Youth LifeSet Specialist- Family Foster Care
: Job Details :

About Us:

Good Shepherd Services is a leading multi-service agency with more than 85 programs that serve over 30,000 youth and families each year and builds on their strengths to help them gain skills for success. At Good Shepherd we respect the dignity and worth of every person and reject intolerance, inequity and injustice in whatever form it may take. Voted one of the top 100 places to work in NYC by Crains New York, Good Shepherd Services offers a fantastic work environment, a collaborative team dedicated to fulfilling our mission, and an amazing array of benefits. Join our team and help make a difference!

Benefits:

Benefits/Perks:

• Tuition Assistance Program
• Monthly MetroCards or travel reimbursement for use of personal vehicle will be provided to staff conducting home visits to families
• Generous paid time off (Including 5 Self-Care Days/Floating Holidays, 12 Sick Days, 15 Vacation Days, and 11 Holidays)
• Healthcare Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, and Pet Care)
• 403(b) Plan (GSS contributes 3% of your salary to your 403(b) plan after 3 years of service, with contributions increasing over time)

Overview:

Reports To: Youth LifeSet Supervisor

Location: 1995 Jerome Avenue, Bronx NY 10453 & 337 East 17th Street, NY, NY 10003 (Position is onsite. Hybrid may be considered at program leadership discretion)

Hours: 35 Hours/Week; Non Exempt

Salary Range -50K-55K Based on Relevant Post Graduate Experience

Job Summary: Working from a strength-based; trauma-informed approach, the Youth LifeSet Specialist is responsible for mentoring and providing services to address the needs of young people who are in care and/or transitioning out of care ages 17 to 21. Build and maintain long-term healthy rapport with youth. Additionally, the specialist is responsible for providing individualized skill development and support to transition successfully into adulthood, specifically obtaining and maintaining safe and suitable housing, continuing their education, learning independent living skills, obtaining and maintaining employment, building a support system, and remaining free from legal involvement. LifeSet Specialist are responsible for promoting and modeling self-sufficiency.

Major Duties:

• Manage a caseload of 8-10 young people at any given time
• Meet with the young person in the home or community, at minimum, one time per week face to face; providing additionally support as needed
• Review intakes, related reports, and psychological evaluations
• The Specialist conducts ongoing assessments of the youths needs from a strength-focused, solution-based perspective, and develops service plans on a monthly basis
• Develop age-appropriate service plans with the young person and assist him/her with achieving goals outlined on his/her service plan
• Work closely and collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams assigned to the young person
• Escort youth to various appointments as needed
• Be on a rotating on call schedule
• Liaison between young person and service providers
• The Specialist will receive weekly individual development and will participate in weekly clinical supervision and consultation
• Educate and assist youth with academic opportunities afforded to youth in foster care
• Assist youth with exploring housing and independent living options and connect youth with the agency Housing Specialist
• Participate in agency training
• The Specialist will receive weekly individual development and will participate in weekly clinical supervision and consultation
• The Specialist is expected to adhere to all ethical and legal guidelines, including confidentiality and mandated reporting
• Keep case records and accurate data information up to date, including but not limited to, school visits, home visits, community visits, and visits with parents/guardians
• Promote and model the 7 Sanctuary Model commitments and the SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss, Future) Model into daily practice to create a non-violent and trauma informed culture
• Document progress notes in Connections

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree required with one-year experience working with at-risk youth or youth
• Familiarity with Child Welfare System highly preferred.
• Ability to be flexible to the demands of young people participating in the LifeSet program
• Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
• Excellent written and communication skills
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus, but not required
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Word Office and Excel

Additional Information:

Good Shepherd Services is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

We are committed to providing a workplace that is accessible and accommodating to employees with disabilities. As part of our commitment to providing a barrier-free recruitment and selection process, we will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates with disabilities. If you require any accommodations to participate in the hiring process, please inform us of your needs in advance. We value diversity and inclusivity in our workplace and encourage applicants of all abilities to apply.