Direct Support Professional I - Childrens Congregate Care

Bonus : $2,500 (50% paid at 6 months and 50% paid at 12 months)

Payrate : $20.50-21.00

The Residential Counselor provides direct care to youth in one of YOU, Inc.’s 24-hour / 7-day-a-week acute or congregate care settings. To this end, the Residential Counselor works as part of a shift of staff, led by a shift supervisor, all of whom are in a specific client to staff ratio, with the responsibility for creating and maintaining a therapeutic treatment milieu. Residential Counselors are considered “essential employees” and as such may be mandated to work beyond their scheduled shifts in order to maintain client to staff ratios and / or be required to report to work during declared states of emergency.

The Residential Counselor ensures the safety and supervision of youth, cultivates a therapeutic treatment milieu, maintains appropriate boundaries while developing supportive professional relationships with youth, participates in the upkeep and cleanliness of the facility, documents client care as required or directed, and if necessary, utilizes agency physical management interventions.

• Insure the safety and supervision of youth through watching and engaging therapeutically with youth. To this end, the Residential Counselor should monitor and take corrective action to mitigate safety risks in the milieu, and report issues of immediate concern to the Shift Supervisor, or the next level manager.
• Cultivate a therapeutic milieu. The therapeutic milieu encompasses all aspects of programming daily routine and requires Residential Counselors to role model and promote client’s :

o Social growth and connection, building social skills

o Emotional expression and learning self-regulation,

o Positive behavior

o Improvement in overall functioning.

o Physical boundaries : always maintain appropriate physical boundaries with clients.

o Emotional boundaries : be aware that our clients have trauma histories.

o Logistical boundaries : always double-check client’s report of permissions granted.

o Informational / privacy : always protect client confidentiality and understand HIPAA

o Staff-to-staff boundaries : be collegial and professional with your coworkers and ensure you are always in ratio

o Staff- to- providers / caregivers : introduce yourself and be warm and professional to all other coworkers, visitors, and family members.

o Reviewing and / or being familiar with client’s reason for intake and treatment plans

o Completing “shift notes” (all shifts at Wetzel, STARR, and Teen Parent Programs, and third shift at Oxford and Grafton House)

o Complete “Rehab option notes” after first and second shifts at Oxford and Grafton House, or if rehabilitation services occur at night.

o Completing shift logs after each shift

o Documentation of medication administration.

o Being aware of safety plans and any special programming (meal charts, sleep charts, etc.)

o Completing incident reports as instructed or as needed

o CPI / De-escalation and Physical Management

o First Aid, CPR, and use of Universal Precaution

o Medication Management and / or MAP

o Van Safety / Drivers Safety

Additional Responsibilities