Youth Support Specialist

Description

Job Title: Youth Support Specialist
Department: Residential Services

Position Summary

The Youth Support Specialist provides direct supervision, counseling, and support for young people ages 12–18 in a residential setting. This role is responsible for helping youth develop life skills, supporting their academic and social goals, and maintaining a trauma-informed environment that promotes self-regulation, safety, and growth. Youth Support Specialists play a vital part in fostering consistency, compassion, and guidance to help young people build the foundation for productive and fulfilling lives.

Department

New Directions Youth & Family Services’ Residential Services program provides 24/7 care for youth in need of consistency, safety, and support. Staff create therapeutic, trauma-informed environments that help young people learn, grow, and prepare for long-term success.

Agency

New Directions Youth & Family Services is an equal opportunity employer committed to championing the principles of anti-racism, justice, and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse cultures and backgrounds, for all positions, who will uphold our values and contribute to our mission. We aim to have a leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Benefits

New Directions offers a competitive benefits package to support employees:

• Medical, dental, and life insurance
• 401k with up to 3% agency match
• 120 hours of paid time off in the first year, plus 13 agency holidays
• Consistent schedule for full-time employees; flexible scheduling available for on-call staff
• $250 bonus after 6 months of employment
• Opportunities for professional development and advancement
• Join a company where over 30% of staff have been with us for 10+ years

Compensation

$19.00 – $20.00 per hour in the first year, with guaranteed raises for full-time positions.

Hours/Schedule

• Full-Time: Consistent schedule
• On-Call: Flexible scheduling options

Professional Development Opportunities

Youth Support Specialists receive extensive training, including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), First Aid/CPR, and ongoing in-service learning. Staff participate in supervision and professional development activities to maintain a high level of expertise and support in working with youth.

Position Specific Duties/Responsibilities

• Supervise youth in care, ensuring their daily physical and emotional needs are met
• Provide individual and group support to help youth reach therapeutic and developmental goals
• Create and maintain a trauma-informed, therapeutic milieu that supports self-regulation and growth
• Dispense prescribed medications under Nurse supervision and maintain Medication Administration Certification
• Provide crisis intervention and utilize therapeutic strategies to manage acute emotional or behavioral challenges
• Communicate observations and important information to the treatment team through logs, notes, and direct reporting
• Document all incidents requiring intervention before the end of each shift
• Participate in treatment planning, discipline, and guidance to encourage positive habits and skills
• Support safe and healthy living conditions by supervising chores and maintaining living spaces
• Supervise morning wake-up, school preparation, and daily routines
• Perform overnight security checks and rounds (when assigned), ensuring youth safety
• Maintain continuous awareness of youth location, activities, and safety, including accurate head counts
• Report safety concerns or disturbances and maintain fire/security watch as needed
• Assist with life skills training, including personal care, clothing, laundry, and supply management
• Prepare reports, participate in CSE or treatment team meetings, and collaborate with permanency planning staff as required
• Attend mandatory trainings, supervision, and additional professional development sessions
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Youth Support Specialist Supervisor

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to build positive, respectful relationships with youth
• Strong judgment, problem-solving, and crisis-management skills
• Ability to provide structure, consistency, and compassionate support
• Ability to work effectively with youth, families, and staff from diverse backgrounds
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to function as part of a team
• Effective communication skills across multiple mediums (logbooks, email, telephone)
• Ability to exercise professional judgment and common sense in challenging situations

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED (required)
• Degree in Human Services or related field (preferred)
• Valid driver’s license (required)
• Experience in childcare or working with youth preferred but not required
• Ability to pass an annual physical per agency health policy (Category 3 classification)
• Compliance with agency safety standards and healthy work environment practices

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We want to emphasize that the preferred qualifications are not required and that we are committed to helping our future colleagues develop these preferred skills. We strongly encourage those who are passionate about fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable human service organization to apply.