Job Summary:

Provides supervision, protection and care of the clients in a group home setting and in community setting.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Maintains a good attendance record to ensure that required services are provided to clients on a continuous basis.
• Reporting to the Program Manager and making recommendations to address identified problems.
• Knowledge and understanding of the needs of children served in a children's residential setting.
• Skills and ability to engage and develop a rapport with children who have various backgrounds.
• Skills and ability to provide consistency and behavioral limits through relationship-based interventions.
• Skills to communicate effectively with the ability to solve problems in a collaborative manner.
• Provides supervision, protection and care of the clients individually and in groups at all times.
• Assistance to each client in working with a group and in handling individual problems.
• Administers discipline and sets limits for behavior.
• Makes notation on client's progress and logs this information in the daily narratives. 
• Identifies the possible need for professional services and communicates the information to the Residential Therapist.
• Assistance with the provision of or access to core services and supports, daily activities and emotional and social supports, as necessary.
• Provides instruction to clients regarding desirable social, interpersonal and communication skills, as well as guidance on health and personal habits.
• Teaches clients self-help skills and participates in the following areas: food preparation, cooking, house cleaning, laundering and yard work.
• Assists clients with school and homework assignments.
• Works in collaboration with the Facility Manager to lead and participate in planned recreational activities and games with the clients.
• Dispenses medication, recognizes clients medical needs, and administers first aid treatment as needed.
• Performs daily, weekly and monthly quality assurance system checks.
• Reads dailies, staff communications, training memos and calendars, employee communications/ memos, and other relevant information.
• Exhibits knowledge of and follows all licensing regulations, Agency Program Statement and Agency Employee Handbook.
• Participates in youth forums in-service training.
• Notifies Residential Administrator of any crisis situation or potential crisis situation by cell phone.
• Under the direction of the Residential Therapist, counsels or provides guidance to assist residents' in meeting their individual therapeutic goals.
• Transports clients and escorts them to designated appointments and activities within Fresno and outlying counties.
• May act as a liaison to clients authorized representatives, community representatives, school personnel, law enforcement personnel and others as needed.
• Responsible for safeguarding and maintaining accurate client and facility cash resources and receipts.
• Monitors maintenance needs of the residence and vehicles. Reports any deficiencies to the Program Manager for correction. 
• Performs minor maintenance functions to residence and vehicles as required.
• Completes intake and discharge information on clients and takes inventory of client clothing, household linen and other supplies.
• Employees assigned to the pregnant and parenting teen facility will attend to the infant's needs in the absence of the mother.
• Meets Agency training requirements.
• Attends mandatory house meetings.
• Must provide flexibility with the ability to work at any facility and on a flexible schedule as Agency needs dictate.
• Additional duties as assigned to ensure the health & safety of the clients in the facility.

Additional Responsibilities of Overnight Shifts

• Maintain the "awake staff" policy.
• Make room checks of all clients on an average of 15-minute increments. Staggered interval checks throughout the night.
• Clock in and out every 15 minutes.
• Complete administrative/office work, clean the house, address maintenance issues, complete clients laundry, and prepare meals for clients and staff.
• Transport clients to school or other destinations as needed.
• Dispense medications on time and document appropriate medication logs.
• Ensure clients are awakened with adequate time to complete the morning chores, eat their breakfast, and get to school on time. Also, ensure clients are dressed appropriately prior to departing for school.
• Additional duties as assigned to ensure the health & safety of the clients in the facility.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Direct Care staff shall meet one of the following requirements. A Bachelor of Arts or Sciences Degree or a valid child development teaching permit or completed 12 semester units of early childhood education, adolescent development or Foster and Kinship education and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth or a valid certificate as an Alcohol Counselor, Drug Counselor or Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth or a valid vocational training certificate, credential, or documentation demonstrating that the individual is a trade journeyperson who instructs children in vocational skills and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth as a mentor, athletic coach, teacher, vocational coach, tutor, counselor or other relevant experience as determined by the dept or previously employed as a full-time staff or served as a volunteer at a group home, short- term residential therapeutic program, or substance abuse treatment program for one year or relevant life experience in the child welfare, mental health or juvenile justice systems as a consumer, mentor or caregiver or other relevant experience as determined by the dept.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to employees or residents in the agency.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Within 30 days of hire, obtain certification in CPR and 1^st Aid. Within 90 days of hire, obtain certification in PART and Water Safety (if hired during summer months). Upon expiration, employee must renew CPR, First Aid, PART, and Water Safety. Must maintain valid California Drivers License and current automobile insurance throughout course of employment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; sit; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to stand; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee is required to be certified in Physical Assault Response Training in order to intervene in physical altercations with residents if necessary. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, however, may be loud occasionally. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.