Direct Care Staff (On-Call) - South King County Youth Shelter

About the role

The Y actively promotes a culture free from bias and injustice and is dedicated to removing institutional and systemic barriers that result in oppression and racism. We will be accountable to marginalized communities for creating equitable and sustainable environments where social justice is woven into every facet of our programs, and by caring for our communities in a culturally versatile and respectful manner.

This position supports youth who may have experience in foster care, homelessness, disconnection from school, juvenile justice, and/or other systems in developing the skills to live independently. Provides general support to youth in family engagement, mental health, health and wellness, education, employment/career development, housing, technology, or other designated field and supports them in achieving their goals. Provides information and referral services. Creates a welcoming and supportive environment at the YMCA.

The South King County Youth Shelter is a 24/7 group home for youth ages 12–17, for up to 21 days, who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness and have been self-referred, referred by a provider, community member, street outreach team, or law enforcement. SKYS staff and case managers work with youth to increase stabilization, transition youth to safe and stable housing, and work toward family reunification whenever possible.

This position is with the Y Social Impact Center, the social services division of the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS), serving around 5,000 youth, young adults, and families every year in communities across King County, Pierce County, and various counties across WA. Through our programs we aim to strengthen young people’s ability to develop to their fullest potential through four strategies: reducing risk factors; navigating systems toward successful life transition; establishing stability, safety and wellness in times of crisis; and building competencies and social capital. The Social Impact Center’s programs include homelessness prevention, housing, behavioral health, crisis response, foster care licensing, violence prevention, and employment.

Since many of the young people we serve have been involved in the foster care, criminal justice, behavioral health, and/or homelessness systems, we truly value relatable lived experience of our staff and those applying for our positions as an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provides general support to young adults in education, employment/career development, housing, technology, or other designated field and supports them in achieving their goals.
• Builds strong relationships with Y program participants to effectively provide quality services.
• Develops or assists development of individualized, strengths-based, youth-driven service plans.
• Must understand contract/grant terms and conditions to ensure program outcome requirements are met and services rendered to young adults appropriately.
• Maintains clear, professional, timely participant contact notes, service plans, progress updates, outcomes, and other documentation in designated databases.
• Provides direct service and referrals to under-served populations in South King County.
• Teams effectively and collaboratively with YMCA staff and/or community partners to plan and facilitate activities, including visits to related resources in the community.
• Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with funding liaisons, other service providers, businesses and/or educational institutions as related to specialized services.
• Supports participant success in key domains such as safe and stable housing, permanent connections to supportive adults, education and employment, health and well-being, and life skills.

Requirements

• Must have high school diploma/GED/HSEC.
• Minimum one year of experience working with teens or young adults in foster care, group care, housing, education, juvenile justice, anti-poverty, vocational support, mental health, chemical dependency and/or homelessness fields.
• Must be 21 years of age (unless between 18 and 21 years and enrolled in an internship, as well as be supervised by a staff 21 years of age or older).
• Ability to teach effective independence skills for a variety of learning styles and to plan supportive activities.
• Strong youth engagement and relationship-building skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Ability to transport self and client(s) in a safe and effective manner, and to meet clients at community locations; proof of adequate vehicle insurance coverage is required, or ability to travel to areas without public transportation.
• Current state-approved First Aid and CPR certification.
• Current approved HIV blood borne pathogens training (must be completed within 30 days of being hired).

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree.
• Prefer knowledge of, and previous experience with, diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, etc.).
• Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.

Authorized Driver Requirement

This role transports clients as an “authorized driver” for the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS) using an employer-provided vehicle. Driving duties for this role are required. Driving roles are safety-sensitive. To become an authorized driver, you must be 21+, have possessed a driver’s license for at least 3 years, and pass a drug screen that will test for impairing substances (including marijuana).

YGS Driving Record Standards (within the last three years): no more than two vehicle-related suspensions and/or reinstatements; no more than two moving violations and/or accidents. Within the last five years: no major violations (e.g., DUI/DWI/OUI/OWI, hit-and-run involving bodily injury, felony death by motor vehicle, racing, fleeing/eluding police, driving with a suspended/revoked license/insurance, speeding over 20 mph over the limit).

Driving records that result in permanent disqualification include: more than three DUI/DWI/OUI/OWI; hit-and-run resulting in bodily injury or death; manslaughter/felony death by motor vehicle.

Due to state-specific reporting requirements, we are not currently able to enroll California driver’s license holders as authorized drivers. The YMCA of Greater Seattle will conduct individualized assessments of applicant criminal histories.

Benefits

• Membership to the YMCA of Greater Seattle for you and your household.
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Retirement with generous employer contributions.
• Free access to mental health resources.
• Rapidly-accruing paid time off (PTO).
• Discounts on qualifying YMCA of Greater Seattle childcare and day camp programs.

Pay

Hiring range: $25.00 – $28.00/hour.

Schedule

This position is on-call, part-time, and will sign up to fill open shifts. This is an in-person/on-site role in Auburn with a requirement of filling 9 shifts per quarter.

Day and swing shifts are Monday through Sunday with varying hours that are generally 8 am–4 pm or 4 pm–midnight. Overnight shifts are Monday through Sunday with varying hours, generally midnight–8 am. Overnight shifts are awake shifts that require you to be awake and alert for the entirety of the shift and also qualify for a shift differential.