Youth Advocate Assistant

Children and Families First Delaware Inc•Seaford, DE

About The Position

The Youth Advocate Assistant supervises and guides residents through their daily routines and schedules using the program’s Behavior Modification Program. The role supports residents in developing living, social interaction, self-care, and personal hygiene skills, and provides crisis intervention counseling as needed, which may include passive restraint techniques. The assistant prepares meals, monitors residents’ behavior and food choices during meals, and follows inventory procedures for food and supplies. The position documents and charts resident performance and behavior, maintains progress notes, and communicates daily situations and occurrences to staff verbally and through the Communication Log. Overnight duties include transferring appointments from the Appointment Calendar to the Communication Log. The role also supports recreational and creative art therapy activities, performs emergency drills as needed, transports residents to professional appointments, and monitors residents during school trips and use of earned privileges. The assistant follows program policies and agency standards, may supervise or assist with residents’ self-administration of medications as appropriate, and serves on assigned or approved staff committees. Positions are hourly and as needed.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Must be at least 21 years of age.
Ability to respond appropriately to cultural differences among the agency’s service population.
At least 40 hours of training per year, including Medication Administration, CPR, First Aid, Passive Physical Restraint, and Crisis Control Techniques.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently and accurately.
Valid driver’s license meeting the requirements of the agency’s insurance carrier.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree in Human Services or a related field with one year of related work experience; an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Previous counseling experience, preferably with adolescents.

Responsibilities

Supervise and guide residents through daily routines and schedules using the program’s Behavior Modification Program.
Counsel residents in appropriate living, social interaction, self-care, and personal hygiene skills; provide crisis intervention counseling as needed, which may include passive restraint techniques.
Prepare meals and monitor or direct resident behavior and food selection during meals; use food and supplies according to inventory procedures.
Document and chart resident performance and behavior, and compile related statistics and documentation.
Participate in and guide residents in recreational therapy and creative art therapy activities; assist with planning those programs.
Communicate daily situations and occurrences to staff verbally and through the Communication Log; update individual residents’ progress notes and, on overnight shifts, enter appointments from the Appointment Calendar into the Communication Log.
Perform emergency drills as needed.
Drive residents to medical, dental, and other professional appointments.
Monitor resident movement to and from school trips and earned-privilege activities.
Perform duties in accordance with program policies and procedures and use program inventory, supplies, and equipment appropriately.
Maintain agency standards regarding confidentiality, quality, and productivity.
Serve on staff committees as assigned or approved.
Supervise or assist residents in self-administration of medications as appropriate.