Life Skills Specialist - Part-time

Life Skills Specialist - Part Time

Summary:  The Life Skills Specialist collaborates with other team members to develop a client centered life skills program that will provide youth with the tools and skills needed to support a successful transition into self-sufficiency and prevent long-term dependence on the social services system.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following, but other duties may be assigned:

• Administer the Ansell-Casey Life Skills Assessment and/or LIST assessment.
• Support each client’s adherence to goals on their developed Individual Service Plan.
• Provide documentation of client progress, goals, and outcomes to case management team.
• Conduct group lessons and one-on-one sessions for life skills, employment training, and educational support.
• Develop and administer workshops and/or social/recreational activities based on youth needs, interests, and goals.
• Develop and maintain a network of community resources to be used for client workshops, supports, internships, etc.
• Provide supervision to ensure the safety and stability of program participants.
• Provide supervision and/or upkeep of the condition and cleanliness of resident living spaces.
• Provide case management support to clients housed in the Basic Center Emergency Shelter.
• Monitor and document program participants via announced and unannounced apartment checks.
• Maintain confidentiality of all client records and information.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries with program participants.
• Participate in on-going agency trainings and staff meetings.
• Provide coverage at the program or other agency programs as needed (i.e., inclement weather, emergencies, etc.)
• Perform other duties as assigned (i.e., clean vacated apartments, intake paperwork, office cleaning, etc.)

Qualifications

3 Available Schedules:

1. Saturday - Sunday: 8AM - 4PM

2. Saturday - Sunday: 3PM - 11PM 

3. Saturday - Sunday: 4PM - 12AM 

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 essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Minimum Bachelor’s Degree plus knowledge/experience in youth pre-employment/training/career awareness/life skills; ability to network with the community, businesses and resources for job development/career opportunities.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to communicate clearly and appropriately in English both verbal and written.
• Multi-lingual preferred.
• Computer literate.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: 

Ability to work within budgetary guidelines established for the program.

REASONING ABILITIES:

• Able to make sound decisions.
• Able to understand role differentiation between staff and client.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of issues and discuss concerns/observations/ issues openly with management.
• Ability to bring issues to the attention of the Program Manager/Director.
• Ability to collaborate with other Youth Continuum team members, community resources, and residential  staff.
• Able to use judgement when in the community to keep self and clients safe from harm.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, and OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• First Aid/CPR
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
• Trauma-informed Care
• Domestic Human Trafficking
• A current CT Driver’s License with a Public Service endorsement (PSL)
• Maintain a clear driving record.
• Maintain a clear criminal record.
• Maintain a clear DCF abuse and neglect record.
• Initial physical examination with TB screening.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Ability to transport self and/or others to meetings, appointments and any agency function.
• Ability to provide physical intervention to youth in crisis utilizing Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.
• Ability to endure intermittent walking, standing, sitting.

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.
• Ability to adapt to an active community based, youth centered environment.
• Ability to work with and be understanding of the diversity of staff and clientele.
• Ability to function in diverse situations and diverse locations.
• Ability to work in an environment with frequent interruptions and moderate noise level.

Salary : $20