Classification: Youth Care Staff
Reports
to:
Coordinator of Care Management and Clinical Services
Minimum
Qualifications:
· Possess a recognized child-care worker diploma or a Bachelor’s degree in the human services field
· Minimum of five (5) years’ direct child care experience
· Minimum of two (2) years adolescent residential experience
· Registration with the appropriate professional association of their area of human services
· Ongoing development of knowledge and skills
· Training on an annual basis to meet or exceed the standards of their professional association
· Meet or exceed the minimum requirements of the Province of Nova Scotia, Department of Community Services, Provincial Standards for Residential Child-Caring Facilities; Children and Family Services Act and Regulations;
Definition
of Terms:
Care Management is the term used to describe the coordination for the care planning process which includes placement planning, family history and dynamics, behavioural and emotional concerns, academic needs, life skills and leisure planning, and physical health.
Clinical is defined as precise analysis of systemic and interpersonal issues in the lives of youth and families and utilization of this analysis into each element of the care management process, including consultation, collaboration and implementation.
BACKGROUND
The Reigh Allen Centre (RAC) provides a resource to child welfare agencies in Nova Scotia who are seeking placement of youth ages 12 – 16 years with behavioural and emotional difficulties. For the most part, child welfare agencies do not provide life skills programming for youth in their care; they access community resources in order to address the many and complicated needs present among these young people. This range of needs exceeds the resources available in the community, as they often have developed as a result of early experiences of separation and loss, disrupted attachment, experiences of placement breakdown, family violence, and early exposure of substance misuse, among other issues. In this context, the development of societal skills is complex, often delayed, and occurring at the same time as disruption and instability continue to be present.
While a young person is living in a residential program, there is an optimistic opportunity to work with that young person with full knowledge of all the concerns and dynamics present at that moment in time. At the RAC, this knowledge and understanding of the full context is incorporated into the entire daily routine, and participation and feedback from daily group programming sessions are then translated back into the other parts of the youth’s day. With this coordination and consistency of information within the care plan, the opportunity for lasting change can be facilitated.
POSITION
SUMMARY
Responsible, within the above framework, for facilitating the daily life skill and leisure programming needs of residents living at the RAC. Works closely with the youth care team in preparing, developing and delivering active and passive leisure programming and in facilitating life skills.
Committed to facilitating the delivery of therapeutic, educational and healthy individual and group learning opportunities for residents, to provide a living environment which is enriched with a variety of opportunities to learn and grow. It is necessary that this position work in a close alliance with the youth care team and the care management team in order to support and deliver this vision. This position is an integral component of a multi-disciplinary approach to youth care, as it enters into the daily life events of each young person and utilizes these events for therapeutic purpose. This person must be committed to the belief that active and passive leisure and life skill programming creates the possibility of finding a new way of experiencing and growing inside oneself.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
The incumbent is accountable to all standards and expectations of the Province of Nova Scotia:
· Provincial Standards for Residential Child-Caring Facilities
· Children and Family Services Act
· Nova Scotia Child Abuse Protocol
· ADCRF Code of Conduct
· Code of Conduct or Ethics of their Professional Association
CORE COMPETENCIES
The incumbent is required to perform, exhibit and lead by example in the following areas:
· Analytical and conceptual thinking
· Client service orientation
· Sharing Knowledge and developing others
· Organizational commitment and awareness
· Relationship Building
· Communication skills (verbal and written)
In all duties and responsibilities and any delegation of tasks, the incumbent is responsible to ensure that all matters under the Provincial Standards for Residential Child-Caring Facilities which fall under their responsibilities are routinely reviewed and that the Standards are met or exceeded.
· In all tasks, lead by example and continually work to develop a highly effective, cohesive Youth Care Team to ensure the highest level of delivery of service to the clientele
· Attend and participate in management team meetings, as required
· Attend management meetings when arrangements for program delivery have been made. This may include guest speaker presentations, or course participation at community centres. Any arrangements requiring participation of the Youth Care Team requires consultation with the appropriate Youth Care Supervisor and the Coordinator of Care Management and Clinical Services (CCMCS)
· If required by the CCMCS, attend monthly facility program meetings
· Chair the RAC Program Committee and oversee the task division and accomplishment within the Committee
Daily Requirements
Deliver programs which promote life skill development and which offer
experience of therapeutic recreation twice daily, five days per week, with the
exception of:
- arrangements made for group participation in programs outside the RAC
-
facilitation of guest speaker presentations
-
vacation and sick time
-
attendance at team meetings
· Coordinate, in conjunction with youth care staff, program activity schedule for day time hours, Monday to Friday
· Facilitation of the development of specialized programs for individual residents
· Purchase and inventory of weekly program materials
Resource Development
·
Gather and update current, relevant program materials from community
resources for integration into group program materials
·
Establish and maintain working relationships with professionals in the
community who specialize in relevant program areas
·
In conjunction with the Coordinator of Care Management and Clinical
Services, apply for alternate funding for specialized programs in the areas of
life skills development
·
Oversee and authorize the work of the Program Committee in the
solicitation of donations and promotions for the purpose of leisure programming
for the residents of the Reigh Allen Centre and, on occasion, the residents of
the ADCRF
·
Knowledge of community resources as they relate to program development
Care Mangement
· Be a fully participating member of the Care Management Team and attend regularly scheduled meetings
· Facilitate the integration of active and passive leisure and life skill programming into individual care plans, as appropriate for each youth
WORKING CONDITIONS
The work environment demands strong concentration and the ability to focus while maintaining a sensitivity and appreciation of the delicate balance required with the clientele. Work hours are based upon client needs. Must be able to work independently and under stressful conditions. Working environment often requires sensitivity to cultural, societal differences and appropriate protocols. Working conditions include physical, emotional and mental demands