What are the responsibilities and job description for the Youth Support Specialist position at Josiah White's?
Job Title: Youth Support Specialist
Department: Residential Services
Employment Status: Full-time/ Regular/ Non-Exempt
Qualifications: A Christian with strong convictions who is also in agreement with Josiah White’s mission statement, Statement of Faith, and Code of Conduct. This person must be 21 years of age and have a high school diploma or equivalent. Bachelors in Human Services or related fields preferred. The regular Youth Support Specialist must function as a positive role model for residents.
Reports to: Residential Supervisor
Job Summary: Youth Support Specialists can help youth learn to function in a home-like setting. By example and teaching primarily using the Teaching Family Model (TFM) modality; Youth Support Specialists can offer; healthy values, a safe and secure structured environment, and opportunities for relationship building. Youth Support Specialists will work as a full member of a treatment team for the home of residents. Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs.
Basic Responsibilities
Department: Residential Services
Employment Status: Full-time/ Regular/ Non-Exempt
Qualifications: A Christian with strong convictions who is also in agreement with Josiah White’s mission statement, Statement of Faith, and Code of Conduct. This person must be 21 years of age and have a high school diploma or equivalent. Bachelors in Human Services or related fields preferred. The regular Youth Support Specialist must function as a positive role model for residents.
Reports to: Residential Supervisor
Job Summary: Youth Support Specialists can help youth learn to function in a home-like setting. By example and teaching primarily using the Teaching Family Model (TFM) modality; Youth Support Specialists can offer; healthy values, a safe and secure structured environment, and opportunities for relationship building. Youth Support Specialists will work as a full member of a treatment team for the home of residents. Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs.
Basic Responsibilities
- Provide clear consistent home rules and daily routines for residents through the use of the TFM system.
- Implement the TFM to fidelity through the use of complete teachings with an understanding of the theories that underlie TFM Core training, including: learning theory, motivation systems, and skills curriculum.
- Participate in monthly TFM consultations to identify strengths and areas for growth in using the model.
- Participate in yearly evaluations for certification as a Youth Support Specialist.
- Supervise student daily tasks/ activities; chores, laundry, homework, meal times, chapel, recreation, athletic games, etc.
- Work with treatment team members and general staff to develop, implement, and review resident’s treatment plans and quarterly reports.
- Counsel residents within the TFM skill scope: social, interpersonal relationships, personal hygiene, domestic skills, work habits, etc.
- Work with families of residents as requested by members of the treatment team.
- Provide basic first aid for residents and keep necessary records of resident’s medical needs.
- Apply universal precautions procedures when exposed to bodily fluids.
- Accompany residents to medical appointments when necessary.
- Maintain home cleanliness (report all major maintenance problems).
- Provide recreation/activities for residents and walk residents to various campus facilities.
- Engage in conflict resolution, intervene in crisis situations, and physically restrain residents with trained technique when necessary.
- Perform administrative functions: daily shift report, client progress note, order requisition, clothing records, student checkbooks, treatment work, IL logs, signature cards, signature bank book, etc.
- Promote a Christ-Centered environment within the home and campus setting facilitating and/or supporting Youth Support Specialist facilitation of devotions in the home setting; support Josiah White’s Chaplain and/or Spiritual Life Director in campus Spiritual Life programming.
- Attend staff meetings, training, review boards, etc.
- Ensure the safety and well-being for youth (i.e. monitor medication including psychotropic medications, First aid needs, physical needs, bedding, diet, recreation, and emotional needs).
- Prepare meals for the home as needed. (Sunday night, breakfast daily, and when the cafeteria is closed).
- Complete other duties as required by the Residential Supervisor.
- This position requires a person to work independently. Youth Support Specialists must be: organized, at work on time, willing to work additional shifts, and able to take on extra job responsibilities.
- This person needs to enjoy working with other staff members and have the ability to get along in a community type environment.
- Must have a valid driver’s license.
- Must be open to different styles of intervening with residents.
- A willingness to be involved in training and learning new ways to deal with residents.
- Must demonstrate the needed skills to work with residents: relationship building, structured, flexible, communication, assertiveness, genuineness, and patience, balance of grace and truth, and composure in crisis situations.
- Must be able to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
- Must be committed to the Mission, Core Values, and Vision of Josiah White’s.
- Must be able to be on feet for extended periods of time, do significant walking, and actively supervise home recreation.
- Able to perform routine home maintenance and cleaning, planting flowers, painting, scrubbing floors, etc.
- Must be able to complete First Aid/CPR expectations per the Red Cross. Specifically, must be able to get down to the floor and stand back up to perform chest compressions to the depth of at least two inches and give rescue breaths which includes getting on knee(s) and leaning forward without putting pressure on victim’s head.
- Must be able to complete the MindSet physical restraint techniques for residents who are in crisis (expected to meet the requirements of MindSet physical restraints) in order to become certified. This may include the following:
- Vertical Containment- Approach from behind the aggressor with arms raised. Initiate contact with your forearms to the aggressor’s triceps and push the arms forward. Lead with the foot and place the side of your head directly below the aggressor’s shoulder while making chest to back contact. Your shoulders should be at a 45 degree angle. Find your hands and grasp your wrist while pointing your elbows to the ground. Maintain chest to back contact while alternating and widening your stance.
- Object Containment and Release- Assist a partner who has applied the embrace on an individual using an object aggressively. Establish a position on the side of the aggressor closest to the object. Secure the wrist. Using both hands, slide the thumb to a parallel position with the fingers. Release the object by pulling up or pushing down. Throw the object a safe distance away. Communicate with your partner and the aggressor to determine direction.
- Leveraged Embrace- Approach from behind the aggressor with arms raised. Initiate contact with your forearms to the aggressor’s triceps and push the arms forward. Step in and place the side of your head directly below the aggressor’s shoulder while making chest to back contact. Your shoulders should be at a 45 degree angle. Find your hands first then slide to the aggressor’s wrist. Grasp each of the aggressor’s wrists and slide your elbow to the crest of the hip. (Same side of the aggressor's body as your head). Leverage the hip forward with your elbow while alternating and widening your stance.
- Assisted Relocation- From the leveraged embrace, go to the side opposite your partner’s head. Take the grasp of the wrist opposite from you. Place your free hand on the shoulder nearest to you. Stay close and communicate.
- Single Staff Follow Down- From the leveraged embrace, follow the downward movement by going to the knee opposite your head while leaning into the aggressor. Use the momentum to rotate the aggressor to his/her side while positioning your body perpendicular from the chest-to-back contact. Spread your legs for stability. The individual’s shoulders should be perpendicular to the floor. Maintain chest-to-back contact and elbow leverage.
- Duel Staff Bring Down- From the leveraged embrace, ask for assistance to take the aggressor to the floor. Approach on the head side of your partner and secure the legs by dropping to a knee and grasping the ankles in front. (Left to left, right to right).Plant the feet to the floor and communicate with your partner. Go down on the knee opposite your head and use the momentum to rotate the aggressor to his/her side. The shoulders should be perpendicular to the floor. Stack the legs, make chest contact with the back of the knees, and forearm contact with the thighs and shins. Lay flat with your legs spread for stability.
- Must have energy and stamina to work from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on a regular basis, if shift applies.
- Work days will be scheduled on a two week cycle. 7AM-10PM Rotating schedule, 2PM-10PM and 7AM-3PM Monday-Friday schedule, and 7AM-10PM Weekends only.
- Pay varies depending on the schedule selected.
- Attend work regularly and be on time.
- Flexibility in taking days off may be necessary.
- Will work holidays as scheduled.
Salary : $25,000 - $44,100