Youth Support Worker

REPOSTED

This position is eligible for a progressive sign on bonus of $1500. $500 after 30 days of successful employment, $500 after 90 days of successful employment, and $500 after 180 days of successful employment.

Position Summary: Youth Support Workers are responsible for case management of youths in crisis and their families as necessary or appropriate.

Reporting and Supervision:

Reports to the Director of Child and Family Services

Essential Job Functions:

• Crisis Intervention/Case Management

• Provide crisis and short-term case management to young people and families in multiple settings, including the person's home.
• Arrange for individual and family sessions with youth and their families as appropriate.
• Provide information and referrals to youth and adults when appropriate.
• Advocating for youth and families vis-a-vis community agencies, insuring successful provision of service.
• Provide on-call assistance as needed.
• Community Living Arrangement

• Provide or arrange for transportation for youth to and from Host Homes.
• Assure that case activity follows DHHS Division of Child Welfare Licensing Rules and Regulations and accreditation standards.
• Maintain contact with youth in their living arrangement as required by funding sources and/or agency standards.
• Maintain contact with the housing provider.
• Provide or arrange for safe living arrangements appropriate to the age and needs of the youth.
• Community Organization

• Maintain on-going liaison with community agencies, organizations and individuals relevant to the Child and Family Services Program.
• Disseminate information to the community and special target groups regarding the services available to the community.
• Advocate for consumer(s) with various community agencies.

• Inter-Agency Coordination
  • Strengthen interagency relationships by participating in information sharing activities, joint training activities, and providing services to other agencies.
  • Attend Community organization meetings as assigned.
• Recording and Reporting
  • Document client contact and case activity as required by funding sources and agency standards.
  • Assist in monthly, quarterly and yearly statistical reports.
• Intake, Assessment, Monitoring and Termination

• Provide an intake and assessment of the consumer and relevant members of their life.
• Provide plans to meet the consumer's needs, safety and living arrangements, using person and family centered planning guidelines and agency protocols.
• Provide life skills training when needed.
• Maintain on-going communication to provide the consumer with needed services, resources and opportunities.
• Implement the service plan to maximize the consumer's physical, social, cultural, spiritual and emotional well-being.
• Conduct assessments and follow-up that reports the consumer's progress, changes, and/or deterioration.
• Provide for a plan of termination and follow-up.

This is not an exhaustive list of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described. Other relevant duties, tasks, or requirements may be assigned to this job any time at the sole discretion of the employer.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience with youth and families strongly preferred.
• Must pass all pre and post hire drug screening.
• Must have a valid Michigan driver's license and acceptable driving record as determined by the agency's insurance carrier.
• Must successfully pass all necessary training required by the State, any governmental agency, and the employer.
• Must demonstrate the ability to respond appropriately to the cultural, socioeconomic and linguistical differences present among the population serviced. Must promote a culture of gentleness/trauma informed care.
• Must demonstrate the ability to develop a mutually respectful partnership with the persons served, as well as with their families and guardians, so they are helped to gain skills and confidence to address any issues and problems they face.
• Must have a conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.
• Must have the ability to work in partnership with other team members.
• Must have the ability to set limits, maintain the role of the position, and to intervene appropriately to meet the needs of the persons served and/or other family members.
• Before performing assigned tasks, must be competent in all of the following areas:
  • Recipient Rights/Licensing and mandated reporting requirements
  • First Aid
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation/AED
  • Supervision and protection
  • Prevention and containment of communicable diseases
  • Safety and fire prevention
  • The Federal Deficit Reduction Act and Medicaid False Claims Act
  • Abuse and neglect
• Knowledge of youth development, effects of trauma on youth development, case work, group work and case coordination skills.
• Must pass all necessary training required by the State, any governmental agency, or the employer. Successful completion of training regarding: Human Trafficking, and Suicide Awareness.

Education and Experience

Required: A Bachelor's degree in a human service field is required.

Preferred: Prior experience working with youths and families in crisis.

Schedule, Travel Expectations, Working Conditions

• Full-time Youth Services Workers can generally expect 40-hour work schedules, with additional hours when necessary to meet the needs of consumers. Additional hours may be planned or unplanned depending upon circumstances and may include evening or weekend work.
• Some remote work is possible, at the discretion of the supervisor.
• Moderate travel to meet with consumers and their families, respond to crisis events, or attend mandatory offsite meetings and required training/development opportunities.

Physical and Other Requirements

• A significant portion of this work is performed in a seated position, with frequent opportunities to stand and move around.
• Counselors/Case managers will be required to undergo a basic physical and TB test.
• Must pass all background clearances and Protective Services checks per state guidelines.

Disclaimers

Listening Ear is an at will employer. Nothing in this job description creates nor should be interpreted as creating a contract of employment between the agency and the employee.

Listening Ear is committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination or harassment. We do not discriminate with respect to compensation, training, performance evaluation, or discipline on the basis of race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We expect every employee to do their part to cultivate and maintain an environment where everyone has the opportunity to feel included and is afforded the respect and dignity they deserve.