St. Michael's | Youth Care Worker

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE•Houston, TX

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Catholic Charities is looking for the right people; people who wish to serve their community as a part of a family friendly organization doing good within the Houston-Galveston area. We attract and retain the best talent by investing in our employees. People of all faiths helping people in need. The Youth Care Worker is responsible for providing personalized, trauma informed care and services that uphold program policies and procedures following licensure, funder, and agency requirements. This includes ensuring the client's rights to a safe, culturally sensitive, and age appropriate environment. The Youth Care Worker routinely assists in the daily activities, transportation, and monitoring of clients as indicated by the client's service plan, including personal care, socialization, education, recreation, orientation, behavior management, and safety plans. As part of the program treatment team, the Youth Care Worker is responsible for the daily documentation of client behavior and incident reporting, as well as the first line of response when a situation arises. Youth Care Workers participate in quality activities through their active contribution in monthly shift meetings, departmental meetings, program meetings, and required ongoing training.

Requirements

High School diploma or GED
One (1) year experience in the child welfare field working with children or adolescents in a social service setting.
Bilingual (English/Spanish)
Valid Texas driver's license

Nice To Haves

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to cook, handle laundry, and house cleaning.
Ability to follow complex oral and written directions with attention to detail.
Ability to safely drive and transport clients in agency vehicles.
Pleasant disposition and professional demeanor.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport and trust with diverse populations.
Ability to appropriately handle and maintain confidential information.
Able to prioritize work responsibilities, handle multiple tasks, and work in a fast-paced environment.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of professional boundaries with children in care, staff and volunteers

Responsibilities

Provide consistent supervision and quality care to clients in accordance with program policies and client rights.
Support clients with daily activities outlined in individualized service plans.
Create and maintain a safe, structured, and nurturing environment.
Follow direction from shift leadership to implement safety and behavior management plans.
Apply Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) to de escalate and stabilize youth when necessary.
Maintain appropriate supervision ratios at all times, including during activities and off site outings.
Safely transport clients using company vehicles to appointments, school, and recreational activities.
Monitor client behavior and ensure safety protocols are followed at all times.
Report concerns, incidents, or behavioral issues to the supervisor promptly.
Complete accurate and timely documentation, including progress notes and incident reports.
Communicate effectively with supervisors, team members, and other departments to ensure continuity of care.
Report any concerns or questions before completing assigned tasks when clarification is needed.
Assist with planning and facilitating client activities in accordance with program guidelines.
Ensure all activities meet safety, licensing, and compliance standards.
Seek guidance from supervisors when needed to perform duties effectively.
Maintain strict confidentiality of client information.
Adhere to all state, agency, and funding requirements.
Attend required and mandatory trainings and meetings to maintain compliance with agency and regulating entity standards.
Support team communication by sharing important updates and information when appropriate.
Adhere to all safety protocols and participate in regular drills; support evacuation and accountability of minors in emergencies.
Identify and escalate safety risks; contribute to behavior support plans and de escalation using trauma informed approaches.
Comply with incident reporting procedures and timelines.
Respond to and participate in emergency situations, including executing evacuation procedures and other safety protocols.
Work a rotating schedule that may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and on call coverage; provide shift support to maintain required staffing ratios.
Flex between units/teams to meet program needs; cover peer caseload tasks when other case managers are off duty.
Engage in ongoing training and professional development related to child welfare, immigration, and best practices.
Complete and maintain required certifications (e.g., CPR/First Aid), program orientations, and annual refreshers (e.g., trauma informed care, emergency preparedness, confidentiality, child welfare best practices).