Resident Advisor/ Direct Care Staff

Job Description MONTGOMERY COUNTY YOUTH SERVICES

Job Title: Resident Advisor Department: Shelter Services

Reports To: Shelter Director FLSA Status: Hourly Non-Exempt

Summary of Resident Advisor Position:

To provide daily care and supervision, positive role-modeling, structure and support to the youth in the Emergency Shelter Program to ensure their health, safety and well-being are protected. The Shelter schedule is set a month at a time, but the ideal candidate will be able to pick up additional shifts with short notice.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following, and other duties may be assigned:

• Maintain required supervision and ratio at all times ensuring the safety and well-being of all youth in your care. Complete required safety checks on a varied schedule but not to exceed 15 minutes or less as required.
• Maintain a nurturing, therapeutic and safe environment by establishing and following a consistent daily routine, providing appropriate supervision at all times; monitoring environment and mass media (movies, TV, radio, written materials, and cell phone usage) for appropriate content.
• Assign and monitor completion of age appropriate chores, develop, plan and execute appropriate and enriching activities to decrease boredom and restlessness, and request necessary supplies for special occasions and/or special activities.
• Maintain living areas in a good state of cleanliness and order, and maintain adequate supplies for cleaning.
• Providing for the children’s physical needs by obtaining and helping children maintain clean, adequate, appropriate clothing and other personal items and by teaching children personal grooming habits and nutritional values.
• Recognizing signs and symptoms of illness, by treating minor ailments and seeking appropriate guidance from the shelter supervisor. Filling prescriptions as needed; administering medications as prescribed by the child's physician as well as monitoring for side effects.
• Submitting prompt, accurate documents such as serious incident reports, daily logs, accident reports, restraint reports, and other pertinent information. Pass along related information to the staff working the next shift.
• Assist residents with goals, daily living activities, and transporting children when necessary.
• Guiding children and establishing a trusting relationship with mutual respect, by listening to children with compassion and concern, by using praise and encouragement for positive behavior and consequences (natural or imposed) for inappropriate behavior, and by providing support for a child when needed.
• Inspiring each child through innovative techniques to achieve their maximum potential and develop inner strength, being a positive leader in the shelter, and displaying appropriate boundaries and role modeling of adult interactions.
• Positively interacting with parents, caseworkers, teachers, therapists and other staff by recognizing that children need to feel they are a part of a family, peer group and the community and avoiding criticism of children’s families and friends.
• Responsible for supervising and interacting with residents while maintaining appropriate boundaries, communication, consistency, flexibility and compassion.
• Positively interact with volunteers, donors and visitors.
• Conduct drug testing as requested by the Shelter Director or designee.
• Ability to work various shifts including nights and weekends.
• Attend all required shelter and agency wide meetings. Maintain up to date on all shelter communication.
• Complete all training required by program management and DFPS licensing minimum standards such as; Trauma Informed Care, Recognizing and Reporting Child Sexual Abuse, Psychotropic Medication, Normalcy Training, and Sex Trafficking.
• Perform other duties related to the job as assigned by the Shelter Director or designee.

Minimum Education and Training:

• High School Diploma or GED required; Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred.
• Formal professional experience working with at-risk youth required; experience working with youth in a residential setting preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to connect with youth while maintaining good boundaries and being a positive role model
• Good oral and written communication skills.

All Staff Must:

• Adhere to the Agency Code of Conduct and maintain and protect client confidentiality.
• Promote and demonstrate appropriate respect for cultural diversity among co-workers and all work related contacts.
• Attend work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.
• Maintain valid Texas Driver’s License and Automobile Insurance.
• Obtain and maintain current CPR and First Aid Certifications.
• Maintain required training hours as per licensure and/or agency policies.

Working Conditions:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This job requires a high degree of mental and physical effort due to considerable interruptions and/or frequent changes of activity or workloads during a typical day.
• This position will require the employee to work a flexible schedule in order to meet the needs of the program. Work will be required on weekends and holidays. Actual work hours and working days will vary and be agreed upon with the Shelter Director.
• Generally, work takes place indoors, but at times, the employee will be asked to be outside participating and assisting with activities with youth and/or fellow employees.
• Travel is required during the normal workday. The employee will be required to drive a 15 passenger van in the course of his/her daily duty while transporting youth.
• The employee will also be required to travel in his/her own vehicle to and from YES to YOUTH - MCYS offices, seminars, and meetings.
• Shifts are typically either 6am- 2pm, 2pm-10pm, or 10pm-6am and flexibility for night, weekend, and holiday shifts is required.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently and regularly required to:

• Talk and hear.
• Walk; stand; climb stairs; sit; use hands to use or handle office tools and equipment, including telephone and computer; and reach with hands and arms.
• Stoop, kneel, bend, and/or crouch.
• Physically intervene in crisis situations with/between youth per YES to YOUTH - MCYS policies and procedures.
• Life and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Utilize specific vision abilities, including the ability to adjust focus for work with computers, peripheral vision and depth perception for driving.

Our Mission: Montgomery County Youth Services (MCYS) provides crisis counseling, shelter programs and prevention services to strengthen families, keep youth in school and prepares them to be productive citizens.