What are the responsibilities and job description for the Adult Care Specialist position at Lighthouse Youth & Family Services?
Adult Care Specialist
Full-Time 3rd Shift - Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues - 11pm-7am
Part-Time 2nd Shift - Sat & Sun - 3pm-11pm
Be the mentor. Be the coach. Be the steady presence. Help young people build what comes next.
Are you the kind of person who can turn a tough day into a fresh start? Do you believe young people have incredible potential—and that sometimes they just need someone in their corner to help them see it?
We’re looking for an Adult Care Specialist who is compassionate, energetic, patient, and ready to make a real difference in the lives of young adults.
This isn’t a desk job. You’ll be a mentor, coach, problem-solver, activity leader, role model, and trusted support for youth as they build life skills, work toward their goals, and prepare for greater independence.
Every day brings something different—and every day is an opportunity to help someone take another step forward.
What You’ll Do
🌟 Help Youth Find Their Strengths
- Engage, inspire, and connect with youth in meaningful ways.
- Help young adults identify, explore, and work toward their own goals.
- Use a strengths-based, youth-centered approach to help residents build confidence and independence.
- Get to know each young person’s unique circumstances, preferences, strengths, and goals—and incorporate those into daily activities and support.
- Be a mentor, coach, encourager, and positive role model.
🧭 Help Them Build Real-Life Skills
You’ll help young adults develop the skills they need to thrive, including:
- Self-care and hygiene
- Daily living skills
- Community resources
- Problem-solving
- Social skills and inclusion
- Independent living skills
- Goal setting and personal development
You’ll provide both one-on-one and group skill-building support and help create structured activities that are meaningful, engaging, and—yes—even fun.
🛡️ Create a Safe & Supportive Environment
- Supervise youth and maintain a safe, productive environment.
- Be aware of residents’ activities and whereabouts.
- Use trauma-informed language and strength-based approaches, especially during difficult moments.
- Support youth during crisis situations and help them regain a sense of control.
- Facilitate problem-solving rather than simply solving problems for them.
- Provide therapeutic interventions when required and directed by individualized service plans.
📝 Keep Things on Track
Great support also means great follow-through. You’ll:
- Complete required documentation in the electronic health record (EHR).
- Maintain accurate records, reports, evaluations, and other documentation.
- Follow individualized service plans.
- Communicate important resident concerns and program needs to incoming shifts.
- Follow agency, federal, and state policies, procedures, and regulations.
🤝 Be Part of the Team
You won’t do this work alone. You’ll:
- Participate in staff meetings, supervision, and agency/department meetings.
- Attend trainings, seminars, and professional development opportunities.
- Stay current on safeguarding, health and safety, and relevant policies.
- Communicate and collaborate with coworkers to keep the program running smoothly.
🍳 And Yes… There’s a Little Bit of Everything
Depending on the day, you might:
- Organize a group activity.
- Help someone navigate a community resource.
- Coach a resident through a difficult conversation.
- Drive clients to a program activity.
- Prepare a meal.
- Celebrate a resident reaching a personal goal.
- Help someone work through a problem.
- Be the calm, steady person someone needs that day.
No two days are exactly alike—and that’s part of the fun.
You’ll Be Great in This Role If You Are…
- Trauma-informed and able to meet people where they are.
- Empathetic, patient, and genuinely interested in helping young adults succeed.
- Comfortable working with diverse populations and committed to LGBTQ inclusion and racial equity.
- A strong communicator who knows how to engage and facilitate meaningful conversations and activities.
- Someone who can set boundaries while still building trusting relationships.
- Safety-minded and comfortable supervising residents in a residential setting.
- A natural mentor, coach, encourager, and role model.
- Flexible and adaptable when plans inevitably change.
- A creative problem-solver who can stay calm under pressure.
- Comfortable using Microsoft Office Suite and electronic documentation systems.
- A team player who understands that communication and consistency matter.
What You’ll Need
Required:
- High school diploma or GED.
Preferred:
- Bachelor’s degree.
- At least 2 years of experience working with at-risk youth and/or in a residential program.
- Educational background or college coursework in education, social work, psychology, or a related field.
- CPR/First Aid certification.
Where You’ll Work
This is an essential, on-site position with no remote work option.
You’ll work in a professional residential setting serving young adults ages 18–24. Depending on the program, the environment can be active, unpredictable, and sometimes challenging.
The role may involve exposure to:
- Verbal or physical aggression
- Loud or stressful environments
- Bloodborne or airborne pathogens
- Physically demanding situations
- High-stress or potentially hazardous situations
The ability to stay calm, compassionate, professional, and safety-focused is essential.
Be Ready to Move!
This is an active, hands-on role. You’ll regularly stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, and climb throughout the day.
You must also be able to frequently lift and move items weighing more than 50 pounds.
Schedule & Flexibility
Schedules are based on the needs of the program and the young adults we serve. This may include:
- Evenings
- Nights
- Weekends
- Holidays
Flexibility is key. Residential care doesn’t always fit neatly into a 9-to-5 schedule.
Salary : $17 - $21