Youth Development Counselor; WED-SAT

Youth Development Counselor (WED-SAT: 7AM - 5PM) GET TO KNOW US

For over 100 years, Vista Del Mar Child & Family Services (VDM) has taken great pride in providing exceptional programs and services for children and families throughout LA County. VDM envisions a community where all children and families are equipped and prepared to live productive, fulfilling lives. We serve the most vulnerable in Los Angeles, many of whom have faced multi-generational inequities.

Vista Del Mar is guided by core values of empowerment, equity, and excellence.

At Vista Del Mar, our success is empowered by our staff, families, residents, and clients. We believe in the inclusion and liberation of marginalized communities, standing in unity for justice and recognizing long-standing systemic oppression. We acknowledge we are part of an unjust system and strongly advocate to change oppressive systems and the unconscious bias that affect staff, clients, and families in all communities.

Vista is committed to developing a culture of healing, community care, and creating a sense of belonging. Our actions will be louder than our words.

Folks who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, of a marginalized gender, disabled, parents, are/have been system‑impacted, are immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression, and/or gender‑based violence are encouraged to apply.

Vista Del Mar provides a trauma‑responsive continuum of services to empower children, youth, and families in Southern California to lead fulfilling lives.

The Direct Care Staff Youth Development Counselor: YDC Vista Haven ORR Program supervises, protects, and cares for youth in placement. They oversee and conduct youth development activities in a culturally sensitive, trauma‑informed manner for youth in the YDC’s assigned cottage. The YDC ensures that youth have access to all the services they need to meet their basic needs, such as food, clothing, hygiene, shelter, and medical and dental.

The YDC is responsible for documenting resident services and incident reports and maintaining health and safety logs.

Mon 7AM‑5PM, Tue 7AM‑5PM, Wed 7AM‑5PM, Thu 7AM‑5PM, Fri 7AM‑5PM, Sat 7AM‑5PM, Sun 7AM‑5PM

• Constant supervision (1:6 staff to youth ratio), protection, and care of youth, individually and in groups, always in a manner consistent with their personal rights, to ensure safety within a trauma‑informed framework.
• Ensures that youth have access to all the services they need to meet their basic needs, such as food, clothing, hygiene, shelter, and medical and dental.
• Works as a part of the treatment team to help youth develop various skills, including social, vocational, educational, hygiene, and other skills, and assists residents with strengthening their daily living skills.
• Establishes effective counselor‑client relationships. Supports others in interacting with residents and assists youth and staff in cottage‑based therapeutic activities, religious activities, outings, etc. Serves as an effective advocate for all youth in placement.
• Completes several health and safety reports, CCL reports, and ORR reports. Typical reports include daily room checks, religious logs, recreation logs, telephone logs, clothing inventories, client case notes, etc.
• Document all incidents during the shift as required and update the shift staff and resident‑specific exchange notes, significant incident/child‑level event reports, and any other reporting tools provided.
• Inspect and maintain the cottage's cleanliness, including resident rooms and communal spaces, which includes logging oven cleanliness, dryer and washer cleanliness, and refrigerator temperatures.
• Always maintains a professional approach with clients, colleagues, placement workers, and supervisors, as demonstrated by demeanor and adherence to dress code and code of conduct.
• Document the youth’s progress, identifying any possible need for professional services, and communicate such findings to treatment staff in a legible, professional, and timely manner. Participates in…