A Residential Youth Counselor/Direct Care works in a Short-Term Residential Treatment Program (STRTP) setting and is responsible for supervising and providing leadership to the residential child care workers/counselors as well as oversees resident behavior and assist them with the completion of necessary tasks. The counselor I is in charge of providing emotional support and encouragement to both residents and staff as well as ensuring that all youth take proper medication, and reporting activity and behavior to the program administrator.

Prior to employment, direct care staff shall be at least 21 years of age and meet at least one of the qualifications specified in subdivision (A) and have relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities as specified in subdivision (B).

(A)A Residential Youth Counselor/Direct Care shall meet one of the following qualifications

• A Bachelor of Arts or Sciences Degree.
• A valid Child Development Teaching Permit.
• Completed 12 semester units of Early Childhood Education,
• Adolescent Development, or Foster and Kinship Care Education and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth.
• A valid certificate as an Alcohol Counselor, Drug Counselor or Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth.
• A valid vocational training certificate, credential, or documentation demonstrating that the individual is a trade journeyperson who instructs children in vocational skills and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth as a mentor, athletic coach, teacher, vocational coach, tutor, counselor, or other relevant experience as determined by the department.
• Previously been employed as a full-time staff or served as a volunteer at a group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, or substance abuse treatment program for at least one year.
• Relevant life experience in the child welfare, mental health or juvenile justice systems as a consumer, mentor, or caregiver or other relevant experience as determined by the department.

(B)At a minimum, a residential child-care worker/counselor I shall demonstrate all of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Knowledge and understanding of the needs of children served in a children’s residential setting.
• Skills and abilities to engage and develop rapport with children who have various backgrounds.
• Skills and abilities to provide consistency and behavioral limits through relationship-based interventions.
• Skills to communicate effectively with the ability to solve problems in a collaborative manner.

Residential Youth Counselor/Direct Care I shall have;

• Possession of a valid California driver’s license
• Good Physical Health (a physical exam is mandatory)
• Sound personal qualifications including maturity, stability, high moral standards and high personal integrity
• Knowledge of the complex needs of adolescents, working with others and with supervision, a basic knowledge of adolescent development, and complexities and mechanics of a 24-hour care facility.

Abilities:

All applicants should have the ability to perform the following;

• Develop effective, healthy and meaningful relationships with children
• Work effectively and cooperatively with staff and administration
• Learn and apply techniques of child care and treatment
• Understand the concept of treatment planning and become involved in the
• treatment process
• Aid children with their educational needs
• Maintain a friendly and outgoing demeanor
• Maintain an encouraging and compassionate attitude
• Remain calm during stressful situations
• Possess excellent interpersonal and conversational skills
• Exhibits excellent listening skills
• Know oneself to the extent one can differentiate personal needs from those of

the children

• Possess an attitude which is objective and free from personal bias
• When responding to a child’s needs and behaviors, utilize decisions and actions which

conform to the treatment plans and/or growth of the youth

Mandatory Staff Trainings: All PAH staff are required to attend mandatory trainings as established in the California Administrative Code, Title 22.

Physical Qualifications: Must have the ability to physically supervise, confront, and observe children. Must be able to lift 50 pounds of dead weight and possess the body flexibility to perform the following: bending, reaching, stooping, standing, walking, climbing stairs, and driving for extended periods of time. Must have the ability to physically restrain an adolescent with reasonable expectation that the restraint will not result in injury of employee or youth. Must be able to walk and stand for periods of up to 12 hours.

Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Agency may find appropriate.

Evaluation: Performance will be reviewed in accordance with provisions of the Personnel Policy Manual.

Supervisor: The residential child-care worker/counselor I is accountable to the residential child-care worker/counselor II lead &program Administrator.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists the in day-to-day operation of the group home and/or monitors facility and the youth
• Assists in developing plans for structured living environments of group STRTP
• Supervises STRTP youth in daily activities and behavior
• Enforce rules and regulations dictated by our PAH program statement
• Distributes proper medications to residents using PAH strict medication administration policy
• Preparation of scheduled and planned meals and snacks for the residents
• Arranges and may drive residents to school or extracurricular activities as necessary
• Assist in resolving disputes among residents & staff
• Observe any altercations or idiosyncrasies in resident behavior. Log all observances accordingly and report them to the director
• Identify signs of a resident’s potential harm to self or others, and address these accordingly
• Provide emotional support for residents
• Attends and participates in house meetings
• Arranges and may transport adolescents to appointments
• Performs bed checks and room inspections
• Assesses emergency and medical situations and determines appropriate action :notifies supervisor, police, parents, hospital, as appropriate and/or completes incident report
• Ensures the safety of all adolescents and staff during shift hours
• May provide casework management to assigned adolescents
• Monitors activities and behavior of assigned youth on a daily basis through regular contacts with school and employment representatives, individual and family meetings, home visits, homework review, oversight of recreational and social activities, checking daily incident reports, observing individual during regular household routines and reviewing the adolescent’s weekend activities
• Assists the youth to achieve goals and objectives outlined in their treatment plan by reviewing adolescent’s behaviors with the clinical team on a regular basis, by developing conflict resolution strategies, by performing crisis intervention with youth and their parents/teachers/employers/peers, and by modeling behavior
• May attend court hearings to report on the progress of youth
• Light house-keeping duties ensuring that the grounds are maintained, clean, and safe

Applicant must be able to pass LIVE SCAN clearance, and have a valid CA drivers license, plus CPR certification.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $22.00 - $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person