Job Title: Youth Counselor
Program: Shelter Care
Reports to: Shelter Program Manager
Job Summary: The Youth Counselor is a full-time position that provides quality care for at-risk children and youth and manages the milieu and routine within a home.
Hiring Manager is prioritizing weekend availability for full and part time positions.
Duties/Responsibilities:
Accept the direction of the Shelter Program Manager.
Provide a safe, consistent, and structured living environment for the youth in care.
o Provide supervision and structure to keep the youth safe.
o Supervise, manage, and instruct positive interaction and conflict resolution among youth.
o Share family style meals with youth.
o Coordinate and/or provide transportation for youth.
o Participate in general house cleaning/maintenance with youth.
o Participate in house group meetings.
o Model communication skills.
o Assist with relationship building skills.
Create, implement, and engage in recreational activities inside and outside the home
Provide encouragement and support to residents to become involved in recreational activities outside the home.
Work with youth to meet their unique and individual needs.
o Provide appropriate and individual attention to youth in care.
o Work with Case Managers and Shelter Program Managers by recommending services to support a child’s unique needs, such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, and/or mental health services.
o Monitor visits and other contact with family and outside contacts.
o Advocate for needs of each youth.
- Monitor individual behavior of youth.
- Learn to identify the need beneath the behavior and strive to meet need.
o Provide instruction, and praise for positive behavior.
o Implement crisis intervention skills when necessary.
o Provide appropriate responses to given behavior.
o Record behavioral data in communication logs, case notes, and incident reports.
- Engage in therapeutic relationships with youth.
o Full-time Youth Counselors have the opportunity to work as a “primary” youth counselor in a youth’s life, including:
- One-on-one time.
- Involvement in activities with youth.
o Set appropriate levels of intimacy, interpersonal communication, and boundaries.
o Work with youth families as partners to Watson Children’s Shelter care and treatment.
- Maintain program structure and assist with program accountability.
o Provide input to individual treatment plans.
o Make entries in all behavior and communication logs.
o Document all incidents and draft incident reports when necessary.
o Contribute to the update of treatment plans and make regular reports of progress, as requested.
o Review all behavior and communication logs at the beginning of each shift.
o Attend and participate in staff meetings and training.
· Operate program as designed and directed.
· Accept supervision.
· Maintain accountable attendance and arrival times.
· Work within a team approach to treatment.
· Communicate clearly, precisely, and directly.
· Provide consistency and structure.
· Provide respect and positive consideration to youth and Watson team members.
· Be a healthy role model.
Required Skills/Abilities:
· Demonstrate competent, positive interpersonal skills.
· Knowledge of child development.
· Demonstrate flexibility in approach to solving problems and achieving goals.
· Demonstrate ability to work in and as a team.
Education and Experience:
- Minimum qualifications for this position include a high school diploma or equivalent with preferred work experience in caregiving and work with children and youth, or combination of education and experience.
- Thorough understanding of shelter care practices and staff responsibilities.
- Solid moral character.
Physical Requirements:
· Ability to lift 50 lbs. as needed.
· Ability to climb stairs as needed.
Employee Classification, Compensation and Benefits:
- This position is a Full-time, Non-exempt position.
- Compensation is based on the range established in the Watson Children’s Shelter Salary Matrix.
- Watson Children’s Shelter provides a generous benefit package inclusive of:
o 401(k) matching
o Dental insurance
o Health insurance
o Vision insurance
o Paid time off
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: From $18.00 per hour
Expected hours: 16 – 40 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Ability to Relocate:
- Missoula, MT 59804: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
