Youth Specialist

Valley Youth House; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 26,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation with PTO

Comprehensive health, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Short- and long-term disability

Pre-tax spending accounts (FSA)

Health and wellness programs

Referral program

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Valley Youth House is seeking a full-time Residential Youth Counselor for a Sun.- Thurs. schedule, 2pm–10pm, with a pay range of $19–$21 per hour. The role focuses on safety, supervision, and guiding youth through individualized plans in a trauma-informed, culturally responsive framework.

The position emphasizes goal planning, life skills development, and collaboration with families, schools, and community resources to support housing stability and youth independence.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age or older and able to identify with and adapt to the goals and philosophies of the Shelter program.
• Minimum of a high school diploma or GED, combined with at least one year of experience working with adolescents.
• Basic cooking knowledge to prepare nutritious meals and teach cooking as a valuable life skill to youth.
• Possess sound judgment and knowledge of adolescent development and behavior.
• Display strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and assignments effectively.
• Demonstrate creativity, flexibility in approaches to people and projects, and the ability to work with diverse populations.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license, vehicle insurance, and inspection on any vehicle used for daily work or transportation of clients.
• Must pass an annual motor vehicle clearance to operate agency vehicles.
• Proficient in computer skills, including Microsoft Windows software; familiarity with the Google Suite is desired.
• Must have no history of prohibited criminal or child abuse offenses.
• Never have been convicted of any prohibited criminal or child abuse offense.

Responsibilities

• Spend a minimum of 95% of working hours providing quality in-person goal planning, direct supervision, and safety monitoring on the floor.
• Engage youth/clients in implementing their individual plans using positive youth development, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate frameworks.
• Support activities of daily living, including academic and career planning, permanent relationships and mentoring, housing and household management, priority setting, money management, preparing meals, and health and wellness.
• Facilitate life skills groups and other structured activities that support youth development, social-emotional growth, and independent living skills.
• Intervene and report any crisis or critical incident according to agency, county, state, or federal protocols, including completion of preliminary safety plans.
• Maintain accurate and timely client documentation, including entering group notes into Credible by the end of every shift, and assist with other client-related records.
• Attend all required internal and external training(s), including a minimum of 40 hours of mandatory training annually, and participate in team meetings and supervision sessions prepared with agendas.

Job description

Position: FT - Residential Youth Counselor ($19hr - $21hr) - Sun.- Thurs. 2pm - 10pm

The Organization:

Valley Youth House empowers and strengthens the lives of children, youth, and families through inclusive programming that builds resilience and fosters growth and independence. VYH works from a Trauma Informed / Healing centered perspective, incorporating positive youth and human development and cultural awareness into all aspects of our agency. We want our clients and staff to feel safe, have choice and voice, collaborate in a trusting environment, and be empowered to make a difference in their own lives and the agency.

Why Should You Apply?

• An extensive orientation program to ensure a smooth onboarding process.
• Competitive compensation package with paid time off (PTO) to promote work-life balance.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage, including prescription benefits.
• Enroll in our 401(k)-retirement plan and enjoy a company match to secure your financial future.
• Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Take advantage of our pre-tax spending accounts (Health Care and Dependent Care FSA).
• Health and wellness programs to support your overall well-being.
• Referral program where you can earn rewards for bringing talented individuals to our team
• Tuition reimbursement program to fuel your professional growth.

Essential Functions for the Residential Youth Counselor:

• Spend a minimum of 95% of working hours providing quality in-person goal planning, direct supervision, and safety monitoring on the floor.
• Engage youth/clients in implementing their individual plans using positive youth development, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate frameworks.
• Support activities of daily living, including academic and career planning, permanent relationships and mentoring, housing and household management, priority setting, money management, preparing meals, and health and wellness.
• Facilitate life skills groups and other structured activities that support youth development, social-emotional growth, and independent living skills.
• Intervene and report any crisis or critical incident according to agency, county, state, or federal protocols, including completion of preliminary safety plans.
• Maintain accurate and timely client documentation, including entering group notes into Credible by the end of every shift, and assist with other client-related records.
• Attend all required internal and external training(s), including a minimum of 40 hours of mandatory training annually, and participate in team meetings and supervision sessions prepared with agendas.

Minimal Qualifications for the Residential Youth Counselor:

• Must be 21 years of age or older and able to identify with and adapt to the goals and philosophies of the Shelter program.
• Minimum of a high school diploma or GED, combined with at least one year of experience working with adolescents.
• Basic cooking knowledge to prepare nutritious meals and teach cooking as a valuable life skill to youth.
• Possess sound judgment and knowledge of adolescent development and behavior.
• Display strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and assignments effectively.
• Demonstrate creativity, flexibility in approaches to people and projects, and the ability to work with diverse populations.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license, vehicle insurance, and inspection on any vehicle used for daily work or transportation of clients.
• Must pass an annual motor vehicle clearance to operate agency vehicles.
• Proficient in computer skills, including Microsoft Windows software; familiarity with the Google Suite is desired.
• Must have no history of prohibited criminal or child abuse offenses.
• Never have been convicted of any prohibited criminal or child abuse offense.

Physical Requirements for the Residential Youth Counselor

• Ability to navigate stairs is highly preferred, as some locations are not fully handicap accessible.
• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing. X Constantly
• Light work that includes moving objects up to 25 pounds. X Occasionally

**If eligible: Medical, vision, and prescription benefits available after the first month of hire, Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time Off, 401k -6% match, Employer-paid clearances, physical, and training, Opportunities for Tuition reimbursement, Opportunities for licensure supervision hours for LCSW and LPC.