Part-Time Overnight Youth Care Worker

The Part-Time Overnight Youth Care Worker supervises and ensures the safety of the milieu during the night when Youth are sleeping, acts as an advocate, educator, coach and role model for the Youth and their family systems, and supports and implements the policy and philosophy of the program and the Agency.

Mercy Home for Boys and Girls is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS: 

• At least 21 years of age.
• High School diploma or GED required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Ability to stay awake and alert during hours of rest for the Youth.
• At least two years of experience working with youth.
• Have a valid Illinois driver’s license, ability to drive a van, maintain a clear driving record, and retain driving approval through the Department of Children and Family Services.
• Regular and predictable attendance.
• Ability to work both independently and as an active team member.
• Ability to accept, adopt, and implement feedback from supervisor and team.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Is open and respectful of personal, cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of youth and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor while exercising judgment and discretion in work.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to write reports
• Experience with Microsoft Office, as well as the willingness to become proficient in other software packages and programs.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to attend required Agency trainings and maintain necessary training compliance. Flexibility to attend daytime trainings or sessions outside of regularly scheduled hours.
• Ability and willingness to create, initiate, and participate in recreational and therapeutic activities with the youth.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds, and with proper training, be able to physically restrain youth.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and goals of the Agency.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Remain awake and aware of milieu
• Position chair/ work station in order to ensure a clear view of the youth bedrooms at all time.
• Conduct bedroom checks at a minimum of every 30 minutes, with visual sight of each youth to ensure their safety. Check on a more frequent basis (i.e. every 15 minutes) based on program needs or supervisor request.
• Log accurately and timely, in the program log book, all bed checks as well as any other/ youth activity
• Be responsible for timely and accurate communication (e.g. incident reports, contact with Youths’ families, log entries, e-mail, and contacts with on-call supervisor).
• Engage with youth in daily routines and activities.
• Develop and support creative interventions for the youth.
• Build a therapeutic relationship with the youth
• Provide supportive supervision, guidance, and role modeling for the Youth in the milieu.
• Participate in supervision meetings
• Utilize CPI techniques
• Provide transportation for Youth and their family systems as necessary.
• Communicate when necessary with other departments within Mercy Home.
• Employ all aspects of de-escalation and behavior management techniques as outlined in CPI protocol.
• Learn, align with, and execute the treatment philosophies, modalities and practices of the Agency.