Youth Worker, Youth Development Professional

Elmcrest currently has openings for all shifts, full and part time.

The Youth Worker (Youth Development Professional) plays an essential role with children placed in care at Elmcrest, through social services. Having the greatest amount of contact with residents, the Youth Worker (YDP) utilizes a child-centered approach and makes every effort to work in the best interest of children. The Youth Worker (YDP) is charged with providing a safe, secure and nurturing environment while continuously using natural, every day opportunities to teach, guide, and support residents with their treatment, goals and challenges. The Youth Worker (YDP) is scheduled in a manner that best accommodates the staff ratio and coverage requirement of programs. A regular, set schedule can be expected. There may be times, however, when any combination of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shifts, and/or overtime may be necessary.

Youth Worker Responsibilities:

• Create and support an environment by which each resident can be successful in making his/her own unique behavioral, emotional, intellectual, and developmental gains by:
• Teaching and fostering a resident’s skill development relative to his/her individual needs.
• Interacting and intervening with residents in accordance with their treatment plans and Individualized Crisis Management Plan.
• Follow residents daily activity/classroom schedule, implementing all formal goals and protocols of residents
• Maintain a physically and emotionally safe & supportive environment by:
• Developing and providing a safe and secure physical environment for each resident.
• Providing continuous supervision of residents.
• Having interpersonal skills when working with residents
• Be empathetic and dedicated to finding ways to improve the health and wellbeing of the residents.
• Using Therapeutic Crisis Intervention de-escalation techniques (proximity, time and space, caring gestures, etc) when necessary.
• Develop and maintain appropriate and positive relationships with residents by:
• Demonstrating appropriate social boundaries.
• Having integrity to ensure residents feel safe and comfortable at all times
• Having a non-threatening and supportive demeanor.
• Having compassion and being sensitive to residents emotional needs when they are in extreme distress or pain
• Actively involving residents in all facets of programming.
• Transporting and accompanying residents to school, off-grounds activities, appointments in the community, and home visits.
• Help residents build relationships, and maintain relationships with family and friends
• Perform other essential functions of the job including:
• Complete all assigned paperwork (case documentation, reports, shift logs, etc) accurately and on time.
• Attend staff meetings.
• Provide regular, documented night checks when working the awake overnight shift.
• Report incidents of child maltreatment, neglect, and/or abuse.
• Assist in maintaining a program that is clean, organized, hazard-free, and complies with regulatory standards (e.g. Department of Health, OCFS Fire/Safety, etc).
• Follow all agency and department policies & procedures.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisors.

Youth Worker Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED. College and experience preferred.
• NYS Driver’s license with a driving record acceptable to our insurance carrier.
• Technically and physically able to provide crisis intervention, including physical restraints. This required training is provided by the Agency.
• Trustworthiness and dependability so residents feel comfortable relying on them
• Be able to work well under pressure and calmly handle high-stress emergency situations, as residents’ behavior may drastically and unexpectedly change.
• Self-aware. Enjoys, and is comfortable with, interacting with children.
• Able to relate to a dynamic environment. Flexible and able to problem-solve as unanticipated challenges present themselves.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $18.19 - $22.05 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday
• Night shift
• Overnight shift
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person