Job Responsibilities:
Program Recreational Specialist
Wisconsin Community Services (WCS)
Specialized Services Division - Bakari Youth Residential Care Center
Position Summary:
Responsible for the center's recreation program. Plan and provide recreational activities for youth placed in Type II Residential Care Center. Responsible for implementing the daily schedule of activities .
Essential Functions:
- Provide positive and effective group educational and recreational activities.
- Embrace philosophical approaches in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and staff code of conduct for interaction standards to deliver treatment informed programming.
- Develop daily schedules in line with the six-month programming schedule.
- Uphold and promote a positive and supportive culture for youth and staff.
- Serve as a positive mentor for youth placed in residential care.
- Maintain relationships with external service providers for community service, job readiness, and other rewarding community activities.
- Work as a fully trained staff always providing active supervision of youth within assigned staffing ratios.
- Manage monthly activity inventory for supplies associated with programming requirements and keep supplies organized.
- Facilitate value added groups such as sex education, healthy relationships, fatherhood curriculums.
- Host club activities such as book club, garden club, fitness club and chess club etc.
- Complete activity preparation daily for shifts to ensure all necessary recreational supplies are available.
- Transport youth to offsite activities and maintain a positive reputation in the community for the program.
- Collaborate with the clinical team to ensure youth's emotional and behavioral health needs are met through programming treatment plans.
- Provide leadership and field training for Youth Treatment Specialists to co-facilitate activities on shift.
- Work with the Quality Assurance team to review annual schedules and conduct program improvement projects to ensure programming is updated and current.
- Administer medication and ensure staff are aware of medication changes in collaboration with medical providers and nursing staff.
- Maintain and document community service completion for individuals/agencies outside of the program providing services for/associated with youth receiving services.
- Provide staff coverage for vacations, call ins and staff shortages.
- Maintain confidentiality within all written and verbal communications.
- Keep appropriate documentation for all funding sources.
- Adhere to state licensing/certification requirements.
- Adhere to WCS Policies and Procedures.
- Other duties as assigned.
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Job Qualifications:
Minimal Qualifications:
A high school diploma required, bachelor's or associate degree from a college or university with a focus on child and youth care work or in a social or behavioral science field preferred.
- Be at least 21 years old (at least 2 years older than the oldest resident).
- At least 3 years of experience in public or private institutional childcare for the type of population the center serves.
- At least one year of experience as a supervisor or satisfactory completion of at least one course for credit in supervisory skill development and personnel management or have 40 hours of documented in-service training involving supervisory skill development and personnel management.
- Have 2 years of experience in licensed institution childcare and be certified as a child and youth care worker meeting standards of the national organization of child and youth care workers association.
- Knowledge and skills to work with population age 12-17.
- Ability to display cultural competence by responding respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, languages, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, religions and other diversity factors in a manner that recognizes, affirms and values the worth of clients.
- Valid driver's license, automobile, and insurance sufficient to meet agency requirements.
- Meet all the employee requirements including references, criminal background check, drug test, and driver's license check.
Other Job Information (if applicable):
Work Relationship and Scope: Reports directly to the Assistant Program Director. Has contact with a wide variety of individuals including clients and family members, other program staff, vendors, and other collateral contacts, neighbors, funders, Milwaukee County Delinquency & Court Services Division (DCSD), Children's Court officials, MPS staff and administrators, staff of youth serving agencies and the public.
Personal Attributes: Follow agency Code of Conduct and Leadership Code of Conduct; adhere to established policies and procedures of the agency and of all funding sources; conduct self in an ethical manner; maintain professional and respectful relationships with program staff, other WCS staff, people served by the program and all external persons and agencies involved with service provision; sensitivity toward cultural, ethnic and disability issues; demonstrate commitment to agency values and mission.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Working knowledge of positive child/youth development; patience and understanding of difficult life situations; the ability to interact with escalating youth and/or parents in a calm and professional manner; ability to follow oral and written instructions; ability to respond appropriately in crisis situations; proficient with Microsoft Word and Excel; perform basic computer functions; uses time efficiently and effectively; ability to multi-task; sensitivity towards cultural, ethnic and disability needs.
Working Conditions:
- State-Licensed Residential Care Center, Type II
- Local travel as required fulfilling essential functions of the position.
- Ability to manage young clients who have experienced a great deal of trauma and express trauma through behaviors.
- Ability to lift 30 pounds.
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Working Hours: The hours are 1:00pm-9:00pm with flexibility for daytime hours as needed for meetings.
Physical Demands: Duties require possible activity while monitoring or interacting with youth in the program. Staff may be required to use physical intervention in extreme situations. Driving required.
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