Lead Youth Treatment Specialist 3rd Shift - Jefferson County Youth Residential Youth Treatment

Lead Youth Treatment Specialist – 3rd Shift

Position Summary:

The Lead Youth Treatment Specialist provides two essential roles within the Youth Crisis Stabilization Program. First, direct care, nurturing, and supervision of residents, implementing daily schedules, providing group educational activities, recreational activities, and individual mentorship. Second, shift lead responsibilities ensuring staff are trained, meeting youth needs, and following program policies and procedures.

• Serve as a treatment specialist in the milieu supporting therapeutic interactions by coaching skill use throughout activities, modeling appropriate behaviour, teaching and reinforcing use and generalization of skills through a token economy system.
• Perform third‑shift room checks per policy and follow clinical recommendations for safety, including the suicide protocol, involving mobile crisis, and following safety plans and protocols as needed.
• Conduct room searches, complete laundry, building cleaning and support inventory process.
• Use evidence‑based best practices for youth with mental‑health, substance‑use and life needs, including DBT, trauma‑informed care, motivational interviewing, youth‑centered and culturally reverent approaches.
• Use motivation and engagement strategies to encourage youth involved in systems such as court services and Department of Children and Families to participate in treatment programming.
• Always provide active sight‑and‑sound supervision to youth and families with complex needs.
• Assess youth behaviour for risk to self or others and communicate with clinical staff regarding appropriate support.
• Calmly and responsibly respond during crisis situations, intervening to de‑escalate using trained verbal and physical intervention techniques.
• Attend clinical supervision as required in DHS 34.
• Maintain confidentiality within all written and verbal communications.
• Adhere to state licensing, county requirements, WCS policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Responsible for training new staff, role‑modeling, and orienting staff to the program.
• Act as a shift leader to ensure staff follow programming and meet youth needs.
• Redirect and coach staff, sharing performance concerns with the supervisor immediately.
• Provide tasks and direction to staff on shift.
• Ensure all policies, procedures, and protocols are followed in accordance with state and DHS standards.
• Ensure Youth Treatment Specialists carry out clinical recommendations.
• Monitor documentation requirements and work with the Assistant Program Director on incident reporting.
• Collaborate with resident care supervisor and leadership team to develop programming, monitor compliance, and measure outcomes.
• Administer medication and ensure staff are aware of medication changes in collaboration with medical providers and nursing staff.

• High school diploma or equivalent; bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Prior supervisory experience preferred.
• At least 21 years old.
• At least 4 years of experience serving youth with mental‑health needs.
• Demonstrated cultural competence responding respectfully to diverse populations.
• Knowledge and skills to work with ages 10–17.
• Valid driver’s license, automobile, and insurance preferred.
• Meet all employee requirements (references, background check, drug test, driver’s license).

Working knowledge of positive child/youth development, patience, understanding of difficult life needs, ability to interact with escalating youth and/or parents in a calm and professional manner, follow oral and written instructions, respond appropriately in crisis, proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel, perform basic computer functions, use time efficiently, multi‑task.

• State‑certified Youth Crisis Stabilization Program (YCSF)

• Local travel as required during essential functions

• Ability to manage youth who have experienced significant trauma

• Ability to lift 30 pounds.

Physical intervention may be required in extreme situations. Ability to lift 30 pounds. Driving may be required.