Youth Care Professional III - Critical Care - Crestwood

Job Summary

The Youth Care Professional III delivers relationship-based, competence centered, and trauma informed solutions to youth and families to help them reach their full potential. This position mentors and trains Youth Care Professional I and II staff, and performs shift charge responsibilities. The Youth Care Professional III functions with independence and can be depended upon for resolution of more complex issues.

Essential Job functions

• Engage youth and families in trust-based, productive relationships to help them prepare for transitions, interact in the community, and promote respect and independence.
• Develop and execute treatment and behavior management plans designed to assist youth and their families to achieve their goals and objectives.
• Manage youth and family activities, within an individual or group dynamic.
• Supervise youth receiving services according to established program standards.
• Maintain a clean and welcoming living environment where youth are encouraged to learn and practice daily living skills such as household chores and laundry.
• Respond appropriately to resident emergency and safety issues/situations in compliance with agency and regulatory mandated reporting protocols. 
• Recognize and address dysregulated youth behavior and demonstrate proficiency in behavior management, the use of crisis de-escalation/intervention techniques and physical interventions (holds) when needed consistent with Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) protocols. 
• Mentor and train Youth Care Professional I and II staff.
• Maintain a thorough awareness of all procedures relating to emergencies.
• Complete and maintain documentation in medical record system and daily logs to meet program requirements. 
• Oversee the paperwork of staff.
• Provide life skills and social skills training for youth and families.
• Serve as an adult role model for youth and families in all behaviors including communication, hygiene, appearance, management of self, response to stress and challenges, and positive relationships with others.
• Manage special team projects. 
• Perform a wide variety of support tasks including transportation, as required.
• Perform shift charge responsibilities.
• While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Minimum 18 months of relevant work experience in residential care environment required
• Next Steps program:  Minimum 18 months of relevant work experience is required, preferably in a residential care setting; experience in community-based or outreach programs will also be considered.

Special Requirements

• CPR certification required or obtained within 60 days of hire.
• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards preferred.  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

In addition to demonstrating the Hillside Professional Competencies of Communicates Effectively, Personal Excellence, Cultural Competence, Builds and Leverages Relationships and Optimizes Decision Making, the following occupational competencies must be demonstrated:

• Demonstrate the emotional competence and good judgment required to build productive, engaged children, youth, staff and family relationships while implementing required rules, expectations and routines.
• Ability to complete all required documentation in timely fashion according to established policies and regulations.  This is an essential function in order to facilitate the efficient and effective flow of information necessary for the program to be effectively managed and outcomes optimized.
• Ability to recognize and address escalating and dysregulated youth behavior and utilizing training provided in behavior management and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) including the use of physical interventions (holds).
• Demonstrate problem-solving and conflict resolution skills with self and others.
• Ability to meet the highest standard for ethical and professional conduct towards all.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to work a variable scheduling including evenings and weekends
• The following physical demands are required:
  • Occasional sitting (up to 4 hours)
  • Occasional standing (up to 2 hours)
  • Occasional walking (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Occasional driving (up to 8 hours)
  • Continuous balancing (up to 8 hours)
  • Occasional balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching forward or down, reaching overhead, running, and twisting (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Weekly lifting up to 50 lbs. (community-based staff may be required to lift an empty wheelchair weighing up to 50 lbs.), 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis
  • Weekly carrying up to 55 lbs. approximately 10-100 ft., 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis
• Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands (approximately 1-2.5 hrs.)
• Occasional exposure to temperature changes, dust, fumes, gases or chemicals is apparent. 
• Protective clothing or equipment as required: close toed shoes; protective shields, universal precaution PPE, and gloves for toileting and food preparation
• Ability to change positions as needed