Youth Development Specialist

We are hiring Youth Development Specialists to work in our residential home. We are looking for primarily evening and overnight staff. Shifts vary Monday-Sunday 7:00am-3:30pm; 3:00-11:30pm; 11:00pm-7:30am; weekend rotation and holidays.

Primary Objective: To ensure quality therapeutic service delivery using evidence-informed industry best practices and engaging in multi-disciplinary team approach.

Primary Responsibilities: The Youth Development Specialist's primary responsibility is to provide a consistent, safe, and therapeutic environment for sexually exploited/trafficked youth. This position is responsible for identifying and meeting the everyday needs of youth in a therapeutic residential program. The primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Ensuring a safe and secure environment by maintaining consistent supervision of youth.
• Encouraging active involvement in programming developed for youth
• Providing intervention in accordance with approved techniques, including verbal de-escalation and physical restraints.
• Following mandated abuse and neglect reporting procedures.
• Providing personal assistance, appropriate medical attention, emotional support or other personal care to residential youth.
• Dispensing medications and documenting appropriately.
• Ensuring that all documentation related to the provision of direct services is completed in a timely manner.
• Collaborating with peers and organization leadership to plan the delivery of therapeutic services that align with the mission and vision of The Covering House.
• Communicating with staff regarding youth progress and youth needs.
• Complying with all local, state, and federal policies, rules, and regulations.

Skills and Qualifications: 

• High School Diploma or equivalent and 2 years of applicable experience.
• Experience working with adolescents with complex trauma histories preferred.
• A minimum of 21 years of age, with a demonstrated capacity to listen to adolescents with understanding, help them find constructive solutions to problems, and collaborate with peers for service delivery.
• JIREH certified (crisis intervention and physical intervention) - provided in-house.
• Moderate skills with Google and Microsoft Office Suite.
• May not have a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect.
• Willing to obtain a valid Class E driver's license. This employee must be able to transport clients in accordance with licensing standards.
• Must adhere to a comprehensive background check.
• Must fill out a medical release form and confidentiality form.

Additional Responsibilities: 

• Representing The Covering House in a positive and professional manner.
• Maintaining the highest standard of confidentiality.
• Exhibiting knowledge of abuse risk management and peer to peer abuse prevention.
• Functioning as a team member in all interactions with residents and staff.
• Actively participating in staff development activities.
• Other job assignments as instructed by supervisor(s).

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demand and work environment characteristics 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: 

1. May experience stressful situations and events. 
2. Working conditions include indoor and outdoor activities, and weather conditions (heat and cold) could be unpredictable. 
3. Physical demands: While performing the duties of the job, the employee is occasionally required to walk; run; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; twist; stoop; bend; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs and push/pull or resist force during a physical restraint. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 
4. Work Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time during transports, recreational activities, and outings. The work is very rewarding; however, may be physically and emotionally taxing. Shifts can potentially be very long or unusual hours due to the needs of the home.