Lead Youth CC Specialist

Position Description: The Lead Youth Care Specialist is responsible for supporting of the pregnant and parenting residents and the Youth Care Specialists during their designated shift (Morning, Evening or Overnight), ensuring a warm and constructive residential environment and the orderly operation of the AOBH Mother/Child program.  The Lead Youth Care Specialist must ensure that Youth Care Specialists, with support from Resident Manager promote the development of appropriate and effective independent living skills for the pregnant and parenting teens we serve. The Lead Youth Care Specialist is responsible for promoting the program’s four core concepts for behavior management (Safety, Responsibility, Respect and Personal Growth) among residents and monitoring Youth Care Specialists’ follow through with positive behavior reinforcement on a daily basis. The Lead Youth Care Specialist will model professional, ethical behavior, provide structured leadership while demonstrating compassion and empathy and organizational skills that will assist staff in their own demonstration of independent living skills and pro social behavior and interactions. The Lead Youth Care Specialist will collaborate with the Residence Manager and Interdisciplinary Team to develop and sustain a trauma informed environment and therapeutic milieu. 

1. Support and supervise the pregnant/parenting teens. Actively participate in structured programming for residents. Teach independent living skills (i.e. laundry, cleaning, cooking) and effective parents skills (positive role modeling); 

2. Provide safe child care and developmentally appropriate learning to call children in the program; 

3. Change diapers, bathe, dress and feed children, as need or instructed. In the absence of the program cook, assist with meal preparation for residents; 

4. Administer medications to the adolescent mothers, pregnant teens and children, as instructed; accurately document that medication on required forms; 

5. Prepare room for new admission (sanitize and clean room, make bed with fresh linens, make room with welcoming basket), facilitate new admission orientation (review Resident M/C Program Manual), and ensure proper medical clearances; 

6. Work closely with the other Lead Youth Care Specialists and Residence Supervisor to ensure consistency in staffing across shifts and adequate communication during shift changes;  

7. Ensure Primaries uphold expectations of their role and implement trauma informed responses with youth.  

8. Provide leadership, supervision and guidance to Youth Care Specialists to carry out their shift responsibilities seven days a week; Supervise the Youth Care Specialists in assisting the pregnant and parenting residents in developing effective parenting skills and positive behavior while promoting independence;  

9. Share on-call alternating weekend coverage with fellow Lead Youth Care Specialists and Residence Manager.  

10. Counsel the Youth Care Specialists to ensure compliance with Agency rules, policies and procedure, as well as interpreting the Program rules to the Youth Care Specialists and residents; 

11. Complete the bi-weekly schedule of the Youth Care Specialists to ensure adequate staff coverage for the shift, including the review and approval of vacation requests; 

12. Review with Resident Manager bi-weekly Time Saver time cards for the Youth Care Specialists on designated shift; and serve as a backup for timecard approve in absence of Resident Manager.  

13. Ensure that proper documentation is reviewed and submitted in a timely manner, including but not limited to daily shift logs, program notes on residents, medication reports, and incident reports; 

14. Report all critical, serious and unusual incidents to the Director, Social Work Supervisor and Case Planners.  

15. Monitor and review Medication Administration Records (MAR) and submit report to Residence Manager; 

16. Provide weekly supervision to Youth Care Specialists on designated shift; 

17. Ensure that Youth Care Specialists receive all the required trainings (i.e., CPR and First Aid, TCI, Medication Administration, Infection Control, Child Abuse & Prevention), as well as other important trainings geared to the care of pregnant and parenting teens as well as infant & toddler care; 

18. Collaborate with Program Liaison to ensure accurate and effective implementation of recreation and structured programming by Youth Care Specialists and co-facilitate groups when necessary; as well as, ensure that all Youth Care Specialists participate in the training and implementation of Trauma Systems Therapy and the successful dissemination of a strengths based behavior management system among residents, maintaining a thriving therapeutic milieu; 

19. Work collaboratively with case planning team to ensure youths goals are identified and consistently monitored. 

20. Promote and maintain a safe, secure and nurturing environment for residents;  

21. Escort residents to ER visits, medical appointments and school, as directed; 

22. Participate in orientation for new client admissions, treatment update and case planning meetings; 

23. Ensure the posting of all necessary notices on staff and resident bulletin boards, such as safety regulations; residence rules and curfew times, staff schedules, etc.; 

24. Manage the monitoring of household inventory (program supplies, toiletries, clothing, etc.) and work with Resident Manager  to replenish necessary supplies; 

25. Ensure that all residents attend structured program activities, including weekly therapeutic group, independent living groups, birthing & parenting groups; health & human sexuality groups, tutoring and mentoring groups; and 

26. Perform other tasks as assigned. 

• High school diploma or GED required; Associates or Bachelor’s degree preferred.    

• Must have supervisory experience, and experience working with adolescents and children. 

• Clean and valid NYS Driver’s License preferred. 

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred 

Other Requirements:   

• At least 3 years of child care experience in a residential setting.   have at least 1-2 years supervisory experience.   

• Good verbal and written communication skills.   Must have computer literacy in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel. 

• Good organizational skills and inter-personal relational skills.   Ability to engage difficult and acting out adolescents. 

• Ability to support, nurture and discipline children and youth in a structured environment