Youth Care Specialist

GENERAL PURPOSE OF JOB
The primary role of the Youth Care Specialist is to provide quality care and supervision to youth in the group home, generate accurate documentation and perform duties necessary for the overall safety and well-being of the youth under their care.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

- Provide appropriate direction for children/youth in their daily routines by establishing and maintaining professional boundaries and creating an atmosphere conducive to growth and development by giving positive reinforcement as appropriate

- Provide supervision to youth on and off campus, coordinate and engage in recreational and service activities for youth

- Teach life and independent living skills in accordance with child specific service plans

- Assist to prepare and serve nutritious meals in a family like environment

- Provide transportation of youth to school, medical or other appointments and designated activities

- Monitor, support, and encourage academic performance and educational success

- Maintain confidentiality of youths personal and medical information

- Properly document daily activities based on established policies and protocols and ensure effective communication with other staff

- Communicate effectively with other direct care staff during shift change and keep other staff informed of pertinent youth information and campus events

- Maintain the order, safety, cleanliness of the group home

- Dispense medications as prescribed by a medical professional once trained

- Participates in in-service training sessions and attends staff meetings

- Other duties may be assigned as special projects may be requested

WORKING HOURS

Childrens Network of Hillsboroughs standard business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, the residential group home program operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays, and requires awake staff coverage at all times. Youth Care Specialists are assigned to a rotating schedule consisting of approximately 10- to 12-hour shifts, three (3) to four (4) days per week, depending on the established rotation, program coverage, and staffing needs. Employees in this position must be available to work their assigned schedule, which may include days, evenings, overnight hours, weekends, and holidays. Assigned schedules may vary based on the operational and staffing needs of the residential program.

TRAVEL
Travel in and outside of Circuit 13 (Hillsborough) is required.

TRAINING
All employees must complete fifteen (15) hours of on-line or classroom Training on an annual basis. If the employee is a Certified Child Welfare Professional, Training hours must total twenty (20) annually. In addition, group home employees must complete all trainings required by the Department of Children and Families and Childrens Network of Hillsborough in relation to working with dependent populations in a residential group home setting.

Qualifications

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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
High School diploma or equivalent is required. One year of experience working with youth in a structured setting is preferred.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

- Must be 21 years of age or older

- Must have dependability, discretion, and good judgement

- Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with others

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The Youth Care Specialist must possess strong interpersonal, communication, observation, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to establish supportive and professional relationships with youth while maintaining appropriate boundaries. The position requires the ability to provide effective supervision, maintain a safe and structured environment, and respond appropriately to behavioral concerns, conflicts, emergencies, and crisis situations. The Youth Care Specialist must demonstrate patience, sound judgment, professionalism, and emotional self-control and be able to utilize trauma-informed approaches, de-escalation techniques, and positive behavior-support strategies when working with youth. The role also requires the ability to recognize and promptly report concerns related to a youths safety or well-being; accurately and objectively document incidents, observations, and services provided; maintain confidentiality; follow agency policies, safety procedures, supervision requirements, and mandatory reporting obligations; and effectively collaborate with supervisors, coworkers, families, and other service providers. The Youth Care Specialist must be able to manage multiple responsibilities, adapt to changing needs within a residential environment, accept and apply supervisory guidance and feedback, use agency-required electronic systems, and maintain reliable attendance and schedule flexibility consistent with program needs.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

- Valid drivers license, clean drivers license check, and proof of insurance is required

- Criminal background screening (fingerprinting ~Local Law Enforcement/FBI/FDLE, and Abuse Registry)

- Drug Screening is a requirement

- Childrens Network participates in E-Verify

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Must demonstrate effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to comprehend instructions and agency-related materials, communicate information clearly and professionally, and prepare accurate, objective, and understandable documentation related to youth supervision, services, incidents, and other job responsibilities.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Must possess sufficient basic mathematical and numerical reasoning skills to perform routine calculations, interpret numerical information, maintain accurate records, and complete job-related documentation consistent with the requirements of the position.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to exercise sound judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills when responding to routine and unexpected situations involving youth. Must be able to assess circumstances, recognize potential safety concerns, follow established policies and procedures, determine when supervisory assistance or escalation is needed, and make timely, appropriate decisions while maintaining the safety and well-being of youth and others.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands of this position include the ability to stand, walk, sit, bend, stoop, reach, and move throughout the work environment for varying periods of time while maintaining appropriate supervision of youth. The employee must be able to participate in routine activities with youth and respond promptly to behavioral, safety, or emergency situations. The position may require occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling of items associated with daily program operations. The employee must also be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

WORK ENVIROMENT

This position primarily works in a residential care environment and may also perform duties in community, recreational, educational, transportation, and outdoor settings. The work environment may involve varying levels of activity and noise, frequent interaction with youth and staff, changing priorities, and exposure to behavioral or emotionally challenging situations. The employee must be able to maintain appropriate supervision, remain alert to safety concerns, and respond promptly and professionally to routine, unexpected, or emergency situations. The position may require work during days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, or other assigned shifts based on program and operational needs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Remember: If you are currently an employee of Childrens Network of Hillsborough Florida, LLC, or one of our Case Management Organizations, it is necessary that you notify your current Supervisor, prior to applying.