Residential Assistant - Full Time

Children; Fort Lauderdale (FL); On-site; USD 19,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Children in Fort Lauderdale is seeking a Residential Assistant to support youth in a structured residential setting. Under the Lead House Parent, you will help create a safe, nurturing environment and promote the youths' emotional, physical, and developmental well-being.

Responsibilities include daily documentation, incident reporting, meals, transportation, and adherence to individualized care plans. Trauma-informed care and MI techniques guide behavior management and relationship-building.

Qualifications

• High School diploma OR associate degree in social work or related area.
• 2 years’ experience working with children (At-Risk).
• Respect cultural diversity; ability to empathize.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to problem solve and make decisions quickly.
• Comfortable with independent thinking; requires little supervision.
• Ability to set boundaries and foster consistent patterns of behavior.
• Is punctual, arriving to work on time.

Responsibilities

• Daily documentation (logs, forms, etc.).
• Submit incident reports within 12 hours of incidents.
• Prepare meals and snacks for residents family-style.
• Assist in bi-weekly inventory and grocery planning.
• Transport residents to appointments, outings, school, work.
• Ensure residents receive items they need and the facility stays clean and safe.
• Report safety issues to Lead HP or residential manager.
• Provide crisis intervention using WELLE and MI techniques.
• Implement and reinforce behavior management techniques.
• Assist with teaching ADL and Independent Living Skills.
• Assist residents with medication management.
• Complete daily progress notes for each resident.
• Manage resident schedules toward school/work/therapy commitments.
• Attend monthly staff meetings and collaborate with peers.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Problem solving

Independent thinking

Boundary setting

Education

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

Job description

Help youth build hopeful Futures

What You'll Do

The Residential Assistant supports the daily care and supervision of youth in a structured residential setting. Under the direction of the Lead House Parent, the Residential Assistant helps create a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment that promotes the emotional, physical, and developmental well-being of each youth. Responsibilities include assisting with daily routines, implementing behavior management strategies, modeling positive interactions, and supporting the goals of each youth’s individualized care plan. The Residential Assistant will also apply trauma-informed practices, the WELLE Model, and Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques to build positive relationships and maintain consistency and structure in the home.

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.

Schedule

Monday- Friday 3-11pm

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• High School diploma OR associate degree in social work or related area
• 2 years’ experience working with children (At-Risk)
• Respect cultural diversity; Ability to empathize;
• Good verbal and written communication skills;
• Ability to problem solve and make decisions quickly;
• Comfortable with “independent thinking” (i.e., requires little supervision);
• Ability to set boundaries and foster consistent patterns of behavior;
• Is punctual, arriving to work on time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of Medication Administration Records
• Training in behavior modification and de-escalation
• Trauma Informed trained
• CPR certified