Therapeutic Youth Support Specialist

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Key/Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Responsible for the overall supervision, protection and care of youth supported at all times, including maintenance of program guidelines for the protection of individuals, facilitating learning and training in fire safety and identifying and appropriately escalating signs of an individual’s potential harm to self or others.

Provides all services in accordance with agency philosophy and department practices and in compliance with Federal, State, Local and regulatory requirements, specifically NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) and escalates concerns or questions to supervisor.

Supports children in attaining their own unique, behavioral, emotional, intellectual and developmental gains, interacting and intervening as prescribed by individual treatment plans by teaching and fostering skill development, supporting and maximizing strengths, interests and abilities and displaying patience and tolerance while providing therapeutic support to facilitate returns to their homes.

Develops an understanding of specific needs of children during their stays, providing support in a variety of settings and in accordance with each youth’s individualized service plan, developing and maintaining appropriate and positive relationships by demonstrating proper social boundaries, actively involving youth in all facets of programming and displaying supportive demeanor and an unconditional positive regard for the youth.

Ensures health, wellness and safety of the youth we support by maintaining a physically and emotionally safe, secure, organized and clean therapeutic environment, which includes performing regular laundry and cleaning duties, as needed, providing appropriate supervision and managing crisis situations while adhering to applicable policies, procedures and regulations.

Utilizes appropriate therapeutic crisis intervention deescalation techniques and/or prescribed interventions (proximity, time and space, caring gestures, etc.), responding timely and appropriately to redirect or prompt youth experiencing stress and/or self-injurious behavior.

Ensures the needs of the youth supported are met by adhering to person-centered individualized plans, supporting therapeutic interventions and activities, encouraging socialization and stabilization and reporting any changes in behavior or other signs and symptoms to clinical and/or leadership team.

Assists with a variety of tasks for youth we support, ensuring adherence to applicable and/or mandatory activity schedules as appropriate/authorized, including:

Providing or supporting personal care, such as laundry and housekeeping.

Assisting with other activities of daily living (ADLs), which may include intimate care or personal hygiene.

Observing to ensure that medication is taken as prescribed.

Assisting with homework or other remote learning educational activities.

Teaching/developing skills.

Assisting in communication, self-expression and resolving disputes amongst youth.

Providing supervision for and/or planning and preparing balanced meals and snacks in accordance with dietary restrictions and guidelines of modified diets.

Transporting and escorting youth on recreational activities, medical appointments and/or to other mandatory activities, such as school, etc.

Utilizes safe and appropriate handing procedures when working with youth and implements infection control protocols.

Understands behavior as communication and employs person-centered thinking to support positive interactions and prevent further escalation.

Collects, records and summarizes data regarding youth supported including charting where prescribed by treatment plan and responses to therapeutic interventions, behaviors, signs, symptoms, setting events, triggers and effective interventions in accordance with all applicable requirements.

Completes all paperwork and written records related to individual treatment in appropriate formats, including but not limited to medical and medication management and monitoring, treatment records, progress, behavior and incident reports, data collection, billing records, charting and daily notes accurately, timely and in compliance with all relevant laws, rules and/or regulations.

Appropriately documents all interactions with any external entity regarding youth supported, including families and reports errors, incidents or emergencies in compliance with all applicable requirements, including reporting incidents of child maltreatment, neglect and/or abuse.

Participates in interdisciplinary team or other program/staff meetings and reviews communication, shift or other logs to receive updates and information relating to treatment plans, program operations and youth supported, including admissions and discharges and regularly provides feedback and information to other members of the team to support stabilization of youth supported.

Identifies and reports maintenance, upkeep and/or safety concerns to Program Supervisor or appropriate designee.

Completes and maintains all necessary trainings and/or certifications, including specialized trainings such as TCI, to ensure compliance with YAI policies and all applicable rules or regulations and applies skills.

Provides coverage for other Therapeutic Youth Support Staff as requested, which may include assisting at an off-site location (e.g. hospital) based on needs of program and/or youth supported and/or remaining on shift to ensure maintenance of minimum coverage levels for program.

May be required to operate YAI motor vehicle to transport youth to and/or from residence, school, appointments or other locations in the community on a regular basis, with appropriate credentials.

Complies with all Federal, State, Local and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and cooperates with appropriate entities in any inspection, inquiry or investigation.

Performs all other duties, as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements including education, experience, licensure/certification, etc. and essential physical capabilities (e.g. lifting, assisting lifting, standing, etc.)

Must be at least 18 years of age.

Bachelor’s degree in a human services field; or

High School Diploma or its educational equivalent and two (2) years of experience serving individuals with mental or behavioral health needs and/or individuals in crisis; or

Satisfactory equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training.

Ability to meet essential physical demands of position including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and reaching with hands and arms; use hands to handle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; assisting with lifting/moving individuals of any weight with assistance of mechanical lifts or other equipment and/or pushing individuals in wheelchairs; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds on occasion; having the physical capacity to work with and implement emergency interventions as per the person’s Individual Service Plan if/as needed, including lifting/moving individuals of any weight with or without assistance of equipment and/or other staff, which may include running.

Effective written and oral communication skills, including the ability to appropriately document services provided for billing and tracking purposes.

Commitment to maintaining the highest levels of ethical standards and integrity and enthusiasm for working with children.

Willingness to take initiative and ability to demonstrate positivity, patience, empathy and compassion while supporting youth who are in crisis and to effectively self-regulate emotions in stressful situations.

Ability and willingness to assist with a variety of supports an