Youth Care Specialist; OYA

Job Title

Youth Care

We are seeking a highly skilled and compassionate Youth Care Specialist to join our team. If you are passionate about providing care to youth in need and want to join a top‑notch team, please apply today! We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision insurance and a 401k that tops 3% in the country.

Youth Opportunity Investments - Ocala Youth Academy. Youth Opportunity is dedicated to empowering youth with individualized needs to achieve success and independence by establishing solid foundations of physical and emotional well‑being, positive social and familial relationships, and education. Through a strong commitment to teamwork, leadership, and organizational culture, our employees are equipped and qualified to create transformative impacts in the lives of young individuals.

At Youth Opportunity, we prioritize the investment in excellence for the growth and success of our employees and the achievement of the youth we serve.

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance eligible after 60 days of employment
• 401k with 100% match up to 4% of your salary after 60 days of employment
• Paid Time Off and 7 Paid Holidays (for full‑time employees)
• Tuition Assistance and Opportunities for Growth

• Supervise a group of 7‑10 youths, maintaining knowledge of the whereabouts of all group members; comply with published procedures on movement, physical security, contraband, head counts, and reporting.
• Provide a safe, secure environment using group counseling techniques, individual relationships, “positive discipline” techniques through effective use of the behavior modification system (I‑Choose), and the use of crisis intervention and de‑escalation techniques as needed.
• Represent each youth’s problems, needs, and accomplishments to the treatment team, or provide progress reports to the counselor representative on the treatment team.
• Call and/or conduct “huddle‑ups”, problem‑solving group meetings, and daily reviews with the assigned group of youths, providing prompts and interventions to ensure that youth are helping each other and are recognized for their efforts.
• Assist classroom teachers in the delivery of subject matter and the transfer of class content and study practices to the living units.
• Assist and promote activity planning and completion by the assigned group of youths. Ensure that planning, doing, and evaluating are part of the daily routing for each group, and that activities or opportunities for individual recognition are created and used to treatment advantage.
• Document daily shift occurrences and frequent population counts as required by local and corporate policy. Make referrals for special needs or medical evaluation, and brief the incoming shift on events of the past shift.

• Participate in training and development activities as required.
• Report any acts, incidents or conditions that reflect the possibility of inappropriate youth‑to‑youth or staff‑to‑youth relationships.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Education:
  
  Two years of college coursework in social or human service field preferred; high school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience:
  
  For incumbents with a high school diploma or equivalent, two years’ work experience working with youth preferred.
• Skills:
  
  Verbal skills to relate effectively with youth on an adult level, without patronizing, are required. Group counseling and leadership skills are required. Good analytical skills and the ability to distinguish between cause and effect and opinion and fact are also required, as is the capacity to think and act independently. Certification in First Aid, CPR, and appropriate crisis intervention methods must be obtained during the probationary period.
  
  Proficiency in group work must be demonstrated during probationary period and remaining employment with YOI. Must be able to provide accurate, objective written documentation of shift events and unusual incidents.
• Physical Demands:
  Must be able to lift 30 pounds from floor level to shoulder height. Extensive walking and standing required. Must be capable of detecting and…