Residential Support Specialist

Overview

By joining the San Diego Center for Children, you will empower children and families through transformative mental health care and educational services. Our vision is to inspire a world where children and families live joyful, healthy lives. We serve over 1,000 people every day - are you ready to make an impact? Join us - and work with purpose!

• Team-oriented, multidisciplinary approach
• Ongoing, high-level learning and development opportunities
• Culturally diverse environment
• Joint Commission Accredited Organization
• Comprehensive Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision, pet)
• Retirement savings plan: 403(b) - with employer match up to 3%
• Generous paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays)
• Wellness programs
• EAP - Employee Assistance Program
• Employee discounts for those pursuing a higher education
• Employee discounts
• Employee recognition program
• Opportunities for career advancement
• May be eligible for state or federal loan forgiveness programs for work with underserved populations
• All offsite programs have a bonus structure

The Residential Support Specialist creates a safe, trauma informed, and therapeutic milieu for the emotional nurturing and healthy development of each youth at San Diego Center for Children. Through a trauma informed lens, Residential Support Specialists are responsible for providing physical care, social and moral guidance, teaching skills, and role modeling for youth in residential care. Residential Support Specialists work as part of the Residential multi-disciplinary team and are expected to collaborate with their unit team, clinical team, Residential departments, SDCC internal departments and programs, and external team members for youth in care.

Residential Support Specialists shall assist in developing and implementing the treatment plan for each youth. Care can include physical holds of youth when necessary to prevent injury to the child or others. They are encouraged to make responsible suggestions for the improvement of the agency. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

San Diego Center for Children may redeploy staff as needed to ensure operational needs are met for the safety of our organization, youth and staff. For the purpose of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, SDCC may be required to modify work schedules, job duties/functions or assignments as needed with minimal to no notice. These assignments may include the direct care or the supervision, with appropriate protections, of a COVID-19 positive youth.

• Accountable for the safety and whereabouts of youth in care by providing active supervision at all times.
• Help youth increase pro-social behavior by teaching and encouraging self-control and emotional regulation through active problem solving, role modeling and practicing of pro-social interactions.
• Completes and passes required training and certification programs, including Intervention Toolbox, principles of Trauma Informed Care, CPR/first aid, Safe Positive Approaches (S.P.A.), New Hire Orientation and Residential Counselor Training within allotted time frames.
• Maintains certifications and trainings up to date as required by company policy.
• Understanding and following youth’s personal rights guidelines at all times.
• Interact with youth in a trauma informed manner which supports the development of therapeutic relationships at all times.
• Always intervene with escalated and/or assaultive youth in a manner which ensures the dignity and self-respect of the youth, and consistent with agency policies, including SPA and Trauma Informed principles and procedures.
• Instruct, supervise, and participate with youth on an ongoing basis throughout the shift.
• Encourage youth to maintain the appearance and structure of the common environment and personal space according to each youth’s developmental ability. Role model and maintain the structure of the common environment and personal space when needed.
• Engages in…