Youth Specialist

Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, Inc.

Job Description

Job Title:              Youth Specialist

Division:               Mission Services

Department:         Ola I Ka Hana 

Reports To:          Program Coordinator 

FLSA Status:        Non-Exempt         

Reviewed By:       Human Resources

SUMMARY 

Provides academic, vocational and life skills guidance services to assigned caseload of youth participants and their families in a positive youth development setting. Facilitates the development of and monitors the progress towards Individual Service Plans.  Monitors clients’ progress towards goal completion and maintains client documentation in accordance with policies and procedures.  Refers youth participant and family members to appropriate outside agencies or qualified individuals when applicable. Conducts follow up services according to contract guidelines.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Assesses and enrolls qualified participants to provide academic, vocational and life skills guidance services.  

Appraises aptitude, interests, and personality characteristics of participants.  Confers with program participant, guardian, social workers, and other service providers to develop and implement a comprehensive and youth-centered Individual Service Plan. 

Provides mentorship and support to assist participants to overcome social and emotional problems.  

Creates and/or coordinates learning materials or environments geared to meet the needs of each participant as identified in the Individual Service Plan.

Provides Job Readiness, basic skills enrichment training, applied learning opportunities (addressing community service, health and fitness, and humanities) to participants.  Works closely with participants to assure the concepts put forth are clearly understood and participants are able to display a degree of competency.

Works with participants to increase motivation, provide consistent reinforcement to learning, continuous assessment of level of functioning, and continuous feedback to consumers on all learning activities.

Facilitates or conducts excursions for participants in the community which are directly related to the new skills being sought by the participant through program services.

Works with the participant’s family and circle of support to address barriers to youth’s success.

Updates and reviews participants’ case records, service plans and goals on a regular basis to ensure development and maintenance are being met, based on program requirements and contract compliance.  

Maintain files per funder and Goodwill Policies and Procedures and ensures 100% contact log accountability.  Participant file information and supportive documents must be timely entered and complete.  

Occasionally provides transportation to program participants.

Conducts work in a safe and responsible manner, utilizing protective clothing and/or equipment when appropriate.  

Responsible for awareness of and adherence to all company and safety policies and procedures.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 

This job has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 

Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university (only required for Big Island youth programs) and one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience; experience working with at-risk youth and work experience in a human services setting; and proficiency in assessments, goal planning, customer service, and conflict resolution.  

LANGUAGE SKILLS 

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS 

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY 

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS 

Must have a valid driver's license and a traffic abstract that meet company guideline.  Must have access to an insured vehicle with valid registration and safety check.  Must have clearance of Sex Offender Registry, Criminal History Record and Adult/Child Protective Services Central Registry checks that meets Goodwill's standards.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.