What are the responsibilities and job description for the Youth Worker position at New Beginnings Inc?
Job Summary:
The youth worker’s primary responsibility is to provide a safe and supportive living environment for youth at 597 Main St. that complies with Maine’s rules for the licensure of residential child-care facilities. Youth Workers support all youth in the residential and aftercare components of the Transitional Living Program New Beginnings model of Care. Youth workers, in partnership with the youth and their case manager, facilitate the implementation of activities, both within and outside of the program, that provide opportunities for youth to develop and practice skills that foster independent living competencies, resiliency, and an increase in the protective factors in their lives.
The duties of the youth worker listed below are performed in the context of a team approach with other TLP staff. Youth workers collaborate with the TLP case managers in providing additional direct support and assistance to individual youth as needed in implementing their individualized plan of care.
Essential Job Functions:
1. Youth Work
a. Conducts meetings with assigned youth and facilitates apartment meetings.
b. Organizes and facilitates recreational, social, independent living experiences and other youth positive youth development activities and encourages youth participation in planning and facilitating these activities.
c. Teaches independent living skills through experiential, individual and group instruction on how to complete chores, cook, budget food subsidies and income, comparative shop, network with community resources, manage money, etc.
d. Monitors and dispenses medication.
e. Assesses and deescalate crisis situations, behavioral issues and rule violations.
f. Participates in overnight Adventure Challenge activities.
g. Counseling with youth on substance misuse as needed, using a harm reduction model.
2. Case Management (In collaboration with the youth’s case manager)
a. Support youth in meeting program expectations b. Maintain Targeted Case Management billables
c. Assists in maintaining youth files, and records daily progress notes.
d. Monitors youth’s family contacts and may participate in family meetings/mediation.
e. Assists youth with obtaining needed resources and services.
f. Transports and accompanies youth to appointments and/or meetings when appropriate.
g. Relays information from community resources and providers to case manager for follow up.
h. Advocates and teaches advocacy skills to obtain needed services.
3. Other
a. Conducts fire drills.
b. Monitors supplies and equipment.
c. Cleans and does light maintenance of public areas of the building.
d. Participates, coordinates and/or facilitates house meetings, trainings, life skill groups and other meetings as required by supervisor.
e. Participates in staff meetings.
f. Works with and assists student interns, volunteers and on-call relief staff.
g. Participates in the training of new employees.
h. Other duties as assigned by the Program Coordinator.
Specifications and Qualifications:
Education & Training:
Bachelor’s degree preferred in a human services related field or Bachelor’s degree in a non-human services related field and 2 years Human services experience.
Specialized Skills:
Driver’s license; clean driving record; basic counseling and case management skills; basic professional writing skills; knowledge of and ability to teach independent living skills experientially; computer literacy.
Cognitive Requirements:
Good problem-solving skills; literacy and general knowledge on bachelor’s degree level.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to climb stairs; ability to participate in outdoor activities such as backpacking, camping, canoeing, etc; strength and dexterity to do basic household maintenance.
Work Environment:
Residential setting for adolescents; shift work involving some nights and weekends; much time spent in a community environment; outdoor activities. Ability to work as a member of a team required.
