Senior Youth Counselor

Reporting to the Residence Supervisor, the Senior Youth Counselor, is responsible for shift leadership, crisis intervention, and other supervisory responsibilities as delegated by the Residence Supervisor. Additionally, the Sr. Youth Counselor works as scheduled in Children’s Community Residence, 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.

Job Responsibilities

• Supervise and monitor Residential Youth Counselors’ interactions with children and families
• Model positive interaction with children and families and with staff
• 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 Manager)
• Report incidents, occurrences to the Residence Manager as soon as they occur and complete appropriate paperwork
• Complete all assigned documentation in a timely manner
• 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 Residence Manager such as (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)
• 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

Qualifications

• Must have a High School diploma or equivalent
• Must have a valid NYS driver's license
• Must have full working hours Flexibility
• Proven work experience as a facility cleaner and household maintenance; 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 childcare experience
• Experience in working with diverse communities, and knowledge of multicultural issues including race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, etc.

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 to form an appropriate role model relationship with children
• Must be trauma informed and have the ability to maintain 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

Benefits

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

• Rewarding Work in a team environment.
• Paid vacation, sick, personal days, and holidays.
• 403(B) retirement plans with employer contribution.
• Health, dental, vision and life insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Flexible spending account (Dependent Care, Medical, Parking, and Transit).
• Employee Appreciation Programs and Events.
• Tuition Assistance Program.
• Professional Development opportunities.
• Gympass Discount
• Verizon Wireless Discount.
• BJs Membership discount.
• Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates & more

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

For over 100 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.