Buckman House - Senior Youth Care Specialist - Med Coordinator

Positions Summary:

The Senior Youth Care Specialist is responsible for providing quality youth care and close intensive supervision of male adolescent clients in a residential treatment setting. This position is responsible for assisting in the day-to-day operation of a residential treatment facility. While also providing direct care, this position is responsible for additional assigned responsibilities that support the operations of the program and facility. This position is responsible for coordinating medical and psychiatric services and ensuring that clients receive quality medical and medication services.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree OR equivalent education, experience and/or training which is defined, at a minimum, as one year work experience AND two years education, training, or additional work experience, all in the care and rehabilitation of youth. (Note: no less than 50 percent of the Youth Care Specialists shall have a bachelor's degree).
• Experience demonstrating knowledge of medication administration policies and procedures.
• 1-2 years work experience as a Youth Care Specialist at Janus Youth Programs preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Genuine concern for young people and the ability to treat all people with dignity and respect, and openness to learning and implementing a Positive Youth Development approach to youth work.
• Ability to work effectively within culturally diverse populations, team dependent models, crisis management, strength-based theoretical orientation, adolescent development, and family reunification.
• Knowledge of stages of change and trauma informed care.
• Knowledge of BRS documentation requirements.
• Knowledge of behavioral expectations of a school setting.
• Ability to facilitate case planning between school partners and a client's clinical treatment team.
• Strong group facilitation skills.
• A commitment to on-going training and a willingness to receive and act upon feedback.
• Ability to accurately read, record, and interpret information and complete written documentation that meets contract and program guidelines.
• Ability to provide visual and auditory supervision of program and youth.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a broad variety of people, including youth, families, staff, supervisors, and community partners.
• Ability to stay calm and emotionally available in an environment serving young people who require a high level of supervision and redirection from staff.
• Ability to exercise independent discretion and judgment within program guidelines.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-dependent environment and to act on the agenda of the program.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries working with youth and in handling confidential information.
• Ability to climb and descend at least two flights of stairs.
• Ability to escort and supervise clients in the community which may require standing and walking up to an hour at one time.
• Ability to stay awake and alert throughout entire assigned shift and to perform routine dorm checks and facility walk-throughs.
• Ability to effectively monitor safety and demonstrate group management skills and effectively de-escalate potentially chaotic or volatile situations.
• Ability to regularly attend scheduled shift, be punctual for scheduled shift and meetings, and be in a condition suitable for assuming responsibilities of position.
• Manual dexterity allowing performance of routine office tasks such as writing, phone use, filing, copying, and use of computer keyboard.
• Manual/physical capability to bend, stoop, kneel, and reach, as well as occasionally lifting up to 20lbs (including overhead) in order to perform functions such as accepting donations or unpacking groceries.
• Ability to perform and/or supervise routine household tasks such as cleaning, cooking, washing and folding laundry, emptying trash, sweeping/mopping, etc.

Other Requirements:

• Driving is preferred; a personal vehicle for travel and/or transport clients preferred. All employees who drive for work purposes must have and maintain a valid driver's license for state of residency, have a driving record that permits coverage under the corporate auto liability policy, and complete the agency's driving approval process before driving for work. If driving a personal vehicle for work purposes drivers must also have personal auto liability coverage ($100,000/$300,000 levels strongly recommended). Employees are not to drive for work purposes until they have received written authorization to do so.
• Bloodborne Pathogens training is required on the first day of employment and annually thereafter.
• Must complete Mandatory Abuse Training within the first 30 days of employment and annually thereafter.
• Provides emergency first-aid, as needed, and must have and maintain standard first-aid/CPR certification.
• Must pass criminal history background check.
• Food Handler's Certification required within two weeks of hire.
• Must obtain National Provider Identification Number through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System within 5 days of hire.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides close intensive supervision and creates a nurturing environment for adjudicated youth in a community-based residential facility.

• Manages day-to-day interactions and crisis situations constructively, ensuring the physical security and emotional nurturing and growth of clients.

• Knows and follows Buckman House treatment interventions, expectations, privileges and restrictions in accordance with program policies and procedures.

• Provides overall milieu management, support, and leadership to clients.

• Assures that every client's cultural, medical, and educational needs are addressed.

• Assesses physical condition of facility and performs necessary maintenance to ensure compliance with public health, OYA, state, and local fire marshall standards.

• Enforces daily routines and guidelines.

• Helps clients develop healthy daily wake-up and bedtime routines.

• Assures daily school and work attendance and/or appointments and models their importance.

• Teaches creative, nutritional meal preparation and supervises chore routines.

• Administers medication at the prescribed time and documents appropriately, following medication policy.

• Facilitates recreational and social activities.

• Complete daily logging requirements, including shift reports, behavior logs, and Incident Reports as needed.

• Implement behavior management system to promote

• Facilitates billable skill -building with clients, and documents appropriately in BRS Progress Notes in a timely manner.

• Participates in shift changes, team meetings, training, and regular supervision to discuss client cases, program and facility updates, and improve service quality.

• Provides emergency first aid on an as-needed basis and maintains current first-aid and CPR certification.

• Models and encourages direct, professional communication with staff, clients, client families, and external partners. Facilitates the development of a positive staff support network. Models' cultural sensitivity.

• Perform additional tasks specialized to SYCS role: Medical Coordination

• Works closely with clients and Case Managers at client intake to complete insurance coordination, pharmacy intake, and schedule initial medical, dental, and vision appointments.

• Works closely with clients to schedule medical, dental, and vision appointments for clients.

• Assures attendance at all medical, dental, and vision appointments by coordinating transportation and scheduling.

• Acts as liaison with medical providers and pharmacies to oversee ordering, continuation, and discontinuation of medication.

• Monitors Medication Administration Records (MAR) for accuracy and completion. Updates MAR at the beginning of month and with changes in medication prescriptions. Writes appropriate Medical Incident Reports.

• Trains new staff and periodically updates staff on medication administration at request of supervisor or Program Director.

• Performs other program related duties as assigned by Supervisor, Program Manager, Program Director, or Executive Director.

Working Conditions:

• May involve exposure to communicable diseases, including a variety of illnesses and infections such as the common cold, TB, Hepatitis, flu, meningitis, and HIV.
• May involve exposure to upset, angry, severely traumatized or emotionally disturbed children, adolescents, adults, and families.
• May involve time more than routine schedule and/or overtime, including evening/overnight, weekend hours, and/or holidays.
• May involve exposure to information that graphically describes physical, sexual and emotion abuse of children and may experience vicarious trauma.
• May require working and providing services at locations other than program site (i.e., schools, café', clinics, etc.,) and may, therefore, be exposed to environments not under agency control (i.e., second-hand smoke, varying hygiene practices, etc.).

This position description is intended to give the reader a general idea of the overall purpose and the main activities and responsibilities that are intrinsic to this position. While this description is intended to be representative, it is not intended to be limiting.