Job Summary:

The Youth Care Workers’ primary responsibility is to provide supervision of UC vital to ensuring a safe and secure environment for UC in care.  YCW will provide ongoing supervision of UC during all program activities. The YCW staff are essential in providing UC with supervision, recreation, and assisting with orientation, education, and transportation during their placement in care.  The YCW staff schedule will ensure twenty-four (24) hour continuity of supervision and care.   

In addition, per DFPS all licensed childcare facilities are required to employ and schedule adequate number of staff to meet the needs of UC in care. DFPS Minimum Standards of care indicate licensed operations consider the age, medical, physical, and mental health conditions of UC in planning staffing patterns. DFPS also requires licensed facilities to account for employee absenteeism, hours of coverage, UC outings, medical appointments, hospitalization, specialized supervision needs, safety concerns, and dormitory structure. For this reason, HOH will implement a staffing ratio in consideration of the activity, setting, and UC supervision needs (e.g., 6:1 for off campus activities, and a ratio of 16:1 during the night). 

Essential Functions:

• Conduct intake services to include but not limited to: completing necessary paperwork, providing youth with an overview of the program services for initial placements of youth into the shelter.
• Provide basic needs to youth upon arrival to the program (this includes but is not limited to: meal, clothing, hygiene products, shower, and bedroom assignment).
• Must provide Direct Care Services to youth to ensure that ratios and appropriate supervision levels are continuously met as per state and federal requirements.
• Develop positive rapport with youth while serving as a role model to create a safe and caring environment.

• Documenting and reporting any issues or concerns that may arise during their scheduled

• Must ensure all forms and progress notes (efforts) are properly completed to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Assist with the planning and coordination of special educational events which include but is not limited to: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Recreational events (movies, amusement parks, festivals) and educational events. Youth Care Workers will assist in the coordination of student council activities and other meaningful experiences for all youth which promotes learning and community.
• Provide vocational courses and curriculum in a subject area approved by the program director or designees which introduces youth to career choices.
• Assist with the coordination of Physical Education instruction and other large muscle activities in coordination with the Program Director or designee as required by state and federal requirements.
• Must assist in the evacuation of youth as needed due to inclement weather conditions, natural disasters, or other unforeseen occurrences.
• Attend all organizational required trainings and trainings that will enhance professional growth.
• Attend all departmental and program meetings to ensure that up-to-date information is received and/or information of policy changes or practice are adhered to.
• In the absence of a shift leader and with the approval of the Program Director, a Youth Care Worker may be asked to serve as the interim shift leader and be responsible for overseeing program operations within their shift.

• Be able to assist in the distribution of medications to youth as prescribed by Medical Provider.
• Travel as needed to transport youth to destinations located within the U.S.
• Attend Treatment Team Meetings to convey youth’s progress to all disciplines present.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and hazard-free facility. This includes regular maintenance and general cleaning of common areas including restrooms and kitchen, rotation of laundry (linen, towels and clothes) duty, and general maintenance of outdoor areas (to include but not limited to: backyard, playground, and parking lot).
• Able to react professionally and productively to change and handle other essential tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Must be computer literate.
• Must be able to maintain a flexible work schedule.
• Cleared Tuberculosis test results.
• Cleared background check from appropriate entity.
• Cleared pre-employment and random drug test results.
• Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of hire.
• Must be Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to obtain and perform Emergency Behavior Intervention Training (EBI)/Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) certification and First Aid Certification (CPR). 
• Must be able to visually and auditorily supervise clients indoors and outdoors throughout the entire duration of their shift period, which lasts 12 hours or more on a typical shift.
• Must be able to stand, bend, or stoop for the entire duration of the shift, as necessary.
• Must be prepared and physically able to respond with appropriate protocol in a variety of dynamic supervision situations with clients of 0-17 years in age. In a sudden or emergency event, staff must be at all times physically able to run, jump, lunge, twist, push, pull, apply Hands of Healing’s approved restraint techniques, and otherwise manage or coerce the full weight of an adolescent.
• While it is uncommon, all staff must be physically and mentally able to manage youth who become uncooperative, sick, violent, or display any other form of harmful or threatening behavior.
• Must be prepared to administer emergency First Aid, CPR or EBI/CPI techniques to clients, regardless of the time of day or hour of the staff’s shift, the size of the client, or the staff’s level of personal fatigue.
• All Staff must be able to maintain clarity of thought throughout the entirety of a shift and be able to respond quickly to duress or circumstances requiring immediate action.

Work Environment:

Work is at youth care facility at which minors receive multiple services with predominantly indoors, occasional outdoor monitoring or activities. Two shifts per twenty-four-hour period. The YCW schedule will be day shift (6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) and night shift (6:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.) to ensure twenty-four (24) hour continuity of supervision and care.

ORR staffing ratios policy indicates one (1) Youth Care Worker for every eight (8) UC during waking hours, and one (1) Youth Care Worker for ever sixteen (16) UC during sleeping hours must be available to provide appropriate supervision of UC. Work shifts are subject to change.

Employees and clients may be exposed to prevalent weather conditions. Position is required to eat client meals during shift with the clients.

EEO Statement:

It is the policy of Hands Of Healing to provide equal employment opportunity and treat all employees equally regardless of age, race, creed/religion, color, national origin, immigration status or citizenship status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, sex/gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, genetic information or genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital status, partnership status, victim of domestic violence, sexual or other reproductive health decisions, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.