Homes for Children: Youth Care Specialist

Vigo County Human Resources; Terre Haute (IN); On-site; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Youth Care Specialist to provide supervision and support to youth in a structured living environment. This role involves addressing emotional and behavioral issues, maintaining safety, and ensuring compliance with state regulations. Ideal candidates will possess skills in crisis management, effective communication, and youth behavior management. Join a team committed to making a positive impact on the lives of young individuals while enjoying competitive benefits and a supportive work environment. If you're passionate about youth care and ready to make a difference, this opportunity awaits you.

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Retirement Plans

Paid Holidays

Flexible Spending Account

Life Insurance

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED and moderate experience required.
• Ability to obtain first aid/CPR and other certifications.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and support youth to address emotional and behavioral goals.
• Maintain safety and order in the home environment.

Skills

Youth Behavior Management

Crisis Management

Communication Skills

First Aid/CPR Certification

De-escalation Techniques

Team Collaboration

Data Analysis

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Homes for Children: Youth Care Specialist

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $22.53 hourly

Vigo County offers to full-time employees competitive benefit plans. These include Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, paid holidays, Flexible Spending Account Plans, 457 Plans, Life Insurance, and others.

Description

Performs intermediate responsibilities by working toward resolution of behavioral and emotional issues; providing direct supervision of youth ages 10-18 while maintaining a therapeutic, structured living environment. Position requires a rotation of 12 hour shift work: two (2) days on duty and then two (2) days off. Performs security checks and is responsible for the Vigo County Homes for Children safety; maintaining welfare of residents and premises of Group Home during their shift; and performs related work as apparent or assigned.

Example of Duties

• Supervises, advises, and supports youth to address emotional, academic, interpersonal and behavioral goals; participates in daily supervision and weekly Treatment Team meetings to evaluate youths' progress, strength development and ongoing needs; utilizes trauma-informed strategies and de-escalation techniques to prevent events from rising to the level of a crisis.
• Adheres to daily programming for youth, including transportation to and facilitation of visitation and extracurricular activities; leads youth in activities of daily living, recreation and study time; educates youth of emergency procedures, prescribed medications and safe use of food products and household chemicals.
• Maintains safety and order of the home environment in order to meet the requirements of State and Federal regulatory bodies.
• Completes a thorough, objective log of youth's progress daily; completes incident reports as needed; maintains medical administration record and daily med counts; maintains professional demeanor and follows confidentiality practices with stakeholders.

Serves as a liaison between parents and children.

Conducts checks on residents regularly, and checks windows and doors for security.

Instructs and/or advises residents as needed, including intervening in disputes and activating crisis management for youth.

Administers medicines as needed, transports to hospital as needed, maintains resident checklist and records of incidents.

Processes and/or receives emergency shelter youth.

Informs Youth Care Specialist of any problems that arose during the night.

Monitors and maintains youth in facility and surrounding premises, including staying awake and alert during night shift, maintaining safe and secure environment for residents and staff.

Typical Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED and moderate experience.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and a demonstrated safe driving record.
• Ability to obtain and maintain all required certifications and training programs, such as first aid/CPR, Universal Precautions, nutrition education.
• Thorough knowledge of youth behavior, issues and trends, and accepted theories, practices, and interventions for counseling youth and their families, with ability to apply theories and interventions to both family and individual circumstances.
• Working knowledge of and ability to comprehend and use a variety of informational documents, reference books and manuals, including policy manual, school handbooks, and first-aid manual.
• Knowledge of and ability to learn and understand counseling and “street slang” terminology, language, principles, and techniques, and ability to expound on knowledge of topics related to child counseling.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County personnel, school officials, support staff, medical professionals, law enforcement personnel, counselors/therapist, residents and their families, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities and disabilities.
• Ability to deal swiftly, rationally and decisively with potentially violent individuals and de-escalate volatile situations by means of conversation/negotiation.
• Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of Department information and records according to state requirements.
• Ability to comply with all employer and Department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
• Ability to compare or observe similarities and differences in data, compile, collate or classify data, analyze and evaluate data, and make determinations based on data analyses.
• Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment.
• Ability to apply knowledge of people and/or locations, and plan and layout assigned work projects.
• Ability to occasionally testify in legal proceedings/court as required.
• Ability to work extended, weekends, and/or evening hours, and occasionally travel out of town for transporting residents, but not overnight.

Supplemental Information

Incumbent performs duties in accordance with well-established procedures and personnel policies, exercising judgment in supervising and disciplining residents. Incumbent has a high degree of flexibility in the job, referring to supervisor when interpretations of departmental policies and programs are thought necessary. Decisions are always determined by specific instructions or existing, well-established policies and procedures.

Incumbent applies standard department practices and procedures to individual cases, referring unusual problems and situations to supervisor as needed. Work is reviewed for soundness of judgment, adherence to instructions/guidelines, and compliance with legal requirements.

Incumbent maintains communication with co-workers, other County personnel, school officials, support staff, medical professionals, law enforcement personnel, counselors/therapist, residents and their families, and the public for purposes of exchanging and explaining information and coordinating client services and activities.

Incumbent’s work may occasionally involve non-routine problem-solving to gain cooperation of potentially violent clients in situations that may jeopardize the safety of incumbent or others.

• Employees sit most of the time but may walk or stand for some of the time.
• This classification involves physical agility requirements such as climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, pushing, pulling, repetitive motions and manual dexterity.
• Sensory requirements include standard vision requirements, ability to express ideas and standard hearing requirements - hear information at normal spoken word levels.

Physical Exertion (Pounds)

Up to 10: Sometimes

Up to 25: Seldom

Up to 50: Seldom

Up to 100: Seldom

100 or more: Seldom

Work near moving mechanical parts: Seldom

Work in high, precarious places: Seldom

Toxic or caustic chemicals: Sometimes

Outdoor weather conditions: Sometimes

Extreme Cold, non-weather: Sometimes

Extreme Heat, non-weather: Sometimes

Vigo County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.