Youth Care Specialist

Children's Network of Hillsborough•Lutz, FL

20h•$0 - $21•Onsite

About The Position

The Youth Care Specialist provides quality care and supervision to youth in a residential group home, completes accurate documentation, and performs duties necessary to support the safety and well-being of youth. The role involves helping youth with daily routines, promoting growth and development, maintaining appropriate professional boundaries, and providing a safe, structured environment. Specialists work with youth on campus and in the community, including supporting recreation, service activities, education, appointments, and independent living skills. The position works in a residential care environment and may also involve community, recreational, educational, transportation, and outdoor settings. The group home operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays, with awake staff coverage. Specialists work rotating schedules of approximately 10- to 12-hour shifts, three to four days per week, and must be available for assigned day, evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday shifts. Travel in and outside Circuit 13 (Hillsborough) is required. Employees must complete at least 15 hours of annual training, or 20 hours if they are Certified Child Welfare Professionals, as well as training required by the Department of Children and Families and Children’s Network of Hillsborough for residential group home work. The position has no supervisory responsibilities. Pre-employment requirements include a valid driver’s license, a clean driver’s license check, proof of insurance, criminal background screening, and drug screening. Children’s Network participates in E-Verify.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Must be at least 21 years of age.
Dependability, discretion, and good judgment.
Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships.
Strong interpersonal, communication, observation, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to build supportive, professional relationships with youth while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
Ability to provide effective supervision, maintain a safe and structured environment, and respond appropriately to behavioral concerns, conflicts, emergencies, and crisis situations.
Patience, sound judgment, professionalism, and emotional self-control.
Ability to use trauma-informed approaches, de-escalation techniques, and positive behavior-support strategies.
Ability to recognize and promptly report safety or well-being concerns; accurately and objectively document incidents, observations, and services; and maintain confidentiality.
Ability to follow agency policies, safety procedures, supervision requirements, and mandatory reporting obligations.
Ability to collaborate with supervisors, coworkers, families, and other service providers; manage multiple responsibilities; adapt to changing needs; and accept and apply supervisory guidance and feedback.
Ability to use agency-required electronic systems and maintain reliable attendance and schedule flexibility consistent with program needs.
Valid driver’s license, clean driver’s license check, and proof of insurance.
Successful criminal background screening, including fingerprinting through local law enforcement/FBI/FDLE and an Abuse Registry check.
Drug screening is required.
Effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to understand instructions and agency materials, communicate clearly and professionally, and prepare accurate, objective documentation.
Sufficient basic mathematical and numerical reasoning skills to perform routine calculations, interpret numerical information, maintain accurate records, and complete job-related documentation.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving; assess circumstances, recognize safety concerns, follow procedures, determine when supervisory assistance or escalation is needed, and make timely, appropriate decisions.
Ability to stand, walk, sit, bend, stoop, reach, and move throughout the work environment; participate in routine activities with youth; respond promptly to behavioral, safety, or emergency situations; and occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull items associated with program operations.
Must complete 15 hours of annual training, or 20 hours if a Certified Child Welfare Professional, and all trainings required for group home employees by the Department of Children and Families and Children’s Network of Hillsborough.
Must be available for assigned rotating schedules that may include days, evenings, overnight hours, weekends, and holidays.
Travel in and outside Circuit 13 (Hillsborough) is required.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience working with youth in a structured setting.

Responsibilities

Provide direction and supervision for youth during daily routines while maintaining professional boundaries and supporting growth and development with positive reinforcement.
Supervise youth on and off campus and coordinate and participate in recreational and service activities.
Teach life and independent living skills in accordance with youth-specific service plans.
Assist with preparing and serving nutritious meals in a family-like environment.
Transport youth to school, medical or other appointments, and designated activities.
Monitor, support, and encourage academic performance and educational success.
Maintain the confidentiality of youth’s personal and medical information.
Document daily activities accurately according to established policies and protocols, and communicate effectively with staff.
Communicate with direct care staff during shift changes and keep staff informed of pertinent youth information and campus events.
Maintain the order, safety, and cleanliness of the group home.
Dispense medications as prescribed by a medical professional after completing required training.
Participate in in-service training sessions and attend staff meetings.
Complete required annual and residential-program training.
Recognize and promptly report concerns related to a youth’s safety or well-being, and follow agency policies, safety procedures, supervision requirements, and mandatory reporting obligations.
Respond appropriately to behavioral concerns, conflicts, emergencies, and crisis situations using trauma-informed approaches, de-escalation techniques, and positive behavior-support strategies.
Collaborate with supervisors, coworkers, families, and other service providers.
Perform other duties or special projects as assigned.