Youth Care Specialist (Weekend Coverage)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High School Diploma or equivalent (copy required upon hire)
• Valid NYS Driver's License (copy required upon hire)
• Yearly Physical (required within one month after hire)
• Ability to work with a diverse population presenting a variety of cultural, socioeconomic, developmental and sexual identities. Must have the ability and willingness to establish and foster healthy and supportive relationships that acknowledge individual identities and encourage personal growth.

PREFERRED

• BS or AAS Degree in Related Field

• Previous Child Care Experience

REQUIREMENTS

Must successfully complete all required background checks:

• Criminal History Record Checks (CHRC)
• NYS Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR)
• NYS Sex Offender Registry (SOR)
• NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) fingerprinting
• NYS Justice Center Staff Exclusion List (SEL)
• Out-of-state child abuse register inquiry of any state in which the person resided within the last five years (if applicable)

HOURS

• Saturday and Sunday, 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• May work one or both days.

• May also work Friday evenings, provided at least one weekend shift is worked.

• Must be flexible to meet the needs of the program

SALARY

Starting at $22.00 per hour

POSITION LEVEL

• Responsible to the Cottage Manager

POSITION OBJECTIVES

• To help create and maintain a healthful, safe and therapeutic environment for the children in the cottage(s)

• To help implement each child's individual treatment goals.

• To provide positive role models for children in the care of the Agency.

• To ensure that the basic psychological needs of the children for nurturance, structure, and counseling are met.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB

• Supervision of the cottage environment as it pertains to knowing the whereabouts of each youngster at all times is an essential job responsibility of the Youth Care Specialist. Report missing children immediately to the Administrator on Duty or Cottage Manager.

• Must be able to perform physical interventions (restraints) as per the Agency's restraint policy.

• Provide input to treatment team meetings for the planning of each child's treatment goal(s) and techniques.

• Help implement individual treatment plans with each child.

• Act as a positive role model for the children by engaging in activities productively and in support of accepted societal norms and values.

• Instruct, guide and assist children in the follows areas:

a. Organization and care of clothing and personal belongings

b. Selection and coordination of dress

c. Personal health, grooming, and hygiene

d. Personal habits and conduct

e. Social conduct and interaction in the cottage and the William George community

f. Constructive use of leisure time

g. Maintenance of clean and neat rooms and shared cottage facilities

h. Money management

I. Eating and sleeping habits

j. Study habits

• Help children develop trusting relationships by actively engaging in activities with them and by expression of caring through role modeling, life space interviews, and constructive discipline. Be where children are (during waking hours); walk with them to and from Ewald Dining Center for meals, and other program activities, (e.g., school) to provide ego support.

• Help children abide by the established cottage rules and the Agency policies and procedures

• Provide support to children in crisis through the use of therapeutic crisis intervention techniques, including the use of physical restraint and life space interviews. Please note that therapeutic physical restraint may only be used after a Youth Care Specialist has received specific training in this area at the Agency.

• Supervise and help children in the performance of house jobs.

• Inventory and mark clothing and personal belongings of children.

• Collect and store clothing and belongings of children who are absent without consent (AWOC).

• Supervise children's manners and behavior during meals at Ewald Dining Center.

• Be informed about the health needs of the children, and monitor self-administration of medications according to the State Education Department and the Office of Children and Family Services.

• Store medications in the locked areas and cabinets provided in each cottage.

• Refer children to the Health Services Department for all medical problems and examination and treatment by the nurses and physician

• Participate in, and supervise children at campus recreational activities.

• Evaluate children's performance on the daily level system evaluation sheets according to the guidelines and individual goals, and review them with the children to encourage progress.

• Prepare written incident reports on critical incidents and forward them to the Cottage Manager.

• Participate in the Unit/Cottage meeting, providing pertinent observations to the Cottage Manager.

• Transport children to off-campus appointments and for travel home as assigned.

• Responsible for adhering to and performing all duties in accordance with every safety standard, practice, and policy of The William George Agency. This includes, but is not limited to, review of The William George Agency's Safety Policy and attending all required safety-related training.

• Perform other duties assigned.

• To adhere to all rules, regulations, policies, and philosophy of The William George Agency and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.