What are the responsibilities and job description for the Youth Care Specialist position at Vigo County, IN?
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: $22.53 hourly
Benefits
Vigo County offers to full-time employees competitive benefit plans. These include Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, paid holidays, Flexible Spending Account Plans, 457 Plans, Life Insurance, and others.
Description
Performs intermediate responsibilities by working toward resolution of behavioral and emotional issues; providing direct supervision of youth ages 10-18 while maintaining a therapeutic, structured living environment; and performs related work as apparent or assigned. Position requires a rotation of 12 hour shift work. Two (2) days on duty and then two (2) days off. Performs security checks and is responsible for the Vigo County Homes for Children safety; maintaining welfare of residents and premises of Group Home during their shift; and performs related work as apparent or assigned.
Example of Duties
- Supervises, advises, and supports youth to address emotional, academic, interpersonal and behavioral goals’ participates in daily supervision and weekly Treatment Team meetings to evaluate youths' progress, strength development and ongoing needs; utilizes trauma-informed strategies and de-escalation techniques to prevent events from rising to the level of a crisis.
- Adheres to daily programming for youth to include transportation to and facilitation of visitation and extracurricular activities; leads youth in activities of daily living, recreation and study time; educates youth of emergency procedures, prescribed medications and safe use of food products and household chemicals.
- Maintains safety and order of the home environment in order to meet the requirements of State and Federal regulatory bodies.
- Completes a thorough, objective log of youth's progress daily; completes incident reports, as needed; maintains medical administration record and daily med counts; maintains professional demeanor and follows confidentiality practices with stakeholders.
- Serves as a liaison between parents and children.
- Conducts checks on residents regularly, and checks windows and doors for security.
- Instructs and/or advises residents, as needed, including intervening in disputes and activating crisis management for youth.
- Administers medicines, as needed, transports to hospital, as needed, maintains resident checklist and records of incidents.
- Processes and/or receives emergency shelter youth.
- Informs Youth Care Specialist of any problems that arose during the night.
- Monitors and maintains youth in facility and surrounding premises, including staying awake and alert during night shift, maintaining safe and secure environment for residents and staff.
Typical Qualifications
- High School Diploma or GED and moderate experience.
- Must be at least 21 years of age.
- Possession of a valid driver’s license and a demonstrated safe driving record.
- Ability to obtain and maintain all required certifications and training programs, such as first aid/CPR, Universal Precautions, nutrition education.
- Thorough knowledge of youth behavior, issues and trends, and accepted theories, practices, and interventions for counseling youth and their families, with ability to apply theories and interventions to both family and individual circumstances.
- Working knowledge of and ability to comprehend and use a variety of informational documents, reference books and manuals, including policy manual, school handbooks, and first-aid manual.
- Knowledge of and ability to learn and understand counseling and “street slang” terminology, language, principles, and techniques, and ability to expound on knowledge of topics related to child counseling.
- Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County personnel, school officials, support staff, medical professionals, law enforcement personnel, counselors/therapist, residents and their families, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities and disabilities.
- Ability to deal swiftly, rationally and decisively with potentially violent individuals and de-escalate volatile situations by means of conversation/negotiation.
- Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of Department information and records according to state requirements.
- Ability to comply with all employer and Department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
- Ability to compare or observe similarities and differences in data, compile, collate or classify data, analyze and evaluate data, and make determinations based on data analyses.
- Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment.
- Ability to apply knowledge of people and/or locations, and plan and layout assigned work projects.
- Ability to occasionally testify in legal proceedings/court as required.
- Ability to work extended, weekends, and/or evening hours, and occasionally travel out of town for transporting residents, but not overnight.
Supplemental Information
Incumbent performs duties in accordance with well-established procedures and personnel policies, exercising judgment in supervising and disciplining residents. Incumbent has a high degree of flexibility in the job, referring to supervisor when interpretations of departmental policies and programs are thought necessary. Decisions are always determined by specific instructions or existing, well established policies and procedures.
Incumbent applies standard department practices and procedures to individual cases, referring unusual problems and situations to supervisor as needed. Work is reviewed for soundness of judgment, adherence to instructions/guidelines, and compliance with legal requirements.
Incumbent maintains communication with co-workers, other County personnel, school officials, support staff, medical professionals, law enforcement personnel, counselors/therapist, residents and their families, and the public for purposes of exchanging and explaining information and coordinating client services and activities.
Incumbent’s work may occasionally involve non-routine problem-solving to gain cooperation of potentially violent clients in situations that may jeopardize the safety of incumbent or others.
- Employees sit most of the time but may walk or stand for some of the time.
- This classification involves physical agility requirements such as: climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, pushing, pulling, repetitive motions and manual dexterity.
- Sensory requirements include standard vision requirements, ability to express ideas and standard hearing requirements - hear information at normal spoken word levels.
Physical Exertion (Pounds)
Up to 10
Sometimes
Up to 25
Seldom
Up to 50
Seldom
Up to 100
Seldom
100 or more
Seldom
Environmental Exposures
Work near moving mechanical parts
Seldom
Work in high, precarious places
Seldom
Toxic or caustic chemicals
Sometimes
Outdoor weather conditions
Sometimes
Extreme Cold, non-weather
Sometimes
Extreme Heat, non-weather
Sometimes
Noise Level
Quiet
Salary : $23
