Description

Mission: The Mission of St. PJ's Children's Home is to be a safe and loving refuge for children in crisis and to accompany them on their journey to healing and wholeness, breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect one child at a time.

Summary:

Under the general direction of the Lead, Evening and Weekend Supervisors, the Youth Care Worker is responsible for the daily care and supervision of UAC ensuring their health, safety and well-being is protected at all times. The Youth Care Worker is responsible for the implementation of direct care services in a manner that promotes best practices and facilitates the optimum delivery of quality trauma informed care to UAC. The Youth Care Worker ensures that each UAC’s physical, social, emotional, educational, and recreational needs are met in accordance with agency policy, TDFPS Minimum Standards and ORR Policy.

Position Responsibilities:

· *Maintaining positive, supportive and professional relationships with UAC and program staff; 

· *Elevating concerns or issues related to UAC, program staff, work and living environment, etc. within required timeframes;

· *Completing all required documentation for UAC accurately and within required timeframes;

· *Ensuring that the resident to staff ratio is properly maintained at all times;

· *Utilizing positive behavior management techniques including verbal redirection, prompting, reminders, de-escalation and emergency behavior intervention;

· *Responsible for the overall care, supervision and safety of children in care. 

· Assisting with the facilitation of educational, recreational and spiritual activities;

· Participating in daily community meetings to teach, support and guide UAC;

· Teaching practical problem-solving, time and money management, and life skills;

· Assisting with daily chores to ensure a clean and orderly environment – chores may include, but are not limited to laundry, sweeping, mopping, dishes, beds, windows, etc.;

· Cooperating with co-workers and supervisors, and providing feedback to supervisors;

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

· Education

o Bachelor’s degree in the behavioral sciences, human services or social service fields; or

o Minimum high school diploma or equivalent plus one year of employment experience working in the child welfare field with children and/or adolescents in a social service setting.

· Experience

o Experience working with children in a residential setting is preferred.

· License and Credentials

o Reliable transportation;

o Valid driver license;

o Valid vehicle insurance.

Able to show proof of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases transmitted by the respiratory route if working directly with unaccompanied children;

o Varicella: two doses of varicella vaccine (at least 4 weeks apart) OR born in the United States before 1980 with a reported history of chickenpox (verified by an adult present at the time of illness) OR titers indicating varicella immunity OR documentation from healthcare provider verifying previous infection.

o MMR: two doses of MMR vaccine (at least 4 weeks apart) OR titers indicating immunity to all three diseases

o DTaP or DTap: Complete primary vaccination series. If primary vaccination series completed in childhood, one DTaP dose in adulthood.

o Influenza: one dose annually during flu season.

Minimum Knowledge and Skills:

· Must have the ability to read and interpret documents such as policy and procedures and program standards;

· Must be able to write routine reports and correspondence and speak effectively before individuals and groups;

· *Bilingual: Fluent in English/Spanish with regards to reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension of the spoken language

· Must be able to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, organize and manage their responsibilities, and prioritize duties and assignments;

· Must possess strong assessment skills and the ability to remain calm and composed in crisis situations;

· Must be detail oriented, organized, self-motivated, work well independently and on a team;

· Must have good critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Travel Requirements:

Travel requirements for the position includes 10% local and 10% overnight.

Salary : $19