Youth Support Specialist

Optimae values diversity and we encourage everybody, including those from traditionally overlooked identity groups, to apply! JOB SUMMARY The Youth Support Specialist aids people living in a Transitional Age Youth (TAY) residential site home as they move to learn and achieve personal goals of their own choice.The Youth Support Specialist supports individuals in the expansion of their abilities, empowering them to obtain valued roles within their community, learning what their community had to offer to live a meaningful life, learning, working, and social environments are and help them in choosing and being successful in the roles they desire to have.The Youth Support Specialist does this by offering a variety of individual and team supports.The position encourages community participation to promote community inclusion of people we serve.The primary age range for those individuals that live in the TAY residential homes are 15-18 years of age.EDUCATION & WORK EXPERIENCE High school diploma or GED with 1 or more years of experience in the Human Service or related field preferred.Bachelor's or Associates Degree in Human Service or related field preferred DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Support customers in achieving personal goals of their own choice.Follow the service plan and use it as a guide to deliver services.Recognize and document goal progress and relevant personal interventions in an objective, clear and brief manner.Legal ability to drive (including obtaining insurance) and use of your personal vehicle may be an integral aspect of service delivery.Support in educating what is available to them in living, social, and learning environments where customers can interact and build relationships of their choosing.Support customers as they learn how to build natural supports for their needs and utilize them as needed.Advocate for our customers while promoting role recovery/discovery to others Set up timely appointments and meetings and attend them as scheduled.Know the available local community resources and reinforce the outreach for these local community resources and their use Understand and maintain privacy and demonstrate respect.Address emergencies as they arise and use appropriate crisis intervention as needed with solutions based on our Mission, Vison and Core Values.As needed, support our customers with their personal hygiene and health needs in a respectful and dignified manner; this may occasionally include cleaning up urine, feces, or vomit from people or property.Demonstrate good role modeling for people we serve.Be non-authoritarian when providing services and working with peers and collaterals.Be active in individual and team problem solving.Encourage the use and utilization of appropriate coping mechanisms in times of high symptoms or crisis.Facilitate active problem solving and de-escalation between customers living with one another during times of conflict or disagreement.Pro-actively use supervisor and other staff as a support and as a resource for information.Act in a professional manner (respectful, tactful, and objective) without personal attacks on others.Be flexible as customer needs, emotions and schedules change; this may include working evenings, weekends, and holidays.Meet multiple demands simultaneously and efficiently with little supervision.Consistently complete all paperwork, reports, daily contact notes, timesheets, and expense claims within designated times.Attend regular coaching sessions to develop skills, participate in annual evaluations, and attend scheduled mandatory meetings Complete onboarding and training as required, in a timely manner, based on accredited regulation and/or Iowa Statute.Responsible for deep cleaning and sanitizing of the physical home each shift.May be responsible for food preparation of each meal and daily snacks as needed.Provide support to customers to complete activities for daily living (ADL's) include hygiene and bathing as needed.Complete other related duties as assigned.Job Types:Full-time, Part-time Benefits:Dental insurance Health insurance Vision insurance Work Location:In person.