Youth & Child Care Specialist PD

Responsibilities

• Supervise and support pregnant/parenting teens.
• Actively participate in effective implementation of recreation and structured programming for residents.
• Teach independent living skills (i.e. laundry, cleaning, cooking) and effective parenting skills (positive role modeling); and co-facilitate groups when necessary.
• Provide safe child care and developmentally appropriate learning to call children in the program.
• Change diapers, bathe, dress and feed children, as need or instructed.
• Administer medications to the adolescent mothers, pregnant teens and children, as instructed; accurately document that medication on required forms.
• 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.
• Uphold expectations of the Primary role once/if selected and implement trauma informed responses with youth.
• Assisting the pregnant and parenting residents in developing effective parenting skills and positive behavior while promoting independence.
• Comply with Agency rules, policies and procedure, as well as uphold Program standard operating procedures for Specialists and residents.
• Ensure that proper documentation is submitted in a timely manner, including but not limited to daily shift logs, program notes on residents, medication reports, and incident reports.
• Report all problems/critical incidents and/or unusual situations pertaining to the adolescents and/or their children to the Lead Youth and Child Care Specialist, Program Director, Supervisor and/or Social Workers.
• Document all critical, serious and unusual incidents in the communication log and write internal Incident Reports.
• Conduct room checks, at least every 30 minutes throughout the shift, as required by New York State regulations and program policy.
• Read communication log at the beginning of each shift; accurately document in the communication log what transpires throughout your shift.
• Prepare rooms for new admissions (i.e., sanitize and clean room, make bed with fresh linens, make room welcoming with welcome basket).
• Work collaboratively with case planning team to ensure youths goals are identified and consistently monitored.
• Promote and maintain a safe, secure and nurturing environment for residents.
• Escort residents to ER visits, medical appointments and school, as directed.
• Participate in orientation for new client admissions, treatment update and case planning meetings.
• 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.
• Remain flexible and comfortable with changing duties and schedules to accommodate program needs.
• Remain on shift until your relief has arrived.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; Associates or Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Must have supervisory experience, and experience working with adolescents and children.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• At least 1-2 years' experience working with pregnant and parenting teens;
• 1-2 years' experience taking care of infants and toddlers;
• 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.
• Knowledge of pregnancy, infant development and adolescent development;
• Ability to support, nurture and discipline children and youth in a structured environment.
• Demonstrated strong commitment to safety.