Residential Relief Houseparents

Function:

Seamark provides a foster-like home environment in a supportive wraparound care community to children coming from families in crisis.  Relief house-parents use biblical values in modeling a healthy family environment as they come alongside house-parents at Seamark to care for placed children residing in each home.

Relief parents will manage the home in the absence of or in support with the house parents so as to create a therapeutic, but structured environment, and ensure a biblical approach to nurturing each child.  

Additionally, relief parents assist in the care and maintenance of Seamark Ranch property (maintenance, landscaping, equine, agriculture, etc.) with the children or specific home and when assigned other relief duties by a supervisor. 

Specific Responsibilities:

Spiritual Development of the Child

• Sets a good example of Christian attitudes and conduct.
  
• Trains children in the experience of worship by actively participating in a local approved church and encouraging the participation of the children in the activities of the church.  Attendance is required for primary worship and relief parents should consider the value of the child participating in other services, Sunday School, youth meetings (i.e. Young Life, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, etc.), and retreats.  This should be a part of the plan made with the house parents.
  
• Conducts daily family devotions with the children in coordination with the Ranch Spiritual formation program.
  
• Ensures the children attend any Ranch-wide devotion.  At least one parent from each home will attend with their children.
  
• Fosters a spirit of religious tolerance, while encouraging the child to an individual faith in Jesus Christ.
  

Emotional Development

• Becomes familiar with each child’s social history in an effort to understand the child as an individual.
  
• Is available to talk to the child at all times, and during crisis, coordinating times with the ranch counselors.
  
• Looks for ways to help the child achieve their program goals.
  
• Looks for things the child does well, remains fair and consistent with natural consequences, and ensures that the children understand what they must do to progress.
  
• When the children are sick, cares for them.  When they’re involved in school or church activities, encourages them.  When they have responsibilities, holds them accountable.
  
• Nurturing is guided by the emotional age of the child and stretches from tucking them into bed and reading stories to them, to assuring them that they are accepted unconditionally.
  
• Keeps good notes of emotional issues the child is having and communicates this when appropriate.
  
• Holds information about the child and their family confidential, to be shared only on a professional basis (Senior Level Staff & relevant program managers). This includes discussion of children’s treatment plans and behavior.
  

• Reports immediately all incidents, indications or rumors of child abuse— Whether physical, verbal, emotional or sexual—to the Senior Leadership Team and the Florida Department of Family and Children Services (DCF) as a mandatory reporter. This information can never be “held in confidence.” After completing mandatory reporting, an incident report should be filed with the Senior Leadership Team and Counselor within 24 hours. Seamark Ranch has a zero-tolerance policy for failure to comply with this requirement which will lead to formal disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
  

Social Development

• Provides formal and informal play periods.
  
• Helps the children develop habits of proper behavior, dress and safety at social and recreational activities.
  
• Teaches children appropriate methods of building and enhancing interpersonal relationships.
  
• In collaboration with the house parents, plans and carries out off-Ranch activities for the home.
  
• Makes a concerted effort to give each child sufficient individual attention.
  
• Ensures that each child in the home is properly clothed.  Clothing items shall be appropriate to the seasonal weather and should be comparable to that worn by other children.
  
• Avoids derogatory comments of a child’s parents, relatives or guardians.
  
• Plans meals, as much as possible, so as to enable staff and children to eat together, serving everyone the same food.
  

Recreation

• Ensure children are getting recreation opportunities which include among other things; sports, music, hiking, biking, art, games, church group activities, and hobbies. 
  
• Follow the calendar of monthly events that should be maintained by the house parents.
  
• Receive approval from the Senior Leadership Team as well as a DCF contact person for any activities that involve leaving the state or overnight.
  
• Actively participate in ongoing Collaborative Care meetings in the place of the house parents when on duty in a specific house.
  
• Plan at least 3 hours a day outdoors (weather permitting) on weekends and Holidays.
  
• Ensure any work/chores assigned to children on the farm are carried out appropriately.
  
• Ensure that recreational or work activities do not conflict with school times, visits with family or any other ranch wide or house specific planned activities.
  
• Make an effort to ensure each child has adequate daily time for privacy and individual pursuits.
  

Intellectual Development

Education

• Provides structured time each day for school work and ensures that the children have necessary study materials.
  
• Is available during study time to give as much personal assistance and coaching as possible in the preparation of school assignments.
  
• Works closely with teachers and tutors when needed.
  
• Encourages and supports children who are involved in extracurricular activities. 
  

Discipline (see Seamark Discipline Policy)

• Uses discipline to help the child learn self-control, rather than forcing him/her to conform to adult standards.  Discipline is training that makes punishment unnecessary.
  
• In planning discipline, the child’s age, intelligence, emotional makeup and his/her past experience should be considered.
  
• Discipline must be fair, consistent, and involved natural consequences. Every effort should be made to help the child see it as such.  Standards of discipline for the house or relief parents’ own children should be similar to those expected of the resident children, although the means of carrying out that discipline may be different.
  
• Group pressures and group values can have a constructive place in the training of children.  However, discipline requires more maturity and understanding than can be expected of a group of children alone, and no child or group of children should be allowed to discipline another child.
  
• Serious offenses, such as drug use, sexual acting out, criminal offenses or running away, should be reported to the Senior Leadership Team immediately and followed up with a written Incident Report within 24 hours.
  
• No disciplinary action should be taken which will demean the child or damage his self-esteem.  Corporal punishment is not an option for any child.
  
• As a general rule, discipline should be administered only to your assigned children.  Refer other infractions to the appropriate house parents unless it is a life or death situation.
  

Physical Development of the Child

• Works with and supervises the children in completing household chores and helps them develop good housekeeping habits.
  
• Assigns children to household tasks that are appropriate to age and abilities.
  
• Teaches the children how to use the proper tools to take care of any part of the Ranch assigned to the home. 
  

Food

• Plans, prepares and serves 3 nutritionally balanced meals per day using fruits and vegetables, food storage items, donated items, and purchased menu supplements.      
  
• Helps the children develop the capability for meal planning, budgeting, and preparation (within their ability to understand).
  
• Models and practices good table manners and encourages an atmosphere of “serving one another” during meals.  Wait for one another and eat as a family
  
• Provides healthy snacks and non-sugary drinks in between meals.              
  

Clothing

• Supervises all laundering of clothes according to schedule and need.
  
• Helps children to learn how to care for clothing and the difference in play, work, school, and church clothes and shoes.
  

Health

• Encourages the development of good personal hygiene habits such as bathing, brushing teeth, changing clothes, shampooing hair, grooming hair, cleaning nails, etc.
  
• Encourages good sleep habits.
  
• Knows or asks about any special health needs of assigned children (allergic reaction to bee stings, medicines, etc., special medicines needed, etc.). 
  
• Ensures required medication is taken at the proper time and in the prescribed amount and documented properly in accordance with policy and procedures. 
  
• Helps house parents keep medical and dental appointments.
  
• Meets with the counselor to learn appropriate ways to deal with mental health needs.
  

Scheduled Work Hours – House parenting is an around-the-clock role.  Relief parents will work as scheduled usually in a 4-day, 3-night relief weekend (Thursday – Sunday). Relief will also provide care for date nights and house parent vacations at various times.  When extended times of relief is needed such as covering vacation or illness, comparable time off will be given.  Relief parents may also be called upon for specific duties when not providing child care or to help with driving kids or running errands.

Changeover should happen at mutually agreed upon times that serve the needs of the children in care.   

Home Maintenance Expectations

• Maintains the home and furnishings in good order.  Reports any damage. 
  
• Takes good care of the home vans and informs the Ranch Manager of needed repairs.               
  
• Advises the Ranch Manager promptly when repairs to the home or furnishings are needed. 
  
• Accomplishes Ranch chores as assigned by the house parents and in a way that teaches the children good work ethic.  
  

Staff Relations

• Participates and cooperates with all those who make up the child care team-- Senior Director of Operations, Director of Care, Counselors, other Houseparents, Academic Center, Teachers, Ranch Manager, Recreational Coordinator, volunteers and the Executive Director. 
  
• Provides for the spiritual, social, educational and emotional well-being of assigned children by referrals to appropriate staff persons.            
  
• Provides documentation as required--reports of fire drills, accident/incident reports, budget book and associated financial information, menus, progress reports, etc. as instructed.
  
• Provides a written report of relief times.
  
• Makes an effort to learn from house parents the current group dynamics and any special needs of a particular child.
  
• Acts as hosts for scheduled public relations tours of the homes.
  
• Participates in weekly staff meetings, collaborative care meetings, staff devotions, and trainings when on duty and as assigned by Senior Leadership.
  

Delegated Responsibilities 

·       Any other responsibilities that may be assigned by the Senior Leadership Team.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Must be at least 25 years of age, have a high school diploma (or equivalent)
  
• Must be a mature, dedicated husband and wife team.
  
• Married at least 2 years and have a valid drivers license. 
  
• Must be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal & organizational skills.
  
• Must have successful experience with children (experience with children from challenging backgrounds is helpful). 
  
• Must be willing to follow all Seamark policies and procedures.
  
• Should be nonsmokers and be able to pass a criminal background check. 
  
• Above all, each candidate must feel “called” to this rewarding position, and have a desire to be “a ray of hope” for children who are often hopeless.
  
• Willingness to support the vision, management and leadership of Seamark Ranch.
  
• Must exemplify Seamark’s core values.
  
• Must be able to work in a group setting while exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit in love.
  
• Must model Christ’s love while providing an example of a Christian family to children who usually come from dysfunctional families. 
  
• Must actively engage with the children to break the failure and abuse cycles, and to facilitate the transformation of their lives so they can become all that God intends for them to be. 
  
• They must be able to show unconditional love to children who may never have experienced the love of Christ in a personal way.
  

Job Specific Requirements:

• Negative finger printing for national criminal & sexual predator background checks. This position requires a Level 2 background screening through the Florida Department of Children and Families Clearinghouse. Applicants can review screening requirements at: https://info.flclearinghouse.com
  
• Good credit history.
  
• Clear driving record for last 3 years.
  
• Negative drug test.
  
• Solid spiritual references.
  
• Acquire 40 hours of training each year which includes TBRI training.
  

Character Traits:

• Must be active in a good local church and profess that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior
  
• Must read and agree with our Statement of Faith & Core Values.  
• Strives to maintain a close daily walk with Christ
  
• Good manager of things and people.
  
• Excellent character and emotional stability.
  
• Self-motivated and passion for continuous improvement
  
• Team player and highly flexible
  

Supervisory Relationships:

Ultimately the relief parent serves the house parents and children in the home to which they are assigned along with answering to Ranch directors.