Youth Care Worker - Emergency Shelter (Overnight and PM Shifts) (Personal Services)
LifeWorks of Austin, TX is looking for full time Youth Care Workers (2) to join our Emergency Shelter team! This position is responsible for providing care and services to youth, typically ranging from ages 16-22, living in a 24-hour residential licensed facility. Services provided include monitoring, supervising, transporting, and meeting basic needs of youth in a way that positively supports their development as well as their individual goals. The schedules being offered for this position are: Overnight shift: Monday-Friday, 11:00pm-7:00am or PM Shift: Monday-Friday, 3:00pm-11:00pm.
This full time, non-exempt position earns a competitive rate of $22.50/hr. Benefits are also included, which consist of 24 PTO days per year (accrued); 11 paid holidays per year; a premium-free employee medical plan with $100 per month HSA contribution (plus other affordable employee or family medical, dental, and vision options!); a retirement savings plan with 50% match on the first 6% of contributions, and much more!
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
- Supervises clients and the facility by overseeing their care and safety through the core values and mission of the organization.
- Ensures client safety and engagement services by:
- Consistently interacting with clients using LifeWorks' client-focused and strengths-based approaches. This includes supporting day-to-day activities of youth and relating to clients as they move toward their individual goals.
- Assisting clients with day-to-day needs including assistance with case management, school activities, job search activities, transportation, cleaning activities, meal preparation, and administration of daily medications.
- Coordinating and helping with transportation for clients to a variety of outings, including staff-led community-based activities, client appointments, job interviews, emergency room visits, etc.
- Engaging in conversations with youth regarding topics such as race, identity proclamation and exploration, substance use, mental health, healthy boundaries and habits, and self-sufficiency while maintaining professional boundaries and client confidentiality in accordance with state and federal laws.
- Demonstrating the ability to provide youth with positive coping methods while supporting the healing from trauma through a healing centered approach.
- Demonstrating the ability to manage emotions and perform in high pressure and/or crisis with calm, care, and unconditional positive regard for youth.
- Managing emotional, physical, and verbally escalated situations by applying approved behavior modification technique to de-escalate youth back to normalcy, as well as physical restraints utilizing “Handle with Care” techniques when necessary.
- Follows DFPS Minimum Standards for incident reporting, implementation of safety plans action plans in coordination with team members, including case managers.
- Coordinates and completes Intake and discharge of client services. This includes consent for services and risk assessment for supervision guidelines.
- Completes Initial Orientation. This includes explanation of services, client rights and responsibilities, policies and guidelines.
- Follows health and safety guidelines per DFPS minimum standards and LifeWorks safety planning.
- Ensures facility compliance by:
- Completing regular perimeter walks, room checks, facility/room searches, and ongoing visual checks of facility.
- Documents and maintains daily written records of client whereabouts and incidents and communicates information with team members while maintaining client confidentiality in accordance with state and federal laws.
- Documenting and maintaining written records of client behavior, client progress, activity engagement, school attendance, medications and incidents through daily notes, logs and incident reports while maintaining client confidentiality in accordance with state and federal laws.
- Communicating effectively with team members and client support team while maintaining client confidentiality in accordance with state and federal laws.
- Conducts drills in accordance with Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning.
- Maintains cleanliness within licensing standards including cleaning in common areas, offices and kitchen.
- Engaging and completing all required trainings, meetings and professional development plans, including monthly supervision with supervisor.
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor and Director.
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Requires a high school diploma, GED or equivalent;
- Requires 1+ year of related experience; or
- Equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Proficient in MS Office including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
CORE COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS
- Client Focus - Builds transformational relationships with clients and delivers mission-centered solutions.
- Collaborates and Adapts - Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives and fulfill our mission; adapts one's approach and demeanor to meet the shifting demands of different situations.
- Honors Differences - Embraces different perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds by being open to others' opinions, ideas, and experiences; develops an inclusive culture that creates solutions to meet the needs of our clients.
- Nimble Learning - Actively learns from successes, failures, and others' experiences, and shows a willingness to pivot and try new things.
- Builds Trust - Gains the confidence and trust of others through integrity, dependability, and authenticity.
- Action Oriented - Takes initiative, shows resourcefulness, and directs focus and energy on mission-critical opportunities, challenges, and changes.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
- May be required to possess or be able to obtain a valid Texas driver's license within 30 days.
- Complete 40 hours of program training within the first six months of employment and ongoing 20 hours annually.
- Standard First-Aid and CPR Certification as required by individual program.
PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
- Frequently required to sit or stand, use manual dexterity, speak, listen, hear, observe, and write.
- Must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus for work with computers and peripheral vision and depth perception for driving.
- Busy environment with many interruptions.
- Occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.
- Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
- Travel required to and from various sites within the community for outreach programs, meetings, and training.
- Works in a residential facility environment with light to moderate physical effort.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
