Residential Assistant

Children; Westgate Lake Manor (FL); On-site; USD 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Children's Harbor is seeking a compassionate, trauma-informed professional to guide teenagers ages 13-18 in a structured, caring residential setting. You will ensure safety, meet medical, emotional, educational, and daily living needs, and support youth through their transition years using WELLE and MI techniques.

The role emphasizes crisis intervention, consistent routines, and teaching life skills, ADL/ILS, and parenting strategies while coordinating with the Residential Director and team.

Qualifications

• 2 years’ experience working with children (At-Risk).
• Ability to set boundaries and foster consistent patterns of behavior.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Trained in trauma informed care.

Responsibilities

• Maintain daily documentation (logs, reports, etc.).
• Submit incident reports within 12 hours of incidents.
• Prepare meals and snacks for residents; serve family style.
• Assist in preparing inventory and grocery lists.
• Transport residents to appointments, outings, school, or work.
• Ensure residents receive needed items and the facility stays safe and orderly.
• Provide crisis intervention and enforce behavior management techniques.
• Assist with teaching ADL/ILS and parenting techniques.
• Assist residents with medication management and daily room inspections.
• Complete daily progress notes and manage residents’ schedules.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Verbal communication

Written communication

Problem solving

Education

High School diploma or Associate degree in social work or related area

Job description

Help Teenagers Build Successful Futures

At Children's Harbor, we believe every young adult deserves the opportunity to thrive. Children's Harbor is seeking a compassionate, motivated, trauma informed professional to guide teenagers (ages 13-18) as they navigate their transition aged years.

We are looking for someone who is able to provide a nurturing, highly structured environment of care and supervision while ensuring each youth’s safety and well-being are met. Meet the immediate medical, emotional, educational, and permanent needs of the youth during their placement. Implement the WELLE Model and Motivational Interviewing Techniques (MI), trauma-informed, building positive relationships, increasing competencies, and maintaining structure and consistency in the home.

If you're passionate about wanting to make a lasting impact, we'd love to meet you.

What You'll Do

1. Daily documentation (i.e., gas log, medicine log, staff communication log, toiletries log, room inspection sheet, travel forms, etc.).
2. Prepares and submits incident reports within 12 hours of the incident to the Residential Director, Residential manager, and Chief Operating Officer.
3. Prepares meals and snacks for the residents and ensures they are served “family style”.
4. Assists in preparation of bi-weekly inventory sheet and grocery list.
5. Transports residents and children to appointments, off-campus outings, school, work, etc.
6. Ensures that the residents receive items as needed.
7. Ensures that the facility is in safe, clean, and orderly condition always.
8. Report any physical safety issues to the Lead HP or residential manager.
9. Provide effective and immediate crisis intervention, utilizing WELLE.
10. Implements and reinforces behavior management techniques.
11. Assists with teaching Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Independent Living Skills (ILS), and appropriate parenting techniques.
12. Assists residents with medication management.
13. Performs daily room inspections and documents accordingly.
14. Completes daily progress notes on each resident.
15. Oversees resident’s schedule and is responsible for assisting the resident to comply (School, work, therapy, etc.).
16. Attends and participates in monthly staff meetings.
17. Works cooperatively with peers, ensuring consistency and continuity of care.

What We're Looking For

Requirements:

• 2 years’ experience working with children (At-Risk)
• High School diploma OR associate degree in social work or related area
• Trained in trauma informed care.
• Ability to set boundaries and foster consistent patterns of behavior
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to problem solve and make decisions quickly
• Must have reliable transportation

Preferred

• WELLE Behavior Modification trained
• Knowledge of the child welfare system
• Trauma informed trained

Schedule

• Both FT/ PT position available
• Full-time (Monday–Friday 3-11pm)
• Part- time (Saturday-Sunday)