Title : Youth Care Worker

Location : Beverly, Chicago, IL

Shift : 12a-8 : 30a

Summary : The Youth Care Worker provides direct care services, supervises and ensures the safety of the youth in the SAFEty program.

Responsibilities include acting as an advocate, educator, coach and role model for the youth. Completing operational routines in the residential environment and engaging in activities with the youth.

Supports and implements the policy and philosophy of the program and the Agency, as well as CARF, DCFS licensing, and funder requirements.

Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual success objectives, within the framework outlined below.

There are three levels of YCW (I, II, III) and the responsibilities are outlined for each level below.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

• Conducts intakes as assigned.

Ensures participants follow implemented Individual Service Plans, point and level systems, and behavior mentorship plans.

• Supervises and ensures safety of the youth in the milieu during the assigned shift.
• Maintains established program staff to participant ratio within the program and during off site / outdoor appointments, trips, activities.
• Responsible for timely and accurate documentation (e.g. incident reports, contact with Youths’ families, log entries, e-mail, and contact with on-call supervisor).

Submits such documentation to the supervisor / manager within the designated time lines.

• Engages youth in daily routines and activities.
• Supervises participants’ phone calls, activities, health and hygiene, and adherence to program rules and schedule.
• Supports creative interventions for program participants.
• Provides supportive supervision, guidance, and role modeling for the participants in the milieu.
• Participates in professional development / supervision meetings.
• Utilizes Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) crisis de-escalation techniques as necessary.
• Provides transportation for participants as necessary.
• Follows foodservice sanitation standards for meal preparation, serving, storage and clean-up, as directed.
• Communicates when necessary with other departments within the program.
• Participates and contributes actively in regular supervisory and team / unit meetings, in house training sessions, conferences, seminars and independent study.
• Adheres to professional standards as outlined by governmental bodies, and / or other appropriate professional associations, private funding sources, organization plans / policies and program guidelines.
• Participates in periodic evaluative reviews and / or in-house and external staff training to ensure that he / she understands and continues to adhere to such standards.

Learns, aligns with, and executes the treatment philosophies, modalities and practices of the organization.

• Initiates requests for assistance from Supervisor to address new issues or complex concepts affecting adherence to professional standards.
• In residential programs, assists with household responsibilities which may include, but is not limited to, cleaning and organizing communal areas.
• Other duties may be assigned.
• A YCW Level II will have all the responsibilities above plus :
• Secure information, such as medical, psychological, and social factors contributing to program participant’s situation.

Evaluates program participant's capacities and establishes appropriate service plans, as needed by the funder and / or regulatory agency.

• Conducts file reviews and assists with electronic data entry.
• Supports creative interventions for program participants. Conducts educational and recreational group activities, to include but not limited to, developing curriculum and lesson plans.
• Provides assistance to program participants in accord with Organization policies and procedures and in conjunction with individual service plans.
• Completes accurately, and in a timely manner, all necessary forms, case records and statistical reports. Submits such documentation to the supervisor / manager within the designated time lines.
• A YCW Level II will have all the responsibilities above for YCW and YCW II plus :
• In addition to the responsibilities of a YCW II, YCW III’s enters participant’s intake and discharge information into the funder portal, if required by the funder.

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.

Youth Care Worker I Minimum Education and / or Experience : High school diploma or equivalent and minimum of 6 months’ experience with youth in case work, human services or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Skills : Fluency in a second language is required for 1

and 2

shift; but is not required for 3

overnight shift). Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence.

Reasoning Ability : Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

• Other Qualifications :
• At least 21 years of age.
• A valid driver’s license may be required.
• Must be able to pass a background check as required by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Youth Care Worker II Minimum Education and / or Experience : High school diploma or equivalent and minimum of two (2) years’ experience in case work, human services or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Bachelor's degree may be required if mandated by funder and / or regulatory agency. (Language, Reasoning Ability and other qualifications under YCW I apply)

Youth Care Worker III Minimum Education and / or Experience : High school diploma or equivalent and minimum of four (4) years’ experience in case work, human services or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Bachelor's degree may be required if mandated by funder and / or regulatory agency. (Language, Reasoning Ability and other qualifications under YCW I apply)

Competencies : To perform the job successfully, an individual must demonstrate the following competencies.

• Ability to maintain professional demeanor while exercising judgment and discretion in work.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to attend required agency training classes and maintain necessary training compliance.
• Flexibility to attend daytime trainings or sessions outside of regularly scheduled hours.
• Ability to stay awake and alert during scheduled shift.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and goals of the organization.
• Teamwork Ability to work both independently and as an active team member.
• Ability to accept, adopt and implement feedback from supervisor and team.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Maturity and sensitivity to cultural and individual differences.
• Knowledge of group behavior, dynamics, societal trends and influence. Ability and willingness to create, initiate, and participate in recreational and therapeutic activities with the youth.
• Initiative and Time Management Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, manage time and complete projects in a fast-paced, changing environment with minimal supervision.
• Listening / Problem Solving Ability to give full attention to what others are saying, asking appropriate questions to clarify as necessary.
• Life Skills Knowledge Demonstrated ability to assess for and teach life skills to enable participants to live independently in the community.
• Rapid Engagement Ability to rapidly engage participants in service planning and achieving goal outcomes.

Physical Demands : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee may be required to remain on Organization premises during breaks and / or meal periods and may be required to stay on Organization premises until their replacement arrives.

Training & Development :

• During your first two weeks you will attend a training program to become acquainted with the Safety Program and Operations as well as an overview of the Heartland Alliance Organization.
• Annually you will participate in essential trainings
• Additionally, Heartland offers several online courses for professional development

Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September 1987.

PI240103791

Last updated : 2024-04-28