Job Title: Youth Support Specialist, Floater
Department: Residential Services

Position Summary

The Youth Support Specialist provides direct supervision, counseling, and support for young people ages 12–18 in a residential setting. This role is responsible for helping youth develop life skills, supporting their academic and social goals, and maintaining a trauma-informed environment that promotes self-regulation, safety, and growth. Youth Support Specialists play a vital part in fostering consistency, compassion, and guidance to help young people build the foundation for productive and fulfilling lives.

Department

New Directions Youth & Family Services’ Residential Services program provides 24/7 care for youth in need of consistency, safety, and support. Staff create therapeutic, trauma-informed environments that help young people learn, grow, and prepare for long-term success.

Agency

New Directions Youth & Family Services is an equal opportunity employer committed to championing the principles of anti-racism, justice, and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse cultures and backgrounds, for all positions, who will uphold our values and contribute to our mission. We aim to have a leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Benefits

New Directions offers a competitive benefits package to support employees:

• Medical, dental, and life insurance
• 401k with up to 3% agency match
• 120 hours of paid time off in the first year, plus 13 agency holidays
• Consistent schedule for full-time employees; flexible scheduling available for on-call staff
• $250 bonus after 6 months of employment
• Opportunities for professional development and advancement
• Join a company where over 30% of staff have been with us for 10+ years

Compensation

$19.00 – $20.00 per hour in the first year, with guaranteed raises for full-time positions.

Hours/Schedule

• Full-Time: Consistent schedule
• On-Call: Flexible scheduling options

Professional Development Opportunities

Youth Support Specialists receive extensive training, including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), First Aid/CPR, and ongoing in-service learning. Staff participate in supervision and professional development activities to maintain a high level of expertise and support in working with youth.

Position Specific Duties/Responsibilities

• 1. Directly supervise youth in care and administer to the physical needs of youth in care daily.
• 2. Dispense prescribed medications to children under the supervision of the Nurse and keep an accurate record of dispensation, and Maintain Medication Administration Certification.
• 3. Create and maintain a trauma informed environment to support youth in achieving self-regulation and reaching their therapeutic goals.
• 4. Provide therapeutic crisis intervention in the event of acute emotional and/or physical acting out and educate, provide and utilize sensory items to assist in self-regulation.
• 5. Communicate observations and pertinent information to Social Workers, Sr. Youth Support Specialist, Youth Support Specialist Supervisor and other members of the treatment team directly and through general and individual logs, relief notes, and telephone and visitation logs daily.
• 6. Document all incidents requiring intervention before the end of the work shift.
• 7. Participate in the formulation of treatment plans, the administration of discipline, and the provision of guidance and direction for the development of positive habits appropriate to the child’s age and state of development.
• 8. Provide for safe and healthy living conditions by assigning and supervising children’s daily household chores and requesting repairs and maintenance to the physical plant as needed.
• 9. Inspect and tidy up living unit before leaving each day (i.e., shut off lights and faucets, check bathrooms, etc.)
• 10. Assist with life skills by ordering or shopping for supplies as needed, ensuring that clothes and linens are laundered daily and repaired when needed, and inventorying and replacing worn clothing at least seasonally.
• 11. If working overnights, perform security rounds document as follows: Wyndham Lawn use the Detex Clock, Randolph uses logs. Perform and document bed checks nightly ensuring there is a youth in each bed at every bed check. Check for skin and/or breathing.
• 12. Report any disturbance or trespass occurring on the grounds to the security person and/or Sheriff’s Department. Maintain a continuous fire security watch in the living unit while on duty.
• 13. Supervise morning wake-up, escort residents to breakfast, and supervise preparation for school daily.
• 14. Remain awake and alert at all times to ensure proper supervision and control of children under care. Maintain an accurate head count of youth at all times.
• 15. Maintains Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and First Aid/CPR certification provided by the agency.
• 16. Attends all mandatory in-service training and regularly attends supervision meetings. Attends other training and in-services as needed to maintain a level of expertise in the field.
• 17. Any additional duties assigned by immediate supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 1. Ability to work effectively with youth, families, staff and community contacts from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• 2. Ability to deal effectively with youth or families.
• 3. Ability to accept supervision and perform as part of a team.
• 4. Ability to be flexible and adapt to change.
• 5. Ability to interface with people (groups and individuals) and communicate within various mediums (logbooks, E-mail, telephone).
• 6. Must have a valid driver’s license, adequate auto insurance and meet the criteria for driving set forth in the New Directions Driver’s License policy and Auto Insurance policy. Exception: Youth Counselors who have been placed temporarily in a non-driving position.
• 7. Ability to pass annual physical for Category 3 job classification in accordance with New Directions Employee Health policy.
• 8. Must comply with Agency safety standards and be responsible for own actions and conduct concerning safety and healthy working conditions.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED (required)
• Degree in Human Services or related field (preferred)
• Valid driver’s license (required)
• Experience in childcare or working with youth preferred but not required
• Ability to pass an annual physical per agency health policy (Category 3 classification)
• Compliance with agency safety standards and healthy work environment practices

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We want to emphasize that the preferred qualifications are not required and that we are committed to helping our future colleagues develop these preferred skills. We strongly encourage those who are passionate about fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable human service organization to apply.