Youth Empowerment Specialist

Overview

Function:
The Youth Empowerment Specialist (YES) serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team providing 24-hour residential care to youth ages 12-17 who have a history of trauma, varying mental health diagnoses, and multiple failed placements that require a stable environment to heal. Working within a treatment milieu, this position facilitates youth's emotional, behavioral, social, moral, and physical development within our care.

The YES works as part of a team to maintain a safe and secure environment for all youth that promotes growth and development and supervises the youth throughout all daily activities. The YES must be physically able to work all shifts – days, evenings, and midnights.

• Organizational duties & responsibilities:
  The primary responsibility of all staff is to ensure the safety and well-being of all RE clients.
• Support the mission, vision, and values of RE. Facilitate and adhere to the agency’s code of ethics, policies, and procedures.
• Support all functions that attain and maintain accreditation and compliance with regulatory agencies.
• Support and facilitate positive interaction with clients and staff by exhibiting both in-office and in-public when carrying out job duties: individual maturity, respect for others, a team-centered approach, maintenance of confidential information, and awareness and sensitivity to cultural and other differences in clients and staff.
• Exhibit effective communication skills, including proper use of agency communication systems.
• Participate in appropriate professional development programs to attain and maintain competency.
• Effectively manage financial and physical resources to achieve the mission of RE.
• Report incidents of abuse or potential abuse involving clients to the appropriate authorities and RE.

• Monitor and directly supervise youth to ensure their safety and well-being.
• Provide emotional support and encouragement to youth in daily activities.
• Respond to youth’s needs with fairness, objectivity, firmness, care, and concern.
• Respond effectively to crises and de-escalation situations as needed while maintaining a calm and supportive presence during challenging moments.
• Complete Safe Crisis Management initial and ongoing training.
• Work collaboratively with the treatment team to assist in implementing treatment plans.
• Ensure that each youth is focused on treatment goals and can assist youth in achieving the objectives and goals on their treatment plans.
• Follow daily and weekly shift responsibilities and other daily assignments as necessary to maintain a constant therapeutic living environment.
• Communicate effectively with other treatment team staff and work within the plan designed by the treatment team.
• Serve as a role model, demonstrating appropriate skills and behavior to staff and students, including hygiene, grooming, dress, language, and social skills.
• Keep accurate and timely records and complete thorough and objective reports, including but not limited to daily progress notes, critical incident reporting, phone call logs, visitation logs, etc.
• Ensure all necessary records are maintained and kept confidential.
• Provide transportation for youth to school, appointments, and extra-curricular activities as needed or assigned. Drives agency vehicles safely and lawfully.
• Teach and support youth in developing essential life skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and self-care.
• Attend and participate in supervision and staff meetings as scheduled.
• Maintain familiarity with all emergency procedures concerning hazards such as tornadoes, power outages, floods, or snowstorms.
• Comply with licensing standards, certification standards, employee handbook, client rights, and other rules of conduct.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Varied shifts within a twenty-four-hour schedule.
• Holidays and weekends are scheduled for all direct care staff.
• Overtime may be required depending on staffing needs.
• Meals are provided for staff when on campus.
• Intense, unpredictable population with the possibility of verbal and physical aggression.
• Fast-paced environment with the need for…