle (WA); Vor Ort; USD 52.000 - 76.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

YouthCare is seeking an Engagement Specialist for the adolescent shelter in Seattle. The role focuses on safe, supportive supervision and healing-centered engagement for youth preparing to transition to greater independence.

The position requires flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and overnights, aligned with a 24/7 shelter environment. With a focus on trauma-informed care, the Engagement Specialist will maintain accurate records, deliver programming, and coordinate with partners to

Qualifikationen

• 6 months of experience working with vulnerable youth or in crisis
• Ability to maintain files, records, logs and reports
• Commitment to professional boundaries and safety practices
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and overnights as needed

Aufgaben

• Build trust with youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
• Engage, support, coach, and develop youth using healing-centered engagement.
• Provide on-site supervision and crisis intervention with de-escalation.
• Complete intake, enrollment, case notes, and incident reports within required timeframes.
• Maintain accurate case records, logs, and data in agency systems.
• Support with programming to foster life and social skills and four core outcomes.
• Coordinate with partners and staff to ensure a safe, nurturing environment.

Kenntnisse

Crisis intervention

De-escalation

Documentation

Communication

Ausbildung

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Windows

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Excel

Jobbeschreibung

Engagement Specialist – Adolescent Shelter
This is a bargaining unit position represented by the OPEIU. All terms and conditions of employment are subject to change in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement.

WORK SCHEDULE : This position is full-time, regular and non-exempt. Shifts will vary and may require working evenings, weekends, and holidays. Day Shift (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.), Swing (4:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.), and Grave (12:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.).

POSITION SUMMARY: Under the supervision of the Program Manager or Supervisor, the Engagement Specialist is responsible for the daily management of the program site. All housing programs are open 24/7 and per agency licensing and or contract requirements, programs must maintain safe staff and client ratio to provide services to our clients. In conjunction with other staff, the Engagement Specialists task is to create a safe and caring environment for vulnerable young people in residence who are preparing to transition to become more self-sufficient. The position requires an individual who can actively contribute to a positive, stable, responsive, and responsible environment for change.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build trust and rapport with young people experiencing homelessness and housing instability, young people who have experienced sexual exploitation and/or young people who are at risk.
• Engage, support, coach, and develop young people using healing-centered engagement practices and a strength-based approach.
• Provide on-site supervision, while maintaining professional boundaries in providing crisis intervention and services to young people. Must learn and apply positive behavior modification techniques and model effective de-escalation, problem-solving and mediation skills. Be willing to intervene in times of crisis using these skills.
• Complete necessary paperwork and data collection, including intake, enrollment, case notes as needed. Additionally complete incident reports within the required timeframe on any facility damage, medical emergencies or any incident which occurs out of the ordinary functioning of the site.
• Maintain accurate and timely case records, shift notes, logbooks, and other types of documentation, and enter data into YouthCares Case Worthy client management system according to agency standards.
• Execute Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) tasks and accreditation standards and adhere to all agency policies and procedures.
• Comply with the agencys mandated reporting requirement and report suspected abuse, neglect, or sexual exploitation of minors within the required timeframe.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with all site staff, partners, and volunteers to create a nurturing, dynamic, and constructive environment for young people.
• Support with coordination of basic needs, inclusion of meals, referrals to systems of support, clothing, etc.
• Develop and deliver group and individual programming to foster life and social skill development. Programming provides an opportunity for youth and young adults to engage, increase knowledge and skills, and moves young people toward the agencys four core outcomes - housing stability, financial independence, community support, and wellness.
• Work collaboratively with other YouthCare programs, families, school district professionals, crisis services personnel, and staff from other agencies in support of youth.
• Communicate client needs and behaviors to the appropriate staff, and refer young people to appropriate and necessary services, as needed.
• Oversee the safety and cleanliness of the facility, including disinfecting surfaces and following cleaning protocols. Perform light janitorial work, including vacuuming/sweeping/mopping; taking out trash; and similar tasks, as outlined by site need and agency protocols. Compile maintenance requests and submit them to program leadership/maintenance staff as needed.
• Participate in regular supervision, client consultations, and staff and agency meetings. Attend and fully participate in meetings, professional development opportunities, and designated training sessions as required.
• Act as a professional representative of YouthCare and maintain a professional working environment (office, personal workspace, agency vehicle, etc.).
• Maintains a flexible work schedule (filling shifts on some weekends, early and/or late hours) and must be willing to be cross‑trained in providing support with shift coverage in on‑call basis for the program and the agency, as required by individual program needs.
• Maintain annual completion of 24 hours of in‑service training.
• Reliably attend and participate in training and development as needed for your role and the needs of our Agency as a whole such as program requirements, DEI&J, supervision, and others as identified.
• Contribute to our DEI&J culture by creating at least one SMART Goal related to DEI&J within your control to deliver.

This job description is not intended to cover every aspect of your job at YouthCare. We are a team that works together to meet the needs of our clients, and every member of the team is expected to pitch in and help even beyond the specific responsibilities listed in this description.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS –

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• 6 months of experience successfully working with vulnerable young people or young people in a crisis, during outreach efforts or in residential setting.
• High School Diploma or GED
• Experience and credentials must comply with program contractual requirements, including but not limited to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) background clearance process and must be at least 21 years of age. DCYF Clearance must be maintained for the entirety of employment when working with under-18 clients.
• Ability to accurately maintain and produce files, records, logs, and reports.
• Ability to establish new partnerships and foster positive relationships with existing partners.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients while building trust and respect.
• Ability to verbally and physically respond to an aggressive person in ways that de-escalate, establish, and maintain staff and young peoples safety.
• Ability to develop and lead programming/classes/activities.
• Ability to assume responsibilities or duties within the agency not specifically delineated in this job description for short periods of time or on an infrequent basis.
• Computer software skills including Windows, Microsoft outlook, Microsoft Word, and Excel.
• Commitment to YouthCares initiative to build cultural proficiency across the agency. Acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural and spiritual practices.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelors Degree or four years of successful experience with young people in a crisis or outreach setting.
• Course work, experience, or training in child or human development, chemical dependency, mental illness, group dynamics, residential treatment, or related experience highly preferred.
• Bilingual

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must be able to provide I-9 supporting documentation for employment.
• Ability to provide a negative TB Test (results must be within one year of hire date).
• Employees who drive YouthCare vehicles as a requirement for their position must be at least 21 years old, possess a valid Washington State Drivers License, meet minimum safe driver criteria established by the agency and our insurance company which includes completion of driving certification courses. Drivers under the age of 25 must have been licensed for at least 3 years and those operating vehicles with a capacity of 15 or more passengers must be at least 25 years old.
• Ability to obtain a current Food Handlers Card
• Successful completion of pre-service training courses as required by contracting agencies. Training such as CPR & First Aid (Adult/Child), Bloodborne Pathogens, and Behavior Management.
• Initiative, creativity, reliability, flexibility, thoroughness.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with good quality spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• High integrity when dealing with a broad array of cultures and restricted and/or confidential information.
• Ability to coordinate overall program functioning.
• Ability to accurately maintain and produce files, records, logs, and reports.
• Ability and willingness to stay awake and alert during overnight shifts.
• May be required to assume responsibilities or duties within the agency not specifically delineated in this job description for short periods of time or on an infrequent basis.
• Commitment to YouthCares initiative to build cultural proficiency across the agency. Acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural and spiritual practices.

PHYSICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

• Ability to perform a range of physical motions, exerting up to 50 pounds. Lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds; standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, kneeling, squatting, and stooping; running for brief periods of time; and go up and down stairs.

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