Youth Care Worker - Lead - Shelter Care - Internal

Wisconsin Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/Disability/Vet).

Youth Care Worker - Lead - Shelter Care - Internal Applicants ONLY

Job Code: 2026-YS-001

Location:

Milwaukee

Department:
Shelter Care

FT/PT Status:
Full Time

Provide supervision of the youth placed in Shelter Care as well as staff on assigned shift. Responsible for ensuring appropriate structure in a therapeutic environment for youth in the agency’s care. Facilitate group educational activities, recreational activities, follow up individually with youth as needed, and serve as a mentor and positive role model for staff and youth on shift. Responsible to ensure all shift responsibilities are completed with the assistance of the staff on the assigned shift.

• Ensure that all policies of the program are being followed, which requires a high level of familiarity with the policies and procedures manual and expectations of both Milwaukee County and the State of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
• Ensure all agency policies are signed in Power DMS and followed.
• Be the lead for staff on shift and ensure they follow all policies of the agency and Shelter Care.
• Ensure staff actively engage with each other on each shift, check in with each other each time they come and go from the shelter, that they are all present for shift exchange, and use the whiteboard and fobs every time they come and go from the shelter.
• Ensure all critical and serious incidents are reported immediately to the Shelter Care Leadership team including the Vice President of Shelter, and cooperate with information needed by the APD and Program Director to complete required WCS, County and State reports within 24 hours.
• Provide positive and required group educational (Alternatives, Healthy Youth, and ART) and recreational activities with approval from the PD. Complete all required tracking.
• Serve as positive mentor for staff and youth placed in shelter care.
• Interact with youth and families in a positive and therapeutic manner.
• Provide active supervision of youth at all times within assigned staffing ratios.
• Observe, assess, and document youth activity per agency/program standards (logs, incident reports, behavior management logs, database, etc.).
• Maintain confidentiality within all written and verbal communications.
• Facilitate and document self‑administration of medications by youth in an accurate and timely manner and verify accuracy of medication administration records.
• Facilitate shift exchange to ensure accurate and complete information is communicated from shift to shift.
• Email accurate and timely Communication and Supervision Logs at the conclusion of each shift.
• Email accurate Census Report to Milwaukee County each day at 7:00 a.m. (applies only to overnight shift leads).
• Ensure accurate and responsive communication with Milwaukee County during the entire shift.
• Ensure that all youths and visitors, including providers, are accurately checked in and scanned for safety.
• Oversee the completion of the shift checklist to ensure that all operational responsibilities have been completed, including perimeter checks.
• Respond to all issues and incidents that occur on the shift within the required time frames.
• Complete or review all required reports relating to incidents, including children being missing from care.
• Receive approval from the Program Director for and coordinate all outings with the Supervisor.
• Verify accuracy of all intake documents, including the strength‑based assessments.
• Ensure that Youth Care Workers are all engaging in positive, active supervision of youth.
• Redirect staff behavior that is not contributing to a positive work environment.
• Elevate all personnel‑related concerns to the Supervisor who will consult with the APD, PD and VP.
• Other duties as assigned by the Supervisor, APD or PD to ensure the success of the shelter program.

A minimum of two years of experience with children of a similar age to the youth population. High school diploma or GED/HSED required. Lead Youth Care Worker will meet all the WCS employee requirements including reference, criminal background, and driver’s license…