Youth Care Worker - Cook

Overview

The Residential Youth Care Worker is responsible for implementing daily therapeutic programming for youth under the direction of their assigned supervisor. The Youth Care Worker engages youth in therapeutic interactions and skill-building activities and documents those interactions and activities in a timely manner legally consistent with Medicaid Rule 140. The Youth Care Worker employs their training in Hoyleton’s CARE practice model and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) to create developmental relationships with youth and maintain a safe, positive, therapeutic environment.

• Prepares nutritious and attractive meals and snacks, according to the menus provided, that meets state health standards, food service regulations, ISBE standards, and supervisory directives.
• Plans and orders food and related supplies for meal preparation, including menus for evening and weekend meals that are prepared by staff on duty.
• Prepares special meals at various holidays and special events throughout the year.
• Assures proper storage of all food items; disposes of unused food at expiration date or an appropriate.
• Maintains hygienic conditions in kitchen and dining area and cleans all major appliances at least weekly.
• Provides direction and oversight to cottage residents to assist them to develop cooking and cleaning skills in accordance with their capacity. Respond to behavioral issues when they occur. May be required to participate in client restraint.
• Maintains accurate records in accordance with agency policy and in compliance with state requirements.
• Engages youth in daily therapeutic activities that help youth develop social, emotional and other life skills including the ability to have fun and play, consistent with each youth’s individualized treatment goals as well as the CARE principles.
• Ensures the safety of youth, themselves and co-workers by:
• developing positive relationships with youth, co-workers and supervisors,
• knowing and understanding youths’ trauma history and triggers,
• anticipating crises and using TCI crisis de-escalation techniques,
• implementing TCI compliant manual restraint according to agency policy when youth and staff are in immediate and serious risk of physical harm, and
• working to restore relationships as crises resolve by conducting TCI Life Space Interviews with youth.
• Requires the successful completion of CARE training and certification and annual recertification in TCI.
• Completes daily hours of care required by documenting Medicaid compliant therapeutic interventions.
• Participates with their supervisor and youth in planning schedules of activities for each shift.
• Engages in reflective practice by participating in weekly individual and/or group supervision with their supervisor.
• Participates in clinical staffings, cottage and other agency meetings as required and meets all initial and ongoing agency training requirements.
• Requires overnight staff to complete bed checks of each youth every 15 minutes and to therapeutically engage youth who have problems around bedtime or sleeping.
• This Position requires on call status whenever applicable.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Ability to learn the CARE practice model and implement daily programming consistent with CARE principles.
• Ability to learn the TCI curriculum and successfully pass TCI written and physical restraint tests and remain current with required TCI refresher training and conduct TCI techniques with fidelity to the model.
• Must enjoy actively engaging youth, be emotionally mature, patient, and communicate empathy toward youth.
• Prefer candidates who are kind, generous and have a good sense of humor.
• Must meet DCFS/CANTS Clearance Requirements.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and maintain proof of automobile insurance.

• High school diploma or GED required;
  Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and related experience preferred.

Hoyleton has adopted the CARE (Children and Residential Experience), developed by Cornell University, to guide our culture and practice. CARE is grounded in six core principles:
Developmentally Focused, Family…