YOUTH SPECIALIST 1-SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS PROGRAM

MINIMUM POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

APPLICANTS MUST MEET ALL LISTED REQUIREMENTS BELOW TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.

• Education & Experience. B.A. or B.S. degree in a human services field (psychology, social work, sociology, criminal justice) from an accredited college or university is preferred or B.A. or B.S. in education + experience in a classroom setting.
• Driver's License. Must have a valid Idaho's driver's license or obtain one within 30 days of hire, as a condition of continued employment.
• Certification. Must hold current certifications in first aid, CPR, physical/non-physical crisis intervention, or complete the requirements for certification within 90 days of hire.
• Physical Condition. Must be in good health as certified by a physician within 30 days of hire. Must have the physical ability to perform essential job duties and responsibilities.
• Other. Must be at least 21 years of age. Does not have a criminal record, or obtains a criminal history clearance via Idaho Department of Health and Welfare licensing rules and IYR criminal history policies and procedures.

IDAHO YOUTH RANCH

POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION: Youth Specialist

The Youth Specialist 1 (YS1) is the first of four positions in the Youth Specialist series. This position is the entry level position. At minimum, the YS1 must complete the job orientation, training, certification and performance requirements that qualify him to supervise youth residents alone, without the presence of a Youth Specialist 2 or other qualified personnel. Upon completion of his 6 month orientation period, the YS1 becomes eligible to advance to the YS2 level.

The YS1 works under the direct supervision, instruction and support of his program’s Youth Specialist Supervisor.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES RELATED TO THIS POSITION

As a result of the supervision and support provided by the YS1, the youth assigned to his/her program will:

• Make steady progress toward the achievement of their service plan goals;
• Know they are valued and are worthy of respect;
• Reside in a safe, healthy, clean and well maintained living environment;
• Understand how substance use interferes with their life goals and apply skills to maintain sobriety;
• Be held accountable for their actions in a constructive, positive manner; and
• Be prepared for their discharge from the program and return to the community.

FUNDAMENTAL QUALITIES (The Essence of the Job)

• Underlying Principles.  This area relates to and identifies the key personal internal characteristics, qualities, and traits the YS1 must have and fully utilize to help youth residents achieve their service plan goals.
  1. Ability to Relate. The YS1 possesses a caring and accepting attitude. He has patience. He enjoys being around and relating to kids, even when they are not at their best. The YS1 shows genuine interest in kids, their lives, views and ideas, while maintaining his professional boundaries. He can view a youth’s shortcomings in its appropriate context and see their potential. He can respond to a youth’s misbehavior with calmness and constructive action. The YS1 understands that the care and concern he gives to youth may not always be appreciated, but is given nonetheless.
  2. Personal Qualities. The YS1 is optimistic in outlook and resourceful in meeting challenges. Her personal values are aligned with the IYR agency values. She willingly abides by the agency ethics policy and the Code of Ethics for IYR Program Employees.
  3. Organizational Orientation. The YS1 abides by and actively supports the IYR mission, policies and practices. He understands that his work is part of a larger helping system that includes other IYR programs, the youth’s family and support system, community professionals and placing entities. He understands that IYR’s mission is to help youth and their families experience long term success rather than just short time progress, and he approaches his work in that way.
• Exercise Judgment. This section relates to the way the YS1 uses his mental abilities to carry out their duties and responsibilities. The YS1 works in a dynamic environment that requires critical thinking and sound judgment.
  1. Know and Understand. The YS1 continually improves her knowledge of the agency and larger system of care through training and study. She steadily increases her knowledge of the program’s treatment practices and interventions and understands how they are applied to help youth with substance use disorders achieve their service plan goals.
  2. Observe. The YS1 is constantly aware of what is happening in his work environment. He shares his observations of youth behaviors with other staff. His awareness and observation skills give him the ability to be proactive and to intervene with youth who are experiencing emotional adjustment or behavior problems before their problems escalate out of control.
  3. Learn. The YS1 aspires to learn and grow both personally and professionally. She seeks out learning experiences. She effectively applies what she has learned through study and on the job experience.
  4. Organize. The YS1 works with other staff members and youth to maintain an orderly work and living environment. He approaches each task after first thinking about how it should be organized to best achieve the desired result.
• Purposeful Action. This job area relates to how the YS1 acts in carrying out his work duties and responsibilities.
  1. Team.  The YS1 in an effective team member and strives to help others understand the importance of team unity. She holds herself and other team members responsible for their individual and team assignments. She supports team decisions and activities in ways that reinforce effective program practices.
  2. Accountability. The YS1 takes responsibility for his own actions, and when necessary, address issues of accountability with team members, other employees and youth residents. He provides constructive feedback to team members. He uses mistakes as way to promote learning and behavioral change.
• Engage. This job domain relates to the level of active involvement the YS1 must maintain to be an effective youth worker. The YS1 stays engaged with youth throughout her work day. She participates with youth rather than watching from the sidelines. She helps youth stay on task, provides direction and support as needed and appropriate.
• Model. The YS1 “walks the talk,” by living and working in a manner consistent with agency values, policies and program practices. He demonstrates a positive outlook, appropriate use of humor, patience, energy, perseverance, adaptability, punctuality, attention to detail, creativity, and the value of a healthy lifestyle. He keeps his emotions under control (or at least appears to) at all times. He demonstrates effective conflict resolution, problem solving, and strength-based methods that are consistent with our treatment approach. He demonstrates authority figures can be helpful and trusted.
• Communicate. The YS1 strives for clear, objective, constructive communications in all interactions. Her written work products are accurate, complete, and timely. She progressively improves her verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills. She is an active listener. She keeps other staff members informed and in the loop. The YS1 abides by agency communication protocols.
• Teach. The YS1 shares his knowledge and experience with youth in appropriate ways. He uses the “teachable moment” to address patterns of negative/substance use behavior and offer positive behaviors to replace them. He imparts to youth social, problem solving, and conflict resolution, skills. He creates opportunities to learn empathy. He expects youth to do their best and enthusiastically acknowledges their accomplishments.
• Manage. The YS1 helps youth with the management of their daily tasks and assignments. She helps her team members manage their duties and responsibilities.
• “Whatever It Takes”. The YS1 does not recognize the words, “That’s not my job.” He is committed to the success of the agency, their program, and the youth in his charge. He willingly applies his skills and energy to any task that needs to be done.

TREATMENT / SERVICE TASKS

• Resident Orientation. The YS1 helps with resident orientation. She assists new residents with understanding and following resident rules and the program schedule. She covers resident rights and responsibilities with new residents as situations dictate.
• Resident Supervision. The YS1 has primary responsibility to provide direct supervision to individual youth or groups of youth during his shift when youth are not in individual therapy. He may supervise youth in a number of settings, including: their residence, school, recreation areas, where meals are served, in the community during program outings. He abides by IYR behavioral management policies and practices. If he observes or learns of harassment or abuse by youth or staff, he intervenes immediately, takes appropriate action to stop it, reports the incident to his supervisor and takes any other steps required by agency policy.
• Therapy.  The YS1 implements treatment strategies developed by clinicians as directed. She may sit in on group therapy, educational and family therapy sessions. She must become familiar with the program’s different treatment components.
• Balanced Approach Restorative Justice (BARJ).  The YS1 develops knowledge and understanding of BARJ. She is supportive of a youth’s efforts to restore their victim(s). She supports program measures that manage, reduce and alleviate the risk certain youths pose within their program and the larger community. She helps youth develop pro-social skills and interests.
• Reintegration. The YS1 develops understanding of the reintegration phase of the agency’s service system.
• Performing Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs). The program has SOPs that prescribe the specific way that tasks are to be performed. The YS1 must carry out their duties and tasks in accordance with his program’s SOPs.

OPERATIONS TASKS

• Human Resources.  The YS1 abides by all agency personnel policies and procedures. She takes responsibility to ensure her own personnel record contains the information required by licensing, contracting and accreditation standards. She confronts all discrimination and harassment in the work place by reporting all incidents in accordance with agency policy. She completes and maintains required training, certifications and skills courses.
• Supervision.  Although the YS1 does not supervise other employees, he supports his own supervisor by asking for help or guidance when he needs it, and by actively participating in quality improvement efforts. He asks for regular feed back on his job performance. He evaluates his own performance, makes improvements and works with his supervisor to establish annual performance goals.
• Financial Management. The YS1 abides by all agency and program fiscal policies and procedures. She becomes aware of and acts in conformance with the financial practices and record keeping related to youth accounts.
• Employee/client safety. The YS1 conducts all of his duties and responsibilities in a safe manner. He actively promotes a safe work environment by calling attention to any unsafe behavior he observes. He reports unsafe work conditions/equipment to his supervisor. He may assist the supervisor in carrying out safety assignments. He abides by all agency safety policies and practices. He reports all accidents and injuries to his supervisor in accordance with agency policy.
• Risk Management. The YS1 is continually aware of behavioral and environmental risks in her work environment. She participates in program efforts to reduce or eliminate those risks.
• Facility Management. The YS1 works side by side with youth to teach and instruct them in the proper ways of cleaning and maintaining their living environment and possessions. He works with his team members and residents to manage the upkeep of their facility, equipment and other assets. He takes pride in the condition of his facility, and helps instill this pride in the youth that reside there.
• Quality Assurance & Improvement. The YS1 views quality assurance and improvement as an every day opportunity. She constantly looks for ways to improve her own performance and her team’s performance. She actively participates in the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) meetings. She carries out CQI strategies, tasks, and assignments directed by her team, program and the agency.

GENERAL INFORMATON

• Work Schedule.  To meet licensing and other agency requirements, IYR must ensure it has proper staff-to-youth ratios 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Program employee work schedules are established to effectively meet the supervision and treatment needs of youth. The YS1 may be assigned to work one of three shifts, depending on the needs of the program. The Program Director will do her best to maintain the work schedule she gives the YS1 when he is hired, but the she cannot guarantee an employee’s schedule won’t change.
  The YS1 may be required to attend an occasional organizational meeting or training sessions that requires overnight travel and that may last for several days.

MINIMUM POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

• Education & Experience. B.A. or B.S. degree in a human services field (psychology, social work, criminal justice) from an accredited college or university is required.
• Driver’s License.  Must have a valid Idaho’s driver’s license or obtain one within 30 days of hire, as a condition of continued employment.
• Certification. Must hold current certifications in first aid, CPR, physical/non-physical crisis intervention, or complete the requirements for certification within 90 days of hire.
• Physical Condition. Must be in good health as certified by a physician within 30 days of hire. Must have the physical ability to perform essential job duties and responsibilities.
• Other. Must be at least 21 years of age. Does not have a criminal record, or obtains a criminal history clearance via Idaho Department of Health and Welfare licensing rules and IYR criminal history policies and procedures.