YOUTH CARE ASSISTANT

SUMMARY

The Youth Care Assistant provides direct care and supervision to a group of youth in a cottage setting.  The Youth Care Assistant teaches and models social, academic, and independent living skills.  The Youth Care Assistant relieves Cottage Parents during their time off and, when doing so, handles the day-to-day operations of the cottage.  When scheduled to work with the Cottage Parents, assists the Cottage Parents working under their direct functional supervision.

The Youth Care Assistant is responsible directly to the Unit Director. Work performance is reviewed through regular supervisory conferences and performance evaluations.

This position is eligible for overtime pay.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties and responsibilities are given as examples of the various types of work performed in this position.  Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. Demonstrates attentiveness, alertness, and discretion of each aspect of the Youth Ranches program while interacting and supervising youth. Helps provide a safe and caring environment.
2. Demonstrates resourcefulness and thriftiness in the wise stewardship of the cottage and programs resources including all equipment, buildings, and vehicles. Ensures cottage, campus grounds and other assets are maintained at Youth Ranches’ standards.
3. Demonstrates availability, benevolence, and responsibility by providing support to other cottage staff during the daily cottage schedule. Assumes the responsibilities of Cottage Parents in their absence.
4. Abides by agency policies in discipline, family and youth rights, child abuse and maintaining confidentiality of youth and other program information.
5. Practices virtue and truthfulness in keeping the Unit Director and other cottage staff informed of all program related activities and concerns. Communicates effectively with direct care staff during change over and keeps other staff informed of pertinent youth information and campus events.
6. Practices punctuality, thoroughness and orderliness in completing required paperwork such as daily logs, daily youth psycho social (BHOS) notes, Medication Administration Records (MAR), weekly and monthly cottage paperwork, incident reports, and time sheets.
7. Encourages youth’s active participation in work program, educational, chapel and recreational activities.
8. Displays dependability, flexibility and availability when faced with change and displays a willingness to assist other staff members or programs as needed or requested by the Unit Director.
9. Exercises discretion and appropriate judgment to be an appropriate role model for our youth and fellow staff members at all times including work program, cottage outings, Chapel, and campus events.
10. Helps facilitate the Moral Spiritual Character Development of youth in the cottage.
11. Participates in and practices Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) techniques.
12. If applicable, provides awake supervision during sleep hours for assigned cottage.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

This position requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Must be at least 21 years of age. Direct experience with youth in an educational or residential care setting is preferred for all levels.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each area of responsibility satisfactorily.  The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.

1. Must have the ability to establish and maintain warm, consistent relationships with youth, parents and/or guardians, and other Youth Ranches personnel.
2. Must possess basic knowledge of group dynamics, child development, and group living.
3. Must have adequate educational background to provide help when possible to youth having difficulties, maintain cottage records, and monitor cottage expenditures in accordance with agency guidelines.
4. Must have knowledge and appreciation of spiritual values and the ability to develop moral and ethical values in youth.
5. Must have a willingness to work as a team member for the development of youth and families served.
6. Must have the ability to work under pressure and in crisis situations.
7. Must have the ability to accept and give constructive criticism as a means of developing ones own personal skills.
8. Must have the ability to communicate utilizing verbal and written skills.
9. Must have a valid Florida Driver License and be able to maintain a safe driving record consistent with agency policy.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical requirements described 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.  This employee is regularly required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  This employee is extensively required to sit, hear, and talk.  The employee may occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception, and the ability to focus.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Working conditions for this job may include outdoor weather conditions and working near mechanical moving parts.  Travel may be occasionally required.  The work schedule will be developed so as to provide maximum service to the youth in program.  Scheduled hours of work may vary and include day, evening, overnight, and weekend work.  Scheduled hours may also include 24-hour shifts.

SALARY

$16.00/hour

DEADLINE TO APPLY

open until filled

CONTACT

Arenetta Jacobs, Program Director II – (386) 842-5555 –