Life Skills Specialist

About the Role

The Life Skills Specialist is a key member of the Westchester Ave CCR team, providing direct support to youth in developing daily living skills such as household management, meal preparation, and appointment coordination. The position also partners with the interdisciplinary team on service planning, crisis intervention, and safety planning to promote stability, independence, and overall well-being.

Responsibilities

• Provide structured life skills training in daily living, personal hygiene, meal preparation, budgeting, time management, public transportation, and community safety.
• Develop and implement individualized life skills interventions based on each youth’s strengths, needs, treatment goals, developmental level, and transition plan.
• Provide individual and group coaching, modeling, and hands-on practice in the residence and community to build independence, problem-solving, self-advocacy, and age-appropriate decision-making.
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team, including clinical, residential, educational, and family supports, to integrate life skills development into each youth’s service plan and daily routine.
• Document services, progress, and barriers in a timely manner; share relevant observations with the treatment team; engage caregivers, as appropriate; and help youth apply skills during home visits, school, work, and community transitions.
• Run weekly independent living skills groups.
• Provide 1:1 support to youth in crisis as needed.
• Complete Medication Administration Training (MAT) and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training (TCI).
• Maintain professional behaviors and ethical standards as established by licensing board, relevant professional association, and the Jewish Board policies and procedures.
• Travel and navigate the community to provide services where youth and families will benefit most.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

• Strong teaching and coaching skills, including the ability to develop individualized skills plans and help youth build independence and self-sufficiency.
• Skills in financial management, cooking, household maintenance, and personal hygiene training.
• Ability to conduct frequent fieldwork and travel within the boroughs using public transportation or an agency vehicle, as available.
• Ability to work from a strengths-based, trauma-informed, and youth development framework.
• Compassionate, warm, and empathetic engagement with youth.
• Commitment to supporting and advocating for young people.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build rapport and provide consistent support.
• Reliability, professionalism, respect for diversity, and belief in the capacity for change.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and remain calm in high-pressure situations.
• Strong organizational, advocacy, and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of housing resources, public benefits, and entitlement systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate within a multidisciplinary team, build partnerships with external providers, navigate complex systems, and work independently.
• Flexibility and adaptability in responding to the evolving needs of the youth served.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, psychology, education, rehabilitation, or a related field required.
• Coursework or training in child and adolescent development, trauma-informed care, mental health, or independent living skills is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with children, adolescents, or transition-age youth with serious emotional disturbance, behavioral health needs, or complex psychosocial needs in residential, school, community-based, or behavioral health settings is strongly preferred.
• Experience providing skills training, coaching, crisis support, or rehabilitative interventions is highly desirable.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to provide culturally responsive, person-centered services and communicate effectively with youth, families, providers, and community partners from diverse backgrounds is strongly valued.

Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and electronic health record systems.
• Ability to complete timely, accurate, and compliant documentation.
• Ability to maintain records in accordance with agency standards.
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members through electronic systems.
• Ability to track service delivery and related activities.
• Sufficient visual, auditory, verbal, and manual ability to perform essential job functions, including reading, preparing, and maintaining documentation; using standard office equipment and electronic systems; and participating safely in routine program and community-based activities.

Work Environment

Work is performed in an OMH-licensed children’s community residence and in community-based settings, including schools, medical or service appointments, recreational venues, and other approved locations. The position requires regular movement throughout the residence and community, including walking and travel by public or agency-approved transportation. It may also involve occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling of routine program materials and active participation in household, recreational, and community-based activities that support youth skill development.

The role requires the ability to respond appropriately to behavioral, emotional, and safety-related situations involving youth; follow agency and program protocols; maintain professional boundaries; and remain composed in a fast-paced therapeutic environment. All responsibilities must be carried out in accordance with OMH regulations, Medicaid and agency documentation standards, confidentiality requirements, and applicable policies related to safety, incident reporting, mandated reporting, and youth-centered care.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off in addition to paid agency holidays and 15 sick days.
• Affordable and high-quality medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Tuition assistance and educational loan forgiveness.
• Free continuing education opportunities.
• 403(b) retirement benefits and a pension.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and transportation.
• 24/7 Accessible Employee Assistance Program.
• Life and disability insurance.