Youth Care Specialist - 1st Shift

Position Function

The Youth Care Specialist (YCS) oversees the physical care of the facility, the daily supervision of clients and provides basic needs, medical and emotional care, and overall safety of clients in care. The YCS provides a supportive learning experience and empathic adult guidance to clients. The YCS delivers services within a Trauma‑Informed Care framework, assisting clients to achieve their goals and family reunification (unless alternative placement is necessary).

The YCS works with clients to build on the client’s strengths, assisting them to create solutions, and discovering hope for their future. The YCS may be instructed to work in other units, as needed, at the direction of their supervisor or on call. The YCS is sensitive to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

• Education: High school diploma or GED. Bachelor’s degree in a human service field from an accredited college or university preferred.
• Experience: Six months of direct care and positive guidance experience of youth, young adults, or families in a residential or professional setting, preferred. Effective listening and communication skills. Understanding of children, youth, and families in crisis.
• Other: Valid Texas driver’s license within 90 days of establishing Texas residency. Acceptable driving record. Must be able to successfully complete behavioral management de‑escalation course.

Exposure to children with behavior problems, including possible physical aggression. Exposure to illness and blood. Residential programs run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Residential programs do not close for holidays or inclement weather. Extended walking and standing daily. Must always be physically able to use authorized crisis intervention techniques.

Maintain confidentiality and follow policies related to personnel records and client records.

• Professionalism (consistent and reliable job performance, awareness, and use of professional ethics to guide practice)
• Applied Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach (skills to develop a Positive Youth Development plan and identify client’s strengths)
• Cultural and human diversity (knowledge and skills to meet the needs of clients of different race, ethnicity, nationality, religion/spirituality, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation)
• Applied human development (understanding the developmental needs of those at risk and with special needs)
• Relationship and communication (working with clients in a collaborative manner)
• Developmental practice methods (methods focused on genuine relationships, health and safety, intervention planning)
• Trauma‑Informed Care (understanding trauma and implementing effective interventions)
• Ability to move and work in other units as needed at the direction of supervisor or on call

• Complete client intakes and assist with development of Preliminary Plan of Service.
• Conduct house meetings and attend shift‑change meetings and other staffing as directed by supervisor.
• Provide clients with opportunities to learn/practice skills to better prepare them for positive skills development, family reunification, possible placement, and day‑to‑day interactions.
• Provide clients with all basic needs, including a clean and safe living environment.
• Provide level of supervision to clients based on the level of supervision needed, including timely bed checks, as required.
• Empower clients and staff to problem solve.
• Transport clients to appointments.
• Complete training and certifications as required by licensing, contractual, grant and agency standards.
• Use skills learned in new employee and ongoing training.
• Maintain a helping role and intervene appropriately to meet service goals.
• Collaborate with TDFPS, caseworkers, family, and other support systems to advocate for clients and family and support client’s individual needs and transition goals.
• Support case plans of clients and their families.
• Participate in planning and implementation of services, activities, and/or skills training for group and individual work.
• Comply with…