Unit Supervisor (Youth Advocate III)

Catholic Charities of Ingham, Eaton, & Clinton Counties•Lansing, MI

6d•Onsite

About The Position

At Catholic Charities of Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties, every team member plays an essential role in advancing our mission to serve vulnerable individuals and families with compassion and dignity. As part of our team, you will contribute to a wide range of services aimed at fostering hope, healing, and empowerment within the communities we serve. The Unit Supervisor (Youth Advocate III) provides direct supervision to Youth Advocate staff and ensures the safe, structured, and trauma-informed operation of one or more residential units at Catholic Charities IEC Children’s Home. This position plays a critical leadership role during assigned shifts by modeling best practices, coordinating staffing and programming, ensuring youth safety, and responding to behavioral and environmental incidents. Unit Supervisors work closely with clinical, case management, and nursing teams to ensure daily routines, treatment plans, and individual service goals are carried out with consistency and compassion.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must be 21 years of age or older.
Minimum 2 years of experience working with youth in a residential, psychiatric, shelter, or foster care setting.
At least 1 year of leadership, mentorship, or supervisory experience required.
Strong knowledge of trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and behavior support techniques.
Ability to lead a team in a high-stress, emotionally dynamic environment.

Nice To Haves

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in human services or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Unit Leadership & Staff Supervision Provide active supervision, coaching, and direction to Youth Advocate staff during assigned shifts.
Monitor staff performance, time management, and adherence to daily schedules and unit routines.
Facilitate shift changes, communicate with outgoing and incoming teams, and ensure clear handoff of information.
Support new Youth Advocates with onboarding, on-the-job training, and modeling trauma-informed care.
Report staff performance concerns and participate in corrective feedback processes when needed.
Youth Safety & Program Support Maintain appropriate staff-to-youth ratios in compliance with CCI licensing requirements.
Ensure youth supervision, engagement, and safety at all times; including during transitions, activities, and overnight.
Intervene during behavioral crises using approved de-escalation and physical intervention methods (e.g., Safety-Care) when needed.
Monitor youth engagement and emotional well-being and communicate concerns to clinical and case management staff.
Ensure the unit environment is clean, organized, and therapeutically structured.
Documentation & Communication Oversee accurate completion of daily logs, incident reports, observation notes, and shift reports.
Ensure all documentation is completed within agency timelines and meets licensing, contractual, and internal standards.
Communicate clearly with Program Managers, medical and clinical staff, and MDT members regarding incidents and staff/youth needs.
Maintain awareness of youth behavior plans, treatment goals, and medication protocols; ensure staff adherence.