Senior Child Development Specialist

Clark County • Clark County - Las Vegas, NV

5d

About The Position

Clark County Family Services is seeking a Senior Child Development Specialist to work in all Child Haven cottages and help ensure the basic needs of children on campus are met. In this lead role, the specialist trains new team members, develops and evaluates staffing patterns for an assigned shift, reviews administrative quality-control work, monitors children’s safety, provides operational feedback to supervisors and management, participates in campus-wide workgroups, facilitates staff training, attends activities with youth, and delegates work to campus staff.

The role also provides child-focused assessment, treatment, counseling, case planning, and behavior support. The specialist works with children from three days to eighteen years old, including children who have experienced abuse, neglect, abandonment, or aggression, and children who are medically fragile. Duties include working with families and other professionals, maintaining records and reports, and supporting recreational, social, cultural, and academic programming. The position may require evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts, and involves exposure to infectious or contagious diseases.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science, Child Development, Counseling, Early Childhood Education, Education, Health Science, Human Services, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Communication, Special Education, or a related field.
• Three years of full-time experience performing casework or counseling services, assessments, or treatment services in a child welfare, social service, juvenile justice, or residential setting.
• Qualifying professional-level experience and/or education may substitute year for year for up to two years of the stated requirement.
• Possession of a valid Nevada Class C Driver’s License at appointment.
• Successful completion of a background investigation; additional investigations may occur periodically after employment.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• Successful completion of pre-employment drug testing.
• Must meet the applicable standards under NRS 432B.198 and/or NRS 432B.199 to work for the Department of Family Services.
• Ability to work evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
• Ability to work with exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and with children who may be abused, neglected, aggressive, potentially assaultive, abandoned, or medically fragile.
• Ability to work in a treatment shelter home and office setting; use standard home appliances and office equipment; drive a motor vehicle; lift, carry, and restrain children; read printed materials; and communicate in person or by telephone.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction, training, and work review to cottage staff on an assigned shift in the absence of a supervisor; organize and assign work and ensure services are timely and consistent.
• Train new Child Haven team members, develop and evaluate staffing patterns, review administrative quality-control work, monitor campus safety, provide operational feedback, facilitate training, and delegate work.
• Review staff treatment plans and provide critiques and recommendations.
• Assess immediate safety factors when a child is admitted and develop and implement strategies to safeguard the child.
• Assess children’s ongoing behavior, develop and implement treatment plans to modify targeted behaviors, evaluate plan effectiveness, and recommend modifications.
• Use the Child Haven Active Teaching Approach (CHATTA) to address inappropriate behavior and build new skills.
• Counsel children on adjustment, family, and personal relationship issues, including handling difficult or complex cases.
• Facilitate group meetings addressing children’s issues and teaching problem-solving and self-governing skills.
• Participate in case and placement planning; facilitate, supervise, and document parental and sibling visits; use assessment and screening tools; and coordinate needed services and interventions.
• Meet weekly with assigned children to review treatment-plan progress, target behaviors, treatment strategies, and earned or lost privileges.
• Intervene and, when necessary, restrain children who are out of control and at risk of harming themselves or others.
• Maintain records, write treatment plans and reports, and maintain shift logs.
• Consult with professional staff and collaborate on case management and interventions.
• Develop and conduct recreational, social, cultural, and academic programs.
• Teach child-management techniques to parents, assess parenting skills, and teach appropriate improved skills.
• Recommend permanency options based on parent skills and interactions, and children’s safety and developmental needs.
• Contribute to unit effectiveness by offering suggestions and participating in or directing work teams.
• Perform administrative and ancillary duties, including volunteer orientation, public speaking, and facility tours.
• Read, interpret, and administer medical instructions.
• Drive a personal or County motor vehicle to off-site meetings, job sites, and when transporting children.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior