Youth Care Professional FLEX - ADK

Job Summary

The Youth Care Professional supports the day-to-day functioning of residents and delivers relationship-based, competence-centered, and trauma-informed solutions to youth and families to help them reach their full potential. The role maintains a warm and safe atmosphere for residents in a FLEX, 13‑hour per week position.

• Engage youth and families in trust-based, productive relationships to prepare them for transitions, community interactions, and promote respect and independence.
• Maintain vigilance and appropriate resident-to-staff ratios to ensure safety in accordance with agency and funder requirements.
• Provide support services such as mentoring, emotional support, life skills training, and personal care to children.
• Execute after‑school and weekend activities; accompany children on outings and transport youth to and from home time and appointments.
• Complete and maintain documentation in the medical record system and daily logs to meet program requirements.
• Apply trauma-informed approaches when supervising residents, following established program standards.
• Respond appropriately to resident emergency and safety issues or situations, in compliance with agency and regulatory reporting protocols.
• Apply appropriate emergency techniques such as Heart Saver when needed.
• Recognize dysregulated youth behavior and apply crisis prevention and intervention—verbal, non‑verbal de‑escalation, protective interventions, and, if approved, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) restraints.
• Build professional relationships that support individual development and successes of residents, fostering a safe, caring, and supportive environment that promotes growth and positive outcomes.
• While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

• High School Diploma or GED required.

• CPR certification required or obtained within 60 days of hire.
• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for minimum of one year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards preferred.

• Demonstrate emotional competence and good judgment needed to build productive relationships with children, youth, staff, and families while implementing rules, expectations, and routines.
• Complete all required documentation in a timely manner according to established policies and regulations.
• Recognize and address escalating and dysregulated youth behavior; apply training in behavior management and TCI including physical interventions.
• Demonstrate problem‑solving and conflict resolution skills with self and others.
• Maintain the highest standard of ethical and professional conduct towards all.

• Must be able to work a variable schedule including evenings and weekends.
• The following physical demands are required:
• Occasional sitting (up to 4 hours)
• Occasional standing (up to 2 hours)
• Occasional walking (up to 2.5 hours)
• Occasional driving (up to 8 hours)
• Continuous balancing (up to 8 hours)
• Occasional balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching overhead or forward up to 2.5 hours
• Weekly lifting up to 50 lbs. (community-based staff may lift an empty wheelchair weighing up to 50 lbs.) 10–15 lbs. daily
• Weekly carrying up to 55 lbs. approximately 10–100 ft., 10–15 lbs. daily
• Manual dexterity required, including frequent use of fine manipulation skills both hands for 1–2.5 hours.
• Potential exposure to dust, fumes, gases or chemicals.
• Protective clothing or equipment as required: closed‑toed shoes; protective shields, universal precaution PPE, gloves for toileting and food preparation.
• Ability to change positions as needed.

May be required to physically restrain clients weighing 50–300 lbs. and guide them safely to the floor. Restraints can last up to 15 minutes and may require repetition as necessary.

Pay: $18.00 minimum, $24.80 maximum (based on experience).