Senior Youth Counselor

Position Summary:

Senior Youth Counselors assure that the residents are cared for in a safe and therapeutic environment and are adequately supervised.  They are responsible for shift leadership, crisis intervention, and other supervisory responsibilities as delegated by the Residence Supervisor. The Sr. Youth Counselor works as scheduled in Healing Homes, providing supervision, support and direction to children fostering their positive growth and development; maintains a hazard free, clean and orderly household; prepares meals to conform to menus; completes all required logs, forms and reports, participates in meetings as scheduled; accompanies groups or individual

children for outside activities or appointments as scheduled.

Primary Responsibilities and Essential Functions of Position:

• Supervise and monitor Residential Youth Counselors’ interactions with children and families
• Model positive interaction with children and families and with staff
• Ensure that all fire extinguisher and fire documentation per shift is adequate and completed in a timely fashion
• Conduct monthly fire drills and complete all appropriate fire drill paperwork. Ensure that all youth in the residence are aware of the fire escape route and staging plan
• Provide individualized care and supervision of each resident
• Model positive behaviors and implement the core values
• Use strength-based intervention, communication and programming
• Assess, instruct and measure independent living skills
• Provide a therapeutic environment and promote appropriate socialization
• Create a warm, caring, home-like environment
• Participate in the service planning and review process
• Deliver services in accordance with service goals and objectives
• Employ trauma-sensitive practices
• When necessary, accompany, supervise and provide transportation for appointments, home visits, sibling visits, and activities
• Promote family involvement
• Provide counseling and support
• Ensure adherence to medication therapy regimen
• Provide crisis intervention and behavior management.  Can be assigned to on-call duty in the absence of the Residence Supervisor
• Report incidents, occurrences or untoward events to the Residence Supervisor as soon as they occur and complete appropriate paperwork
• Complete all assigned documentation in a timely fashion
• Assist in residence household duties (general cleaning, laundry, shopping, meal planning and preparation); train and supervise children in developing these skills
• Fulfill additional supervisor assignments in absent of the Program Supervisor.  Examples of such assignments include: meal planning, scheduling, petty cash reconciliation/disbursements, quality improvement measures, and individual supervision of identified Residential Youth Counselors
• Shift leader, responsible for all activities and assignments when working unless otherwise indicated (i.e. Program Supervisor is present and chooses to lead the shift)

Other duties as assigned by Program Supervisor

• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Must have a valid NYS driver's license
• Must have full working hours Flexibility
• Proven working experience as a facility cleaner
• Knowledge of cleaning chemicals and supplies
• Must have the ability to support, nurture and discipline children in a structured environment, as evidence by 1-year professional child care experience
• Experience in working with diverse communities, and knowledge of multicultural issues including race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, etc.
• Must have proven skills in cleaning and household maintenance

Additional Requirements, Skills, Abilities and Characteristics:

• Must comply with all agency policies and procedures
• Must obtain S95 and F-07 fire safety certification within 3 months
• Must project emotional stability and authority in order to form an appropriate role model relationship with children
• Trauma informed and maintained a trauma informed environment
• Ability to develop and maintain appropriate boundaries
• Must demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of clients in crisis
• Must demonstrate responsiveness to cultural differences and a commitment to the value of cultural competency

What We Offer:

At HeartShare we offer a comprehensive benefit package based on full-time/part-time status. You can expect: 

• Paid time off (holidays, vacation, sick and personal) 
• Professional development opportunities 
• Team environment 
• Medical and dental benefits 
• Employer-paid life insurance 
• Optional insurance (life, disability, etc.) 
• 403(B) Retirement Saving Plan 
• Flexible spending account (dependent care, medical, parking, and transit) 
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Wellhub (formally gympass)

HeartShare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). If you need to request accommodation during the recruiting process, please reach out to Leaves@heartshare.org. 

About HeartShare
Who WE ARE:
For over one hundred years, HeartShare has dedicated itself to improving the lives of people needing special services and support. The HeartShare team, now 2,100 employees and growing, helps individuals develop to their fullest potential and lead meaningful and enriched lives.