What are the responsibilities and job description for the Community Support Associate -Boyd County Central position at Ramey-Estep / Re-group?
Serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team providing behavioral support to youth placed with Boyd County Central, an A5 Alternative School for Boyd County School District. Working within a trauma-informed school environment, the Community Support Associate (CSA) facilitates the emotional, social, moral, and physical development of youth within his or her care. The CSA works as part of a team to maintain a safe and secure environment for all youth that promotes growth and development of daily living skills so that youth may learn to function in a less structured environment and can return to a regular school setting.
Organizational Duties & Responsibilities:
- The primary responsibility of all staff is to ensure the safety and well-being of all Ramey-Estep/Re-group (RE) clients.
- Supports the mission, vision, and values of RE. Facilitates and adheres to the agency’s code of ethics, policies, and procedures.
- Supports all functions that attain and maintain accreditation and compliance with regulatory agencies.
- Supports and facilitates positive interaction with clients and staff by exhibiting both in-office and in-public when carrying out job duties: individual maturity, respect for others, a team-centered approach, maintenance of confidential information, and awareness and sensitivity to cultural and other differences in clients and staff.
- Exhibits effective communication skills including proper use of agency communication systems.
- Participates in appropriate professional development programs to attain and maintain competency.
- Effectively manages financial and physical resources to achieve the mission of RE.
- Reports incidents of abuse or potential abuse involving clients to the appropriate authorities and RE.
- Provide students assigned to BCC with skills training as identified in the student’s treatment plan and/or IEP in order to assist them in returning to a regular school setting and maximum independence in the community. Skills training can include but is not limited to, daily living skills, crisis coping skills, emotional regulation skills, self-monitoring, and interpersonal skills.
- Maintain certification in Safe Crisis Management (SCM), unless exemption is given by CEO or designee, and utilize these skills as needed to assure the safety of individual youth and the safety of the milieu, with the goal of minimizing the use of physical management, unless necessary.
- Engage in behavior management, by assisting in modifying behaviors that have been disruptive or inappropriate for youth, observing and responding to changes using positive reinforcement, and using appropriate techniques to de-escalate negative behaviors.
- Work with other RE personnel and BCC staff to provide a trauma-sensitive environment to students at BCC.
- Communicate effectively with other treatment teams and BCC staff members to provide an effective, consistent approach with each youth.
- Provide a positive role model by maintaining appropriate dress, language, social skills, and hygiene.
- Keep accurate and timely records and writes thorough and objective reports as required by BCC and RE.
- Maintain familiarity with all emergency procedures relative to hazards such as tornadoes, power outages, floods, or snowstorms.
- Comply with licensing standards, certification standards, employee handbook, student rights, and any other rules of conduct.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Shifts will be Monday through Friday during scheduled school days. However, the schedule will vary based on the needs of the youth & program, which will include weekends and holidays during school breaks.
- Overtime may be required depending on staffing needs.
- Meals are provided for staff when on campus.
- Intense, unpredictable population with the possibility of verbal and physical aggression.
- Fast-paced environment with the need for quick decisions to deal with any crisis that may arise.
- Environment is both indoor and outdoor. The environment is at times loud and stressful.
Education:
- High School Diploma or GED required.
- Experience working with emotionally distributed children is preferred.
- Must be at least 21 years old.
- Some BSS positions may require a valid Driver’s License and insurability.
- Technical requirements include proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and any other applications used by the organization or regulatory agencies.
- Ability to understand and relate to the needs of youth from diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to read, write and converse in English.
- Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.
- Successful completion of a background screening.
- Successful completion of a TB skin test or proof of a negative chest x-ray or other documentation.
- Successful completion of Excellent Foundations.
- Maintain 40 hours of annual training (including 16 hours of SCM).
- Maintain 16 hours of Safe Crisis Management training, meeting all physical requirements unless given an exemption by CEO or designee.
- Maintain CPR/1st Aid training.
The physical requirements described here represent those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk, hear, and smell. The employee frequently is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb stairs. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance or run. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision.