On Call Youth Counselor

About the role

Heartshare Youth Counselors provide supervision, support, and direction to children, fostering their positive growth and development in a structured, homelike environment. The role involves maintaining a safe, clean household, preparing meals, completing required documentation, and participating in meetings and outside activities with residents.

Responsibilities

• Establish individual relationships with each resident to promote positive growth and development in a warm, homelike atmosphere.
• Provide individualized care and supervision, ensuring an orderly daily schedule (wake-up, school/program attendance, mealtimes, study time, chores, and bedtime).
• Monitor each youth’s physical well-being, including suitable clothing, adequate food, medical treatments, and medication dispensing.
• Communicate and enforce Healing Home rules; apply discipline fairly and objectively per established procedures.
• Accompany and transport children to outside activities, appointments, and supervised recreation.
• Maintain a hazard-free, clean, and orderly household by reporting maintenance issues and completing assigned chores efficiently.
• Prepare meals and snacks according to posted menus under the direction of the Household Coordinator.
• Manage petty cash and other valuables per Healing Home procedures.
• Complete required paperwork, including incident reports, AWOL logs, medical documentation, and medication records.
• Participate in meetings and ensure daily implementation of treatment/permanency plans.
• Organize and facilitate independent living skills groups; record client progress in skill development.
• Deliver services aligned with service goals and objectives, employing trauma-sensitive practices.
• Provide counseling, support, crisis intervention, and behavior management.
• Ensure adherence to medication regimens and report incidents to supervisors promptly.
• Assist with household duties (cleaning, laundry, shopping, meal planning/preparation) and train children in these skills.
• Attend supervision and meetings as scheduled.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned, consistent with the position’s scope and compliance requirements.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Valid NYS driver’s license.
• Obtain S95 & F-07 fire safety certification within the first 3 months of employment.
• 1 year of professional childcare experience, demonstrating support, nurture, and guidance in a structured environment.
• Experience working with youth with serious emotional disturbance preferred.
• Experience in diverse communities and knowledge of multicultural issues (race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, gender expression).
• Skills in cooking, household maintenance, interpersonal communication, and physical stamina.
• Ability to adjust activities to meet unique participant needs.
• Flexibility to work a 10-hour shift based on program needs.

Skills & Abilities

• Openness to trauma-informed training and maintaining a trauma-informed environment.
• Sensitivity to the needs of clients in crisis.
• Commitment to cultural competency and responsiveness to cultural differences.

About Heartshare

For over 150 years, Heartshare has championed and empowered New Yorkers society has often overlooked and underestimated. Learn more at www.heartshare.org or follow us on social media.