**Youth Support Specialist - Team Lead**

Brooklyn Park, MN **Position Information**

The Youth Support Specialist Team Lead will provide supervision of evening and overnight staff through recruitment, training, coaching, and ensuring best practices are followed. They will aide other staff in engaging youth through weekly activities, modeling excellence in the completion of shift duties. Along with other Youth Support Specialists, the Team Lead will meet the basic needs of youth, coach on independent living skills, manage the house and on-site supervision, and completion of appropriate documentation. Team Leads collaborate with staff and managers to achieve the best results for youth.

Avenues for Youths original and oldest program is now known as Minneapolis Avenues. Located in North Minneapolis, this program provides emergency shelter, transitional housing and intensive supportive services for 21 youth at a time, ages 16 to 21. Annually, the program supports 170 to 190 young people.

In early 2015, we expanded into the northwest suburbs with the opening of Brooklyn Avenues, a 12-bed shelter and transitional housing program for homeless youth ages 16 to 21 from the northwest suburbs of Hennepin County. We anticipate this program will support 80 to 100 young people every year.

**Primary Duties and Responsibilities**

The following duties are normal for this position. These duties are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive.

* Manage the schedule for evening and overnight staff coverage of program, including supervision of overnight staff.

* Meet weekly with staff to consult, problem-solve, and provide ethical guidance and oversight to program activities.

* Collaborate with Program Managers to identify and facilitate staff development and the performance evaluation process for overnight Youth Counselor staff.

* Coach and assist staff in crisis management, de-escalation, mediation of conflicts and our 9 principled-based practices.

* Ensure best practices are implemented by staff in their service areas including, assessment, confidentiality/data management, reporting, and follow-up.

* Meet basic needs of youth by forming genuine professional relationships in a engaging and safe environment.

* Utilize opportunities to meet one-on-one with youth to provide mentoring and guidance, including supporting homework assignments and completing prep work for meals.

* Coach on Independent Living Skills by assisting them to establish routines that help prepare them to live on their own and to be successful and stable in housing, school, work, and relationships.

* Manage on-site supervision of the the House with answering phones and doors, completing room checks, consulting the shift check list, and engaging youth in completing chores

* Role model positive social interactions by involving youth in positive conflict resolution opportunities.

* Provide proactive intervention of conflict between youth in order to deescalate situations. Provide callers in crisis with counseling and appropriate referrals.

* Complete required documentation and communicate with staff on shared goals and objectives, including end of shift communications.

**Minimum Qualifications**

* BA/BS in social work, human services, education, or related field; three-to-five years of related experience and/or training; or the equivalent combination of education, lived and work experience, and training.

* One year of supervisory experience.

* Possess basic computer skills.

* Be at least 24 years of age.

**Physical Demands and Work Environment**

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, bend, twist, kneel, and communicate. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

In response to the COVID?19 Pandemic, Avenues for Youth has worked diligently to establish strong health and safety protocols for our community. This position is typically a face-to-face, in-person role. Currently many job duties can be fulfilled by phone or video-assisted technology, but some situations will require in-person meetings. Any interactions that require in-person contact will involve the use of social distancing and personal protective equipment.

Avenues encourages all staff to get the vaccine for COVID-19 for the health and safety of staff and of the youth we support. Staff who choose to not be vaccinated or are not fully vaccinated are required to get tested for COVID-19 every two weeks and provide proof of a negative COVID test in order to work.

**Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)**

Avenues for Youth is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We embrace diversity, foster inclusion, and do our work through an equitable lens. Persons of color, women, members of the LGBTQ community, veterans, other minorities, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the organization will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

**Compensation**

$19.00-$21.00, depending on qualifications, and participation in our 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan. Additional benefits for employees regularly scheduled at least 24 hours per week include Health, Dental, Life, AD&D, Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance. Generous paid-time off including 7 holidays and a floating holiday.

**Job Title:** Youth Support Specialist - Team Lead

**Department:** Shelter and Transitional Living

**Primary Location:** Brooklyn Avenues

**Reports To:** Program Manager

**Employment Status:** Full Time Hourly Non-Exempt

**Core Schedule:** Monday through Friday 8:00pm to 4:00am

**JOB CODE: 1000004**