Atlas House - Overnight Youth Care Specialist

Positions Summary:
The Overnight Youth Care Specialist position is responsible for assisting in the coordination of mental health and residential services provided by the treatment team. The positions provides quality youth care and close intensive supervision of male adolescent clients in a residential treatment setting during overnight and early morning hours. This position closely monitors the client and the facility throughout the night. In addition, this position collects, enters and files program data including daily progress notes and BRS service tallies. This position requires active participation as a member of a skills training team.  

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 10:00pm - 8:00am

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor degree in social work, juvenile justice, psychology, sociology, or related OR equivalent education, experience and/or training which is defined, at a minimum, as one year work experience AND two years education, training, or additional work experience.  [Note: No less than 50 percent of Direct Care Staff shall have a Bachelor’s Degree or 2 years’ experience working with youth]

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Genuine concern for young people and the ability to treat all people with dignity and respect, and openness to learning and implementing a Positive Youth Development approach to youth work.
• Ability to work effectively within: culturally diverse populations; team dependent models; crisis management; strength-based theoretical orientation; adolescent development; and family reunification.  
• A commitment to on-going training and a willingness to receive and act upon feedback.
• Ability to accurately read, record, and interpret information and complete written documentation that meets contract and program guidelines.
• Ability to provide visual and auditory supervision of program and youth.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a broad variety of people, including youth, families, staff, supervisors, and community partners.
• Ability to stay calm and emotionally available in an environment serving young people who require a high level of supervision and redirection from staff.
• Ability to exercise independent discretion and judgment within program guidelines.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-dependent environment and to act on the agenda of the program.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries working with youth and in handling confidential information.
• Ability to climb and descend at least two flights of stairs.
• Ability to escort and supervise clients in the community which may require standing and walking up to an hour at one time.
• Ability to stay awake and alert throughout entire assigned shift and to perform routine dorm checks and facility walk-throughs.
• Ability to effectively monitor safety and demonstrate group management skills and effectively de-escalate potentially chaotic or volatile situations.
• Ability to regularly attend scheduled shift, be punctual for scheduled shift and meetings, and be in a condition suitable for assuming responsibilities of position.
• Manual dexterity allowing performance of routine office tasks such as writing, phone use, filing, copying, and use of computer keyboard.
• Manual/physical capability to bend, stoop, kneel, and reach, as well as occasionally lifting up to 20lbs (including overhead) in order to perform functions such as accepting donations or unpacking groceries.
• Ability to perform and/or supervise routine household tasks such as cleaning, cooking, washing and folding laundry, emptying trash, sweeping/mopping, etc. 

Other Requirements:

• Driving is not required. All employees who drive for work purposes must have and maintain a valid driver’s license for state of residency, have a driving record that permits coverage under the corporate auto liability policy, and complete the agency’s driving approval process before driving for work. If driving a personal vehicle for work purposes drivers must also have personal auto liability coverage ($100,000/$300,000 levels strongly recommended). Employees are not to drive for work purposes until they have received written authorization to do so.
• Bloodborne Pathogens training is required on first day of employment and annually thereafter.
• Must complete Mandatory Abuse Training within the first 30 days of employment and annually thereafter.
• Provides emergency first-aid, as needed, and must have and maintain standard first-aid/CPR certification.
• Must pass criminal history background check.
• Food Handler's Certification required within two weeks of hire.
• Must obtain National Provider Identification Number through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System within 5 days of hire.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides a nurturing environment and close intensive supervision and security for delinquent male adolescent in a residential shelter evaluation facility.
  • Manages day-to-day interactions and crisis situations constructively ensuring the physical security and emotional nurturing and growth of clients.
  • Knows and follows Atlas treatment interventions, expectations, privileges and restrictions in accordance with program policies and procedures.
  • Assures attendance at medical, dental, counseling, or other social service appointments including transporting them if requested by Program Manager or Program Director.
  • Prepares and serves meals to clients in accordance with USDA Standards and regulations.
  • Teaches chores and supervises their completion modeling cooperation and involvement.
  • Conducts house recreational and social activities enhancing skill acquisition and fun.
  • Assures that client’s cultural, medical and educational needs are addressed.
  • Provides emergency First Aid as needed and maintains current standards First Aid certification.
• Provides client orientation to facility, staff and other clients.
• Facilitates group work for clients.
  • Facilitates house meetings to plan activities, discuss house issues, review accomplishments, and resolve conflicts in a manner which enhances development of a positive peer culture.
  • Facilitates group skills training sessions assisting individual clients in skill development.
• Performs assigned record-keeping responsibilities in a timely manner.
  • Performs periodic charting assignments in appropriate section of client file, chore charts, and meal counts.
  • Writes periodic incident reports as needed.
  • Responsible for turning in approved receipts for petty cash money to the Program Manager or Program Director.
• Maintains medication security as well as dispenses and records prescribed medications in accordance with Program and Agency policies.
• Oversees day-today operation of the residential facility.
  • Assess physical condition of facility and completes maintenance requests and damage reports to ensure compliance with Program, Agency, Public Health, DHS Licensing, State and Local Fire Marshall standards.
  • Follows daily menu and prepares nutritionally balanced meals.
• Participates in treatment team activities.
  • Attends routinely scheduled staff meetings.
  • Attends scheduled supervision meetings with Program Manager.
  • Attends staff training.
• Models and encourages direct, respectful and professional communication among staff members and facilities development of a positive staff support network.
• Models cultural sensitivity and encourages diversity among staff members and clients, facilitating a respectful, diverse living environment.
  • Makes cultural presentations as assigned by Program Manager.
  • Actively seeks out and participates in diversity trainings.
• Performs other program related duties as assigned by Manager, Program Director, or Executive Director.

Working Conditions:

• May involve exposure to communicable diseases, including a variety of illnesses and infections such as the common cold, TB, Hepatitis, flu, meningitis, and HIV.
• May involve exposure to upset, angry, severely traumatized or emotionally disturbed children, adolescents, adults, and families.
• May involve time in excess of routine schedule and/or overtime, including evening/overnight, weekend hours, and/or holidays.
• May involve exposure to information that graphically describes physical, sexual and emotion abuse of children and may experience vicarious trauma.
• May require working and providing services at locations other than program site (i.e., schools, café’, clinics, etc.,) and may, therefore, be exposed to environments not under agency control (i.e., second-hand smoke, varying hygiene practices, etc.).