The Youth Specialist provides supervision and support to all youth utilizing a trauma informed approach. They are responsible for overseeing daily activities internally and supervision and guidance tasks during appointments and while on outings in the community.
The Youth Specialist provides a safe environment for youth, including transportation to meet medical, educational, and legal needs. They model and teach healthy communication and daily living skills to youth and encourage and motivate youths’ interest to identify and complete their personal goals.
essential duties
Safety and Wellbeing
- Maintain a safe living environment.
- Model and teach self-regulation.
- Promote a sense of community and safety.
- Support conflict resolution skills.
- Utilize preventative floor management techniques to address challenging behaviors.
- Encourage family involvement and provide support as appropriate.
Youth Engagement
- Listen to and address individual concerns.
- Provide personal attention.
- Support the growth and development of independent living skills.
- Respect confidentiality.
- Build positive relationships with youths.
- Interact with empathy and without judgement.
Supervision and Monitoring
- Plan, supervise and support tasks that promote mental, physical, and social health.
- Ensure the safe storage of medications and dispense as prescribed and instructed.
- Assist with homework, work attainment, goal setting and achievement.
- Prepare meals and snacks.
- Design and facilitate scheduled groups and activities as requested.
- Transport youths to appointments and outings as assigned.
- Stay in close contact to maintain awareness of the whereabouts of the youths.
- Monitor health and other behaviors.
- Report any concerns regarding abuse, exploitation and/or neglect to the Supervisor and subsequently to Child Protective Services.
- Assist in training volunteers, interns, and relief employees under the guidance of the Supervisor.
Communication and Record Keeping
- Attend and positively contribute to weekly team meetings.
- Attend professional training for continuous knowledge and growth.
- Model positive and healthy behaviors.
- Objectively document behavioral events.
- Maintain daily communication logs.
- Record medication and fund disbursements.
- Complete incident reports as per agency policy.
- Complete other reports as requested by a supervisor.
- Provide consistent communication and support with daily accurate documentation for reports.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Schedule:
Thursday-Sunday or Sunday-Wednesday
We offer:
- Generous time off including 15 vacation days per year, paid sick leave, 11 paid holidays, 2 social justice leave days per year for full-time employees
- Health insurance package including medical, dental, vision, 24/7 access to telehealth, long term disability and life insurance
- Transgender benefits
- Retirement plan with match after 90 of employment
We require:
- High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) required. Bachelor’s degree in a human-service field preferred.
- Minimum of 6 months of full-time experience, providing direct service to youth in a work or volunteer capacity.
- Experience working with youth who are homeless and/or involved in the foster care system.
- Experience working with immigrant and refugee youth is preferred.
- Ability to pass a criminal background check & TB test.
- WA Driver’s license with a safe driving record
- Proof of COVID vaccination
- Must be at least 18 years of age
Friends of Youth is committed to equity and creating a diverse and inclusive work environment as an equal opportunity employer. We welcome, honor, and celebrate our clients, colleagues, and communities’ diverse identities and cultures. For more information, email hr@friendsofyouth.org.
Compensation details: 20-26.25 Hourly Wage
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