Part-Time Youth Care Specialist - Treatment Center

ACH Child and Family Services•Fort Worth, TX

14d

About The Position

The Youth Care Specialist (YCS) oversees clients’ daily supervision and helps provide a safe, therapeutic environment that supports their physical, mental, academic, medical, relational, spiritual, and emotional needs. The role assists clients with daily living and self-care skills, provides behavioral support and empathic guidance, and helps clients work toward service-plan goals. Services are delivered within a Trauma-Informed Care framework, with a focus on clients’ strengths, hope, and goals, including family reunification unless another placement is necessary. The specialist may work in other units as directed by a supervisor or on-call staff and must be sensitive to clients’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics. The position involves working 8–25 hours per week, with schedules that may vary according to program and business needs. Residential programs operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round, and remain open during holidays and inclement weather. The role includes maintaining client confidentiality and the safety and physical care of the facility.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Effective listening and communication skills.
Understanding of children, youth, and families in crisis.
A valid driver’s license and, within 90 days of establishing Texas residency, a Texas driver’s license.
Acceptable driving record and willingness to transport clients.
Ability to successfully complete a behavioral management de-escalation course.
Ability to work 8–25 hours per week; schedules may vary with program and business needs.
Ability to work in a residential program that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays and inclement weather.
Ability to perform extended walking and standing daily and to use authorized crisis intervention techniques.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a human service field from an accredited college or university.
Six months of direct-care and positive-guidance experience with youth, young adults, or families in a residential or professional setting.

Responsibilities

Complete client intakes and assist with intake documents as assigned.
Provide clients with basic needs and a clean, safe living environment.
Provide supervision appropriate to each client’s needs, including timely bed checks.
Provide behavioral support and crisis intervention as needed.
Follow and implement daily and recreation schedules.
Plan and lead activities that support life skills or provide experiential learning opportunities.
Maintain a helping role and intervene appropriately to meet service goals.
Transport clients to appointments, activities, and visits.
Provide opportunities for clients to learn and practice skills for positive development, family reunification, possible placement, and daily interactions.
Conduct house meetings and participate in shift-change meetings and other staffing as directed.
Complete required training and certifications and apply skills learned in training.
Collaborate with TDFPS, caseworkers, families, and other support systems to advocate for clients and support their needs and transition goals.
Support client and family case plans.
Participate in planning and implementing services, activities, and skills training for group and individual work.
Comply with agency, program, and licensing standards; follow program schedules and support consistent teamwork on shift.
Assist with meal preparation, laundry, supply organization, kitchen and food storage, household cleanliness, and health and safety standards.
Maintain client safety, confidentiality, and protection.
Arrive on time and remain actively engaged with clients throughout scheduled shifts.
Maintain documentation required for agency, grant, contract, and fiscal compliance.
Immediately notify a supervisor of serious incidents and complete incident reports and case notes within 24 hours.
Complete and maintain required training hours within agency timeframes.
Administer and document medication as directed by a physician and supervisor, and follow medication-refill procedures.
Complete program documentation, including incident reports, case notes, daily youth logs, and medical documentation.
Make required notifications, including to law enforcement, the TDFPS hotline, or medical professionals, as needed.
Clock in and out at the beginning and end of each shift.
Meet deadlines set by TDFPS Minimum Standards, grants, contracts, and agency policies and procedures.
Build respectful relationships with clients to help them develop skills and confidence.
Work collaboratively with personnel, service providers, and professionals.
Build collaborative relationships with volunteer organizations and their members.
Represent ACH professionally.
Be able to move and work in other units as needed at the direction of a supervisor or on-call staff.