What are the responsibilities and job description for the Residential Youth Specialist position at Bethany Christian Services?
Rooted in our Christian faith, Bethany Christian Services works to ensure children are safe, loved, and connected through family. Across 29 states, we strengthen families, support foster care and adoption, and walk alongside refugees with compassion. Here, living out your faith means using your gifts to bring hope and make a lasting impact.
As a Youth Specialist, you’ll be one of the first to welcome unaccompanied refugee and immigrant children who have fled danger and hardship. Most hope to reunite with family or find safety in the community. You’ll help them feel secure, assess their needs, and provide compassionate, high quality care as part of a dedicated team.
How Your Role Makes a Difference
As a Youth Specialist, you’ll be one of the first to welcome unaccompanied refugee and immigrant children who have fled danger and hardship. Most hope to reunite with family or find safety in the community. You’ll help them feel secure, assess their needs, and provide compassionate, high quality care as part of a dedicated team.
How Your Role Makes a Difference
- Obtain and retain an adequate amount of knowledge pertaining to the sexual offender treatment program, and successfully implement components on the job;
- Actively participant in assigned activities and encourage positive interaction and growth amongst the residents;
- Attend bi-monthly meetings with supervisor to discuss job performance, and/or issues or concerns;
- Successfully follow the treatment guidelines by intervening in a caring and consistent manner, when the need arises;
- Promptly conduct the nonviolent crisis prevention intervention (CPI) procedure, when necessary;
- Oversee the residents’ daily routines to include but not limited to meal time, study time, outings, bedtime, assigned jobs, and other residential activities;
- Serve as a residential advocate by presenting social history at staff meeting following admission as well as reviewing the criminal sexual conduct and legal history, family history, psychological history, school history, and identify the issues or behaviors that would warrant attention in the treatment;
- Provide residential advocacy at staff meetings by updating the team on information related to current level, length of time on that level, date of placement, length of stay, goal attainment percentages from the prior 4 weeks, school progress report, think tank or room restriction time, incident reports, assessment of overall functioning, interaction with peers and staff, and recommendation for new or revised treatment goals;
- Perform essential functions of this position without operating a motor vehicle;
- Maintain a flexible work schedule, including the ability to work night shifts, weekends, and holiday shifts;
- May be required or asked to participate in a Bethany sponsored event;
- Complete other duties as assigned.
- High School Diploma or equivalent;
- Minimum of one year of child welfare experience working with children and/or adolescents;
- Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred;
- Prior experience working with individuals with sexual disorders, preferred;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
- Must have an ability to provide excellent and compassionate customer service;
- Ability to work independently and exercise a high level of confidentiality;
- Must be reliable with time sensitive deadlines and tasks;
- Demonstrated temperament to work and care for special needs youth who may have present sexual disorders in a residential setting;
- Have the ability to serve as positive role model;
- Demonstrated ability to nurture and provide structure, support, and respect to others;
- Must be able to pass required medical examinations and have the physical ability to fulfill the essential job functions, including physical restraints of a resident;
- Must be able to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team;
- Computer and typing skills sufficient to perform essential job functions;
- This position requires the availability for night shifts, weekends shifts, and holiday coverage.
- Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions including knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite;
- Must be 21 years old with a valid driver’s license with at least 3 years of driving experience in the U.S. to operate a vehicle on behalf of Bethany;
- Must pass a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check and maintain a reliable vehicle with proof of adequate insurance coverage;
- Pass a criminal history screen, including state and local child protection agency registries;
- Subscription to and integration of the agency Statement of Faith, Mission Statement, and Commitment to Unity.
- Experience a team environment with other professionals who are motivated by faith, support one another, pursue excellence, and are in it for the long haul
- Access to training, professional development, and career growth opportunities
- Low-cost health benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
- Matching 403B retirement contributions
- Generous time off (11 paid holidays, PTO Your Way, paid parental leave, separate sick and paid absence banks)
- Education reimbursement for master’s degree program in human services
- Comprehensive employee assistance and wellness program
- Employee covered long-term disability and term life insurance