Residential Treatment Specialist (Full-time, Overnight Frontend)

Position Title: Residential Treatment Specialist (Full-time, Overnight) 

Department: Residential Youth Building 

Reports to: Dorm Supervisor 

Position Objective and Summary:

The Residential Treatment Specialist provides direct service to children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional disorders in a residential setting. The position requires general supervision of residents, teaching appropriate daily living and social skills, implementation of the daily schedule, behavior management, crisis intervention, group work, implementation of recreational activities, report writing and records management, and overseeing all aspects of daily living for the residents. The RTS is expected to role model how to work cooperatively with their team. They are also expected to conduct themselves in a professional, ethical, and therapeutic manner at all times with residents, resident family members and co-workers. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Job Knowledge Demonstration  

• Supervises and monitors the whereabouts and activities of all assigned residents during the scheduled shift of a 24-hour day.  
• Maintains current knowledge through participation in mandatory training.  
• Understands the treatment goals of the program and the RTS role in residential treatment.  
• Uses knowledge of child development and childhood disorders, when intervening with residents.  
• Follows all UCAN policies and procedures in the performance of duties.  
• Utilizes available programs, resources and materials to meet the needs of the residents.  
• Is knowledgeable of the UCAN Clinical Philosophy and the residential program clinical model.  
• Understands and appropriately utilizes the established UCAN treatment interventions.  

Dorm and Client Behavior Management  

• Manages the behavior of residents through use of approved behavioral management interventions and works with residents toward the accomplishment of treatment goals.  
• Fairly and consistently enforces rules and applies appropriate consequences as needed.  
• Implements individual behavior management plans for residents on the dorm through a teamwork approach and makes suggestions to the team based on observations and interactions with the residents.  
• Appropriately and consistently implements behavior management interventions.  
• Effectively manages the daily routine and follows dorm schedules.  
• Effectively leads dorm based groups per level responsibilities.  
• Develops and implements dorm based programs per level responsibilities.  
• Assists residents in identifying behavioral alternatives and selecting appropriate behaviors.  
• Supervises and monitors the residents self administration of medication.  
• Will be trained in the monitoring of physical vital signs such as; blood pressure, respiration, temperature, and heart rate. Subsequently will be expected to periodically perform such monitoring on the residents as needed.  
• Will be trained in the use of an intoximeter. Subsequently will be expected to periodically perform such monitoring on the residents as needed.  
• Will be trained in the procedure for administering a urine toxicology screen. Subsequently will be expected to perform such screening on the residents as needed.  
• Demonstrates a positive therapeutic approach with residents and reinforces positive behaviors.  
• Effectively addresses and resolves conflict between residents.  

Maintaining Safety/Security  

• Manages daily routines and monitors the safety conditions and overall cleanliness of the residential program.  
• Provides transportation for residents as needed and within program guidelines.  
• Maintains clean and orderly surroundings to minimize the opportunity for unsafe behaviors.  
• Follows all policies, procedure, protocol and safety directives in order to create and maintain a consistent, predictable and safe environment.  
• Demonstrate proficient skills and uses them appropriately during physical intervention.  
• Maintains alertness to potentially unsafe situations and responds to maintain a safe environment for all.  
• Monitors resident behavior to ensure that they are not a danger to themselves, other residents, or to staff.  

Developing Therapeutic Relationships  

• Provides a positive, stable role model and authority figure for residents.  
• Establishes and maintains a caring and therapeutic relationship with residents in care.  
• Individually works with assigned "primary" residents and reports on primary resident's progress in team meetings.  
• Uses understanding of the Mental Health diagnoses of clients when intervening to meet client needs.  
• Considers any cultural factors that may be impacting the client or his/her level of participation in services.  
• Participates in team meetings, supervisory sessions and other program meetings, on a regular basis.  
• Establishes positive working relationships with team members, other UCAN staff, and outside contacts who are involved with the residents.  
• Works effectively with all members of the team (RTS’s, Therapist, Caseworker, etc.) and assists others who request help.  

Communication/Documentation  

• Maintains the program records and daily logs, as well as appropriate internal documentation and computer data entry, through the use of Profile.  
• Correctly completes daily routine management (Service Plans, Medicaid logs, etc.).  
• Communicates all critical incidents to the team on a timely basis.  
• Uses written documentation correctly and completes on time.  
• Prepares reports for team meetings and staffings in a thorough and timely basis.  
• Clearly communicates observations, ideas, and plans to others through writing.  
• Cooperates in the creation of “Special Programs” for the clients.  
• Completes written documentation with accuracy and sufficient attention to detail, spelling, and grammatical correctness.  

Professionalism and Work Conduct  

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of UCAN.  
• Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with clients.  
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to others.  
• Reports to work, meetings, training, and job related activities prepared and as scheduled.  
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and co-workers.  
• Accepts feedback and ideas from team and supervisor and is constructive when giving feedback and ideas to others.  
• Discusses alternative problem solving and is open to new ideas and ways of doing things.  
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.  

Leadership  

• Acts as the Shift Leader when scheduled on the dorm.  
• Contributes to the development and implementation of individual strategies for residents.  
• Acts as a role model when interacting with residents and others by always being ethical, professional, and therapeutic.  
• Leads/co-leads dorm based groups as required on the dorm.  
• Maintains current knowledge and certifications through participation in mandatory training.  
• Attends an additional 8 hours of non-mandatory training per year for professional development. 

Education/Job Experience/Certification: 

• BSW or BA/BS in Human Service field. 
• Non-degreed or non-Human Service degree or high school diploma with at least 5 years of related experience (human services, child welfare or crisis intervention). 
• Has a working knowledge of computer use. 
• Has familiarity with the UCAN Clinical Philosophy. 
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) certified or obtains within 30 days of employment. 
• Physical ability to use TCI restraint techniques as required. 
• First Aid/CPR certified or obtains within 30 days of employment. 
• Valid driver’s license with approval/authorization by DCFS to transport children. 
• At least 21 years of age. 

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Meets the Medicaid criteria as a MHP. 
• Ability to effectively communicate with staff and clients. 
• Must be able to work as a team member. 
• Ability to provide leadership and guidance to other staff members. 

Work Environment: Crisis prevention and behavioral management techniques includes physically restraining and physically transporting residents. May be asked to works in all areas of the facility. Hazards include risk of exposure to communicable diseases and risks of injury associated with residents with emotional disorders.