Youth Worker

Location: Vernon

Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois

Effective Date: March 1, 2024

Non-management

Job Description

Job Title: Youth Care Worker

Exempt/Non-exempt: NON-EXEMPT

Immediate Supervisor: Youth Care Supervisor

Salary Range: $19.40 - $21.40

Benefits:  to view LCFS’ Full-Time Employee Benefits.

Essential Functions:

• Primarily responsible for the continual monitoring and supervision of youth in a staff-secure emergency shelter facility, ensuring their well-being safety during daily activities such as bedtime, wake-ups, showers, meals, recreation, classroom work, and assigned projects. May drive the agency owned van and transport youth to school and various activities. Provide on-call support as needed.
• Reviews all youth’s admission notes, initiating relationships, and gaining awareness of individual problems, behaviors, and needs. Develops an understanding of normal and abnormal behaviors and stays informed about each youth’s treatment plan.
• Actively participates in recreation activities with individual youth and groups. Assists the Recreation Coordinator in structuring youth in care free time, organizing and facilitating group activities such as sports, games, movies, and conversations.
• Supervises and assists youth with daily cleaning and custodial duties, ensuring proper cleanliness and organization of the assigned unit.
• Learns Program Plan, Rule 384, Resident Manual, and Agency standards. Sets expectations for youth, developing disciplinary techniques in alignment with regulations.
• Evaluates youth continually, recording behavior changes, incidents (Significant Event reports, and facilitates behavior modification programs as required by STAC.
• Provides intake services for all new youth, including logging personal property, assisting with showers and personal hygiene, providing program orientation, and explaining all rules and regulations.
• Responds to crisis situations and emergencies promptly and effectively, following established protocols. Performs therapeutic crisis intervention, including physical restraints when necessary, and takes appropriate disciplinary action.
• Identifies signs of illness and injuries, developing an awareness of each youth's physical health. Requests help if unsure about a youth’s health and follows medical directives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Ability Requirements:

• Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles and their application in working with youth. Knowledge of verbal de-escalation techniques and taking appropriate corrective steps. Ability to enforce facility rules and regulations, resolve conflicts, respond to emergencies, and take authoritative action issuing discipline and physical contact policy, utilizing strong skills in conflict resolution.
• Ability to serve as a positive role model for youth in care.
• Must possess the ability to apply and implement group living guidelines.
• Must be able to develop a working knowledge of the legal operations of the facility and be able to apply appropriate procedures to ongoing operations accordingly.
• Contributes information, ideas, and suggestions; works to improve the milieu.
• Must maintain strict confidentiality in the performance of duties working within the guideline established by statute, the court, the Probation Department, and DCFS.

Background and Driving Requirements:

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of all required background checks, including but not limited to criminal background checks and CANTS (Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System) checks, as required by law and agency policy. Candidates must also possess a reliable vehicle and have a valid driver’s license and must not have had a suspended or revoked driver’s license within the past three years.



Education and Experience :

High school diploma or equivalent; additional education or certification in youth services is a plus. Previous experience working with adolescents in a residential or similar setting is preferred.

Physical Demands and Other Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential duties listed in the job description satisfactorily. While performing the duties of this job, the…