Youth Support Partner

Youth Support Partners (YSPs) are responsible for actively engaging individuals, children and youth ages in safe, fun activities either in their home or in a community setting.

Specific job functions included (but are not limited to):

• Facilitate a child/youth/young adult-friendly, trauma-informed environment and a healthy, collaborative relationship with parents, and colleagues.

• Use strengths-based communication with staff, members and families. Know the names, interests, and goals of each - individual.

• Assist with planning, preparation, and delivery of life skills programming.

• Supervise members during program hours to ensure they are engaged, interacting appropriately, and that their social/emotional needs are met. Intervene as needed to ensure members and staff are safe.

• Follow proper security procedures of receiving/releasing members to their designated parties.

• Chaperone field trips and events.

• Customize life-skills programming to the needs of each individual household. Actively listen to the wants and needs of the parent/caregiver and consider what interests and motivates the member. Use verbal de-escalation efforts when necessary.

• Provide crisis intervention when needed.

• Communicate regularly with the Supervisor regarding challenges and successes with members. Provide feedback regarding each members’ progress towards their established goals. In collaboration with Parent Peer Support.

• Assist in the ongoing development and evaluation of the support plan.

• Properly communicate member’s needs to parents and staff as required.

Administrative/Operational

• Record attendance and activities when providing services. Accurately complete all necessary paperwork including notes, sign in/out sheets, waivers, evaluation data, internal reports, etc. as scheduled.

• Meet productivity, quality and supervision standards as determined by clinical leadership.

• Complete internal/external incident reports according to protocol.

• Read, understand and abide by Family Involvement policies and procedures, Employee Handbook and training expectations, including adhering to confidentiality expectations.

• Set professional development goals and work collaboratively with the Supervisor to achieve those goals.

• Attend staff meetings and clinical oversight meetings as required.

• Participate in training programs and complete as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to work well as a member of a collaborative team.

• Passion for working with and helping individuals and their parents/primary support.

• Ability to facilitate learning through play and highly engaging activities.

• Knowledge and implementation of trauma-informed practices.

• Knowledge of site licensing and/or accreditation preferred (if applicable), but not required.

• Demonstrated ability to interact with people from diverse cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate verbally and in writing with factual, strength–based language.

• Ability to respect and set appropriate boundaries with individuals, parents/caregivers, professionals and co-workers.

• Ability to perform services with dignity, respect and professional demeanor.

• Demonstrated ability to self-regulate emotions and behaviors to provide consistency in the workplace.

• Must be flexible and willing to take on multiple job roles and tasks as assigned.