What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Youth Care Worker position at Wisconsin Community Services, Inc.?
Lead Youth Care Worker
Youth Shelter Program
Wisconsin Community Services
Position Summary: Provide supervision of the youth placed in Shelter Care as well as staff on assigned shift. Responsible for ensuring appropriate structure in a therapeutic environment for youth in the agency’s care. Facilitate group educational activities, recreational activities, follow up individually with youth as needed, and serve as a mentor and positive role model for youth. Responsible to ensure all shift responsibilities are completed with the assistance of the staff on the assigned shift.
Essential Functions:
- Ensure that all policies of the program are being followed, which requires a high level of familiarity with the policies and procedures manual and expectations of both Milwaukee County and the State of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
- Provide positive and effective group educational and recreational activities.
- Serve as positive mentor for youth placed in shelter care.
- Interact with youth and families in a positive and therapeutic manner.
- Provide active supervision of youth at all times within assigned staffing ratios.
- Observe, assess, and document youth activity per agency/program standards (logs, incident reports, behavior management logs, database, etc.).
- Maintain confidentiality within all written and verbal communications.
- Facilitate and document self-administration of medications by youth in accurate and timely manner and verify accuracy of medication administration records.
- Facilitate shift exchange to ensure accurate and complete information is communicated from shift to shift.
- Email accurate and timely Communication and Supervision Logs at the conclusion of each shift.
- Email accurate Census Report to Milwaukee County each day at 7:00 a.m. *applies only to overnight shift leads*.
- Ensure accurate and responsive communication with Milwaukee County during the entire Shift.
- Ensure that all youths and visitors, including providers, are accurately checked in and scanned for safety.
- Oversee the completion of the shift checklist to ensure that all operational responsibilities have been completed, including perimeter checks.
- Respond to all issues and incidents that occur on the shift within the required timeframes.
- Complete or review all required reports relating to incidents, including children being missing from care.
- Receive approval for and coordinate all outings with the Supervisor.
- Verify accuracy of all intake documents, including the strength-based assessments.
- Ensure that Youth Care Workers are all engaging in positive, active supervision of youth.
- Redirect staff behavior that is not contributing to a positive work environment.
- Elevate all personnel-related concerns to the Supervisor.
Other Duties and Responsibilities: Direct service to youth as needed. Other job-related duties as may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the position.
Minimal Qualifications: A minimum of two years of experience with children of a similar age to the youth population. High school diploma or GED/HSED required. Lead Youth Care Worker will meet all the WCS employee requirements including reference, criminal background, and driver’s license checks.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Working knowledge of positive child/youth development; patience and understanding of difficult life situations; the ability to interact with escalating youth and/or parents in a calm and professional manner; ability to follow oral and written instructions; ability to respond appropriately in crisis situations; perform basic computer functions; uses time efficiently and effectively; ability to multi-task; sensitivity towards cultural, ethnic and disability issues.
Physical Demands: Duties require possible activity while monitoring or interacting with youth in the program. Staff may be required to use physical intervention in extremely rare situations if there is immediate physical harm posed to youth or staff. Ability to lift 30 pounds. Driving is required.
Work Relationship and Scope: Reports directly to both Youth Shelter Care Supervisor. Has contact with a wide variety of individuals including youth and family members, other program staff, vendors, and other collateral contacts, neighbors, Milwaukee County Children Youth and Family Services (CYFS), Children’s Court officials, school and administrators, staff of youth serving agencies and the general public. Must be able to divide time between two site locations and drive his/her personal vehicle during the shift.
Personal Attributes: Follow agency Code of Conduct and Leadership Code of Conduct; adhere to established policies and procedures of the agency and of all funding sources; conduct self in an ethical manner; maintain professional and respectful relationships with program staff, other WCS staff, youth and all external persons and agencies involved with service provision; sensitivity toward cultural, ethnic and disability issues; demonstrate commitment to agency core values, mission, and vision.
Working Conditions:
- State-Licensed Shelter Care Facility
- Most of the work is done throughout the building, in the community and in some cases, the home of a youth.
- Local travel as required fulfilling essential functions of the position.
- Ability to provide coverage as needed.
- Ability to manage young youths who have experienced a great deal of trauma and express trauma through behaviors.
Salary : $27,000 - $34,200
