ABOUT THE COMPANY  

Founded: 1981

Mission: To strive for equity for our youth by valuing and supporting the life they envision.

Values: Trust, Respect, Empathy, Inclusion & Advocacy

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Youth Dormitory Support Specialist

Employment Classification: Full-time, Non-exempt

Reports to: Overnight -Youth Dormitory Specialist Supervisor

Department: Youth Connected Program

Program Summary: Youth Connected Program includes foster family agency, school dormitory, and Mental Health services in coordination with government agencies and collaborative partners.

Position Summary: Responsible for supervising youth overnight and supporting foster   youth using trauma-informed methods, assisting them to reach their greatest potential and develop the skills they will need to be successful young adults, and providing a safe and stable family-style environment. Work is performed under the direction and supervision of a Youth Dormitory Specialist Supervisor.

Major Areas of Responsibility:

Provides a safe and clean family style dormitory space for our youth throughout the night including but not limited to the following:

• Conducts and documents nightly checks for all youth at certain intervals to ensure their safety and well-being.
• Conducts nightly household cleaning task to promote an appropriate, safe, and hygienic environment. 
• Provide supports during morning routines which can include but not limited to, wake up calls, meal prepping, dispensing medication, and supporting youth to attend school.
• Complete daily progress notes and incident reports, which keep track of significant events that happen on-site.
• Communicates and works in collaboration with the resource parents and the YCP treatment team to ensure appropriate services are rendered to youth. 

Provides for moral/spiritual/educational development in a family-style environment including, but not limited to the following:

• Discusses academic performance with youth during appropriate times emphasizing the importance education.
• Assists youth in preparing for post-secondary or vocational education and identifies alternatives and develops career plans.
• Teaches youth the importance of obeying social laws.
• Attends or takes youth to community service projects, religious services, and other events.

Teaches and counsels youth on appropriate skills and behaviors including, but not limited to the following:

• Acquires, maintains, teaches, and demonstrates knowledge of evidence-based practices and trauma-informed care.
• Identifies, models, and teaches skills, prioritizing target   behaviors.
• Teaches youth independent living and employment skills and self-care habits.
• Provides feedback and rewards youth with praise for practicing and displaying appropriate behaviors and implements consequences for inappropriate behaviors.
• Evaluates youth's current and target behaviors and measures progress.

Provides and fosters loving, caring, and safe environment including, but not limited to the following:

• Provides appropriate and healthy emotional support by using praise, affection, and empathy (e.g., facilitates celebrations and demonstrates compassion).
• Monitors youth activities, including family visits, and observes interactions for appropriate social skills and safety.

Acts as a liaison for consumers, outside agencies, and internal personnel including, but not   limited to the following:

• Ensures client-centered, trauma-informed service planning, including effective advocacy and collaboration with coworkers and members of the Child and Family Team.
• Communicates with supervisor and social workers on youth strategies, behaviors, and progress.
• Prepare timely and accurate documentation.

Serves as a role model in   carrying out the Orangewood Foundation mission including, but not limited to the following:

• Creates atmosphere of enthusiasm and commitment.
• Directs all actions to reflect the values: trust, respect, and compassion.
• Executes Orangewood Foundation policies and procedures.
• Communicates directly with internal and/or external customers to assure proper resolution of concerns and satisfaction of inquiries, and speaking positively of Orangewood Foundation decisions, processes, and programs to other staff and outside consumers.
• Establishes and maintains an environment that encourages teamwork, interdependence, and ethical behavior and does not participate in gossip.

Knowledge, Skill, and   Experience Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field preferred. High school diploma or equivalent and two years’ experience working with at-risk youth.
• Willingness to work flexible hours in order to assist the program with youth activities.
• Must be computer-literate and be able to understand and effectively use electronic health record/database systems.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Comfortable presenting oneself in community settings.
• Must be able to successfully complete and   maintain required certifications and training   including, but not limited to, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Nurturing Parenting, First Aid/CPR, and other evidence-informed practices.

Additional Requirements:

• Possess a valid California driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance. Position requires DMV clearance.
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check, FBI/DOJ fingerprinting, TB test, and drug screen. Previous employment will be verified.

Essential Qualities: 

• Understanding of and passion for the Foundation’s mission, vision, values.
• Enjoys working directly with youth, volunteers, community partners, etc.

Working   Environment/Physical Requirements:

Family-style, school dormitory for foster youth, 7th-12th grade, with medical, behavioral, mental health issues, and the potential for verbal and physical threats. Community settings, both local (such as school and recreation) and community-based to facilitate transportation. Staff is subject to outside environmental conditions occasionally; inside conditions frequently, with protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes. The work includes constant interruptions in an environment of moderate to high noise level.

Staff must maintain proficiency in Nonviolence Crisis Intervention, as well as First Aid/CPR, requiring regular and sustained bending, lifting, pulling, stooping, hand and arm pressure, sitting and/or laying prone on the floor for extended periods. To facilitate youth activities and transports, staff must be able to safely drive vehicles transporting one or more youth to events, family visits, etc., in heavy, prolonged traffic (more than one hour each way).

• Frequent carrying, up to 20 pounds.
• Frequent bending, stooping, twisting, turning, and squatting.
• Frequent pushing/pulling up to 50 pounds and 25 feet.
• Frequent climbing of stairs (in a three-story dormitory)
• Regularly lifting floor to waist and floor above shoulders.
• Regularly sitting, 1 to 10 hours per day.
• Regularly standing, 1 to 10 hours per day.
• Regular use of fine motor skills for such activities as writing, note-taking, typing, and craft-making.
• Normal or corrected vision needed for driving, supervision of youth, observation of discrete skills, and documentation.
• Normal or corrected hearing to insure proper supervision and campus safety.
• Normal sense of smell to detect client hygiene issues, infant hygiene needs, and environmental safety issues.
• Normal ability to speak to teach skills, give feedback, discuss strategies, and converse on telephone.
• Work occasionally requires exposure to blood-borne pathogens
• Stamina to work 12-hour shifts and drive for up to four hours. 

Modification to work schedule may be made based on need of the Foundation.

Orangewood Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex. gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other protected group, in accordance with all applicable federal or State laws.