Youth Advocate, Shift Lead (2nd Shift)

Community Solutions Inc. (CSI) is a nonprofit organization that promotes the responsible citizenship, accountability, and well-being of individuals and families involved, or at risk of involvement, in the criminal justice system. Since CSI's founding in 1962, it has been a pioneer in the community-based service. We have been delivering supervision, treatment, and comprehensive individualized services to help clients interact more effectively in their communities and become productive citizens. Using this plan we built the first ever halfway house in New England which has now been replicated and grown to almost 50 programs in 9 states.

CSI understands clients and staff have been impacted by trauma. CSI is becoming a trauma-informed organization by hiring individuals with existing experience in trauma-informed practices as well as supporting ongoing staff development with trauma-informed practices. This will include learning to recognize symptoms of trauma and how to respond, through training starting at orientation and throughout their career at CSI. CSI is committed to systematically evaluating the integration of the trauma-informed values of safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment at all levels of the organization's policies, procedures, and structures to guard against the possibility of re-traumatization.

Program Overview

The LISA Division of Community Solutions is seeking an energetic and dedicated Youth Advocate, Shift Lead to work at the SAIL Program with young adults, ages 18-23 years old. As a Youth Advocate Shift Lead , you will work collaboratively with clients to help them effectively navigate personal challenges and to build life skills. You are the nuts and bolts of program operations and responsible for establishing a safe, strength-based and relational environment while supporting the adolescents successfully transition from interdependence to independence. The Youth Advocate Shift Lead role is ideal for those who have previous experience in a youth residential setting and are seeking to build supervisory skills.

Wage: $19.26/hr with additional $1.00 2nd shift differential and $2.00 3rd shift differential

Schedule Available:

• Sun/Mon 12p-8p Tues/Wed/Thurs 2p-10p

Position Overview

• Ensures that the tenets and philosophy of a strengths based, gender responsive, relational, trauma informed program are reinforced
• Provides positive role modeling for staff and residents at all times, including professional dress, managing personal emotions, behavior, etc.
• Organize work and tasks needed on shift among Youth Advocate's
• Assist other Youth Advocate's with questions or processes on the shift.
• Train new Youth Advocate's on Agency policy and procedures, act as mentor for new shift employees.
• Works closely with each resident to support their individual growth and development, ensuring that daily living skills are taught:
• Collaborates with the Leadership Team during weekly Service Team meetings to ensure that each resident's individual goals are attended to, particularly daily living skill areas
  • Consistently encourages and motivates residents, regularly catching them "doing it right"
  • Reframes and/or redirects residents who are frustrated or struggling in some way
  • Consistently applies approaches outlined in the TIER System to encourage pro-social, healthy behavior
  • Appropriately holds residents accountable for unhealthy, unsafe behavior
• Shift change duties:
  • Provide update on any positive client events, issues and/or incidents
  • Ensure security of facility keys
  • Verify house count
  • Verify cleanliness of the facility
  • Verify all staff members have reported for shift prior to leaving shift
• Completes required logs, reports, and data entry as required/requested
• Implements and provides proper documentation for the program's behavior motivation system (TIER)
• Contributes to the development of a monthly recreational calendar and life skills calendar
• Maintains the confidentiality of the residents and their families according to the agency's policy
• Participates in all meetings as required such as but not limited to: Service Team and Staff Meeting
• Oversee, house counts are complete as assigned and document results in CSI electronic data collection system immediately after task is completed.
• Report to work 15 minutes before their scheduled shift for example staff hires for the 4pm-12am shift are required to report to work by 3:45pm
• Transport Clients as needed in a Company vehicle
• Conduct monthly emergency drills
• May be mandated to work additional shifts should coverage not be available
• Register for and attend all required trainings and boosters
• Perform additional, related tasks as assigned by the Youth Residential Supervisor and/or Program Director.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree plus one year experience in the social service or criminal justice field.
• Education may be substituted with relevant experience on a one year for one year basis.
• Previous experience as a Youth Advocate/Residential Reentry Specialist
• Valid drivers license.

Additional Benefits

• Two (2) weeks' vacation accrued within the first year, bumped to three (3) weeks accrual after 1 year of service.
• Sick time (7 days accrual basis), floating holiday time (4 days/year).
• Medical and Dental plans.
• Voluntary plan options for: Vision, FSA, voluntary STD, Accident, Hospital, Life insurance and AD&D.
• 401(k) Retirement savings plan with automatic enrollment and a company match of 100% up to 4% of your contribution.
• Tuition reimbursement after 1 year service.
• Ongoing training.

CSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/Disability/Vet. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.