Youth Independent Living Overnight Support Worker

Progressive Life Center, Inc. (PLC) is a Black-led organization, providing culturally-sensitivity human services to children, youth and families in the District of Columbia and surrounding Maryland, throughout Greater Philadelphia, and in most of Delaware. PLC’s array of community-based services includes foster care and adoption, Independent Living for youth aging out of foster care, family preservation, juvenile diversion, and parenting skills training. For more than two decades, PLC has earned accreditation from the prestigious Council on Accreditation (COA) for its demonstration of excellence in the delivery of services and achievement of outcomes. Learn more at plcCommunity.org .

Program Summary

The Semi-Independent Living program ensures youth in Prince George’s County, MD make a successful transition from foster care to juvenile justice. PLC runs a scattered site, semi-Independent Living program for young adults, 18-21 years old, who have been referred and assessed by the Maryland Department of Human Resources and Department of Social Services.

The program provides a high level of support for youth and their families so that they gain the life skills needed to become independent, capable, and productive citizens. Our program is housed in residential communities that are within close proximity to public transportation throughout the county. Residences consist of 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments. Supervision, monitoring, and staff support are provided at all residence programs 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

Position Responsibilities

• Monitor the nightly activities of residents.

• Provide evening/night on-site support to youth and their families.

• Conduct random and regular inspections of apartment units.

• Inform ILP Case Manager, Program Director, and all appropriate staff of apartment concerns requiring resolution or follow-up.

• Respond to program resident’s issues/concerns during evening/night hours.

• Report all unusual incidents to ILP Case Manager and Program Director.

• Provide crisis intervention services to residents, as needed.

• Provide transportation services to residents, as required.

• Assist residents with maintaining the cleanliness, safety, and security of apartment unit.

• Assist residents with activities of daily living (e.g., grocery shopping, laundry, etc.).

• Complete progress notes and resident monitoring log, as required.

• Provide ILP Case Manager with on-going resident updates, treatment progress and/or barrier(s) to treatment.

• Participate in required training.

• Perform all other duties as assigned.

• Candidate must be able to live onsite.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a High School diploma or equivalency and four (4) years of demonstrated success working with abused, neglected, and/or at-risk youth and their families.
• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice, or other related human services discipline from an accredited college or university preferred.
• Valid Licensed Bachelor Social Work licensure in Maryland preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively with street-wise and system savvy youths.
• Experience working with at-risk youth and their families.
• Research skills desirable.
• Effective oral and writing skills.
• Certified in CPR/First Aid.
• Knowledge of databases and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to accommodate the life skills needs of youth.
• Valid driver’s license, access to a vehicle, and ability to travel within the Washington Metropolitan area.
• Certificate in NTUTM Service Delivery Model within one (1) year of hire.

Physical Demands

Physical Demands (Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions).

• Ability to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• Ability to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Ability to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery.
• Ability to position self to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Ability to frequently communicate with employees/customers/clients; and must be able to exchange accurate information by perceiving the nature of sound, near and far vision, depth perception, providing oral and written information.
• Ability to frequently move files weighing up to 20 pounds throughout the office space.
• Ability to be on call and often respond to situations during off hours which can disrupt normal sleep patterns and cause fatigue.
• Ability to face a significant amount of emotional stress which can cause related physical stress.

Work Environment

Normal indoor environment. Some outdoor activities may be required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

PLC is an equal opportunity employer. PLC does not discriminate in employment on account of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, military status, or other non-merit-based factors