Youth Stabilization Specialist-Swing

Description

Position: Youth Stabilization Specialist
Status: Non-Exempt, Full-time or Part-Time
Reports to: Cottage Manager or Relief Services Supervisor
Hours: Varies; day, swing, overnight or variable hour
Range: $19.00 hourly; $1 additional shift differential for swing and overnight hours

About Children’s Home of Stockton:
Children’s Home of Stockton (CHS) is one of the oldest nonprofit organizations for youth in San Joaquin County. Founded in 1882, CHS has been caring for the physical, emotional, psychological, and developmental needs of youth for over 140 years. The CHS Team is a dedicated force for good for those most in need in our community, and from around the state. Join us in our mission to guide youth and young adults forward to hope and resiliency!
Description:
Using a variety of trauma informed techniques, the Youth Stabilization Specialists provide crisis prevention and de-escalation services to youth ages 12-18 and actively engage youth in activities of daily living including cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene, and transportation. Youth Stabilization Specialists collaborate with the clinical treatment team by supporting behavioral interventions and providing daily feedback. Our goal is to provide intensive, short term mental health treatment and care that will enable the client to self-regulate their behavior and begin to process and cope with their trauma so that they may either ‘step-down’ to a lower level of care or qualify for home placement.

Qualifications

Essential Functions:
Main functions are listed here; A comprehensive, detailed list of tasks and duties are reviewed during orientation and training.
 

Stabilization and Engagement
1. Provide Trauma Informed supervision of, and support to, youth ages 12-18 in a safe and secure environment
2. Working collaboratively with the Clinical Team, implement Trauma Informed interventions outlined in the client treatment plan, supporting the social, emotional, and mental health wellness goals of the client
3. Support clients in meeting their individual goals and target behaviors and in following their behavioral change contracts
4. Attend and participate in Client Therapy/Counseling Groups
5. Actively participate in crisis prevention
6. Apply physical restraint as a last resort to protect clients from self harm, or harm to/from others
7. Be extremely reliable and punctual in order to ensure continuity of care
8. Sustain a consistent attitude of friendliness and utilize open communication with all coworkers to ensure team effectiveness

Activities of Daily Living
1. Actively engage clients in social skills, vocational skills, recreational skills and daily living skill activities including housekeeping, yard care, laundry, cooking, hygiene, sports/leisure activities, school, etc., per program and supervisory guidelines and as related to the overall client treatment plan
2. Distribute and document, per Agency standards, client medication

Professional Development
1. Enthusiastically engage with scheduled weekly training in order to develop an intrinsic knowledge of Trauma Informed Care, and to improve knowledge, skill, and expertise. Dedicate yourself to becoming excellent at your job.
2. Work collegially and collaboratively with all staff, particularly at staff, team, treatment, and other meetings.
Documentation
1. Monitor and document behavioral changes and incidents using a variety of tools including logs, reports, progress notes, notification phone calls, etc. Facilitate open communication with Clincial Team, Substance Abuse Prevention and Education (SAPE) Team, and Commercial Sexual Explointation of Children (CSEC) Team.
2. Complete all necessary documentation, including shift logs, Incident Reports and progress notes, client point sheets, staff changeover meetings, Special Incident Reports, cottage calendars, memos, Medical Incident Reports, case note binders, individual meetings, etc. in a detailed, comprehensive, and timely manner.
3. Engage in any required and assigned bookkeeping such as client allowances, petty cash for social skills and treatment activities, purchase orders and other related tasks
4. Inventory food, clients clothing and possessions etc., in order to maintain appropriate needs of the clients
5. Maintain client files
6. Other Duties as Assigned

Job Qualifications:
Youth Stabilization Specialists, according to state licensing requirements, must meet one of the following seven qualifications:
1. A Bachelor of Arts or Sciences Degree.
2. A valid Child Development Teaching Permit.
3. Completed 12 semester units of Early Childhood Education, Adolescent Development, Foster and Kinship Care Education, or Psychology and have at completed at least 100 hours of on-the-job experience working with youth.
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4. A valid certificate as an Alcohol Counselor, Drug Counselor or Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and have at completed at least 100 hours of on-the-job experience working with youth.
5. A valid vocational training certificate, credential, or documentation demonstrating that the individual is a trade journeyperson who instructs children in vocational skills and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth as a mentor, athletic coach, teacher, vocational coach, tutor, counselor, or other relevant experience as determined by the department.
6. Previously been employed as a full-time staff or served as a volunteer at a group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, or substance abuse treatment program for at least one year.
7. Relevant life experience in the child welfare, mental health or juvenile justice systems as a consumer, mentor, or caregiver or life experience with children who have experienced high levels of trauma, or other relevant experience as determined by the department.

 Additionally, Youth Stabilization Specialists must have
1. Experience de-escalating crisis behaviors with youth who have experienced significant trauma using behavioral and relationship-based intervention
2. Knowledge and understanding of the needs of children served in a children’s residential setting
3. Skills and ability to engage and develop rapport with children who have diverse backgrounds
4. Skills and ability to provide consistency and behavioral limits through relationship-based interventions
5. Skills to communicate effectively with the ability to solve problems in a collaborative manner
6. Must be a person who exercises good judgment and is emotionally mature, patient, flexible and able to remain calm during crises
7. Demonstrated skill in communicating and positively relating to clients, fellow employees, interns, contractors, and business contacts. Must possess advanced ability to read, write and understand English equivalent to a college level
8. Strong knowledge of Word, Excel, and Outlook. Specific skills in software systems as required by position, such as KaleidaCare
9. Awareness and sensitivity to the cultures represented in San Joaquin County
10. Reliable transportation, valid California Driver License, proof of valid auto insurance, a DMV driving record printout with no more than two (2) minor violations and use own car for travel
11. Ability to lift supplies up to 25 lbs. to waist height
12. Fingerprint clearance required

13. Must pass a basic physical examination to demonstrate physical, mental and occupational competence to perform assigned tasks under guidance, supervision and direction of the supervisory staff
14. Must be 21 years of age or older

At-Will Employment
You are free to terminate your employment with the Children’s Home of Stockton at any time, with or without a reason, and the Children’s Home of Stockton has the right to terminate your employment or the employment of others at any time, with or without a reason. Although the Children’s Home of Stockton may choose to terminate employment for cause, cause is not required. This is called “at will” employment.
Children’s Home of Stockton hires and promotes employees regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin or ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition or physical handicap or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law. Children’s Home of Stockton is an equal opportunity employer. Children’s Home of Stockton strives to be culturally competent, responding respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds and religions in a manner that recognizes, affirms and values the cultural differences and similarities and the worth of individuals, families, and communities and protects and preserves the dignity of each person. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Salary : $19