Youth Counselor

The Youth Counselor 1 is a full time entry level line worker position that provides for the general
care of atrisk youth and manages the treatment milieu and routine within a home. The Youth Counselor 1 is thebackbone of our quality of care and treatment for these youth.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
None.

Duties/Responsibilities:
Responsible to maintain the daily routine and structure of the home.
Responsible to work within a treatment team both within the staff and in the community in a
cooperative and mutually supportive way.
Forming therapeutic relationships with the youth in care.
Provide a safe consistent and structured living environment for the youth in care.
o Supervision and structure to keep the youth in care safe.
o Supervise manage and instruct positive interaction and conflict resolution among the residents
in the home.
o Assist with management of a stable yet dynamic set of house rules and values.
o Prepares and shares nutritious family style meals with youth.
o Provide for transportation or residents.
o Oversee and teach chores and general house cleaning/maintenance.
o Participate and/or facilitate house group meetings.
o Provide guidance.
o Help with life planning.
o Teach life skills.
o Teach and model communication skills.
o Assist with relationship building skills.
o Teach and model recreation skills and implement the recreational program of the home.
Work with youth in care to meet their unique and individual needs.
o Provide individualized care.
o Do informal counseling sessions.
o Participate in group therapy sessions.
o Insure provision of appropriate outside services such as mental health medical dental etc.
o Advocate for needs of each youth.
Monitor individual behavior of youth in care.
o Provide instruction praise and reward for positive behavior.
o Do intervention with or confrontation of negative or destructive behavior.
o Give consequences when appropriate.
o Teach and model appropriate behaviors.
o Record behavioral data.
Engage in therapeutic relationships with the youth.
o Work as primary adult (worker) in a youths life including
Oneonone time.
Involvement in activities with youth.
Part of treatment team.
o Set appropriate levels of intimacy shared twoway information and boundaries.
o Work with youths families as partners to YH care and treatment.
Maintain program structure and assist with program accountability.
o Provide input to individual treatment plans.
o Make entries in administrative and behavioral logs.
o Document all incidents.
o Contribute to the update of treatment plans and make regular reports of progress as required by
program contract and rule.
o Stay abreast of all information in logs.
o Write reports as necessary and required or requested.
o Attend and participate in a wide variety of treatment team meetings.
o Attend and assist with corporate functions and meetings as requested.
Operate program as designed and directed.
Accept supervision.
Work within a team approach to treatment.
Give others respect regardless of opinion and consideration in dealings with them.
Be a healthy role model.

Required Skills/Abilities:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
Strong analytical and problemsolving skills.
Strong leadership skills.
Ability to function well in a highpaced and at times stressful environment.

Education Experience and State Licensing Requirements:
High School Diploma or equivalent
Valid Drivers License
Solid moral character
Be physically mentally and emotionally competent to care for youth; and
Be in good general health

Physical Requirements:
Ability to lift 50 lbs. as needed.
Ability to climb stairs as needed.
Willing and able to work a full time schedule that involves three four or fiveday workweeks that includes
shifts that may be as long as 15 hours.

Employee Classification Compensation and Benefits:
This position is a Fulltime Nonexempt position.
Compensation is based on range establish in the Youth Homes Salary Schedule.
Youth Homes provides a generous benefit package inclusive of:
o Annual Leave Exceptional Leave Educational Leave
o Health Dental Vision Longterm Disability and Life insurance.
o Health Savings Account and 401(k) options with agency match.

Required Experience:

Manager