Youth Care Specialist

Children's Network of Hillsborough; Lutz (FL); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Children's Network of Hillsborough is seeking a Youth Care Specialist to provide quality care and supervision for youth in a group home setting. You will document daily activities, support education and life skills, supervise on and off campus activities, and assist with meals and transportation in a caring, professional environment.

The role requires maintaining confidentiality, working with a rotating schedule including evenings and weekends, and participating in required trainings.

Responsibilities

• Provide appropriate direction for children/youth in their daily routines by establishing and maintaining professional boundaries and creating an atmosphere conducive to growth and development by giving positive reinforcement as appropriate
• Provide supervision to youth on and off campus, coordinate and engage in recreational and service activities for youth
• Teach life and independent living skills in accordance with child specific service plans
• Assist to prepare and serve nutritious meals in a family like environment
• Provide transportation of youth to school, medical or other appointments and designated activities
• Monitor, support, and encourage academic performance and educational success
• Maintain confidentiality of youth's personal and medical information
• Properly document daily activities based on established policies and protocols and ensure effective communication with other staff
• Communicate effectively with other direct care staff during shift change and keep other staff informed of pertinent youth information and campus events
• Maintain the order, safety, cleanliness of the group home
• Dispense medications as prescribed by a medical professional once trained
• Participates in in-service training sessions and attends staff meetings
• Other duties may be assigned as special projects may be requested

Job description

GENERAL PURPOSE OF JOB

The primary role of the Youth Care Specialist is to provide quality care and supervision to youth in the group home, generate accurate documentation and perform duties necessary for the overall safety and well-being of the youth under their care.

• Provide appropriate direction for children/youth in their daily routines by establishing and maintaining professional boundaries and creating an atmosphere conducive to growth and development by giving positive reinforcement as appropriate
• Provide supervision to youth on and off campus, coordinate and engage in recreational and service activities for youth
• Teach life and independent living skills in accordance with child specific service plans
• Assist to prepare and serve nutritious meals in a family like environment
• Provide transportation of youth to school, medical or other appointments and designated activities
• Monitor, support, and encourage academic performance and educational success
• Maintain confidentiality of youth's personal and medical information
• Properly document daily activities based on established policies and protocols and ensure effective communication with other staff
• Communicate effectively with other direct care staff during shift change and keep other staff informed of pertinent youth information and campus events
• Maintain the order, safety, cleanliness of the group home
• Dispense medications as prescribed by a medical professional once trained
• Participates in in-service training sessions and attends staff meetings
• Other duties may be assigned as special projects may be requested

WORKING HOURS

Children's Network of Hillsborough's standard business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, the residential group home program operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays, and requires awake staff coverage at all times. Youth Care Specialists are assigned to a rotating schedule consisting of approximately 10- to 12-hour shifts, three (3) to four (4) days per week, depending on the established rotation, program coverage, and staffing needs. Employees in this position must be available to work their assigned schedule, which may include days, evenings, overnight hours, weekends, and holidays. Assigned schedules may vary based on the operational and staffing needs of the residential program.

TRAVEL

Travel in and outside of Circuit 13 (Hillsborough) is required.

TRAINING

All employees must complete fifteen (15) hours of on-line or classroom Training on an annual basis. If the employee is a Certified Child Welfare Professional, Training hours must total twenty (20) annually. In addition, group home employees must complete all trainings required by the Department of Children and Families and Children's Network of Hillsborough in relation to working with dependent populations in a residential group home setting.