Organization Summary
Shrub Oak International School (SOIS) is a private, special education boarding and day school preparing students on the Autism Spectrum to lead more independent and meaningful lives. We serve the sophisticated needs of a domestic and international co-ed population. Our innovative relationship-based model grounded in evidence-based principles builds on students' strengths and interests, maximizing therapeutic and learning opportunities. Our renowned experts work with students to individualize life and development paths based on each student’s specific needs and interests. Each student’s team of clinicians, teachers, and campus-life staff collaborate closely to address the student’s issues quickly and reinforce therapies and learning paths, so that the student progresses more rapidly. Our modern, technology-infused facility is set on 127 acres of agriculture and farmland where students learn in a natural environment full of sensory experiences.
The Pines at Shrub Oak is a 24-bed, coeducational, interim residential placement for students on the autism spectrum who may need significant psychiatric support and stabilization before transitioning to a less restrictive environment. Students at the Pines receive psychiatric services in addition to the academic and life skills instruction in a safe, supportive environment with a 2:1 student to staff ratio.
Position Summary
The Youth Care Specialist (YCS) is an hourly, non-live-in position reporting to the Residential Manager or Evening/Overnight Supervisor. In collaboration with education, clinical, and residential staff, the YCS provides front line direct care and administrative support for daily operations. The YCS is responsible for guiding and mentoring students, assisting with emergency response procedures, and collaborating with all members of the Shrub Oak staff. As an educator and mentor, the YCS works closely with colleagues to create/maintain an inclusive community and foster specific skill development to meet the individualized needs of The Pines student population. The YCS will also hold shared responsibility for helping to create and maintain a DBT milieu within The Pines, and will support and help facilitate DBT skills groups for youth. Having access to confidential information regarding Shrub Oak and its students, discretion and independent judgement is required.
Essential Functions – Primary Responsibilities of the Position
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Manage the day-to-day direct care needs, operations and programs of students at The Pines.
- Develop and maintain trusting, respectful relationships with students, including understanding his/her unique interests, needs and goals, as well as the student body generally, to maintain a positive and cooperative environment.
- Support student learning and skill development both in and outside of the classroom.
- Co-facilitate DBT Skills groups and utilize DBT principles to guide interventions with students.
- Support and teach all students around policies and procedures with the intent of maintaining a safe and inclusive space for all students.
- Complete administrative tasks, including but not limited to, assisting with move-in/move-out of students, shift logs, incident reports, intervention plans and progress tracking.
- Proactively work with students in crisis to de-escalate situations using The Pines protocol.
- Attend to and report all emergencies and/or other situations requiring immediate attention in a timely manner to the appropriate staff member(s) in accordance with The Pines policies/procedures.
- Facilitate on-campus and off-campus programming and community development based on the needs of each student outlined by the student’s Individualized Trans-disciplinary Education Plan (ITEP) and support plans.
- Advise, support and mentor students on various life skills and presenting issues in collaboration with other disciplines within The Pines.
- Support the individualized ITEP and other developmental goals for each student, collaborating with the ITEP team including documenting efforts and progress.
- Serve as a campus and community resource for students and staff by advising and providing guidance in planning programs, activities, academic support.
- Develop, present, track, and evaluate educational programs for students.
- Attend all required meetings and seminars as scheduled, including all staff orientation/training.
- Support other department responsibilities as needed and determined.
- Work cohesively with all members of the student’s care team.
Minimum Experience & Qualifications
- High-School Diploma and relevant combination of post-secondary education and experience in residential, psychiatric, or academic settings.
- At least 2-years minimum of relevant or related professional experience required.
- Previous experience working in special education and behavioral intervention strongly preferred.
- DBT experience strongly preferred.
Competencies
- Ability to adapt approach of care based on presenting needs of students.
- Comfortability managing crisis behavior and working collaboratively with other staff around crisis management.
- Passionate about working with and mentoring students.
- Strong communication (oral and written) and active listening skills to appropriately understand and meet student needs, as well as to interact with faculty, staff, families, and all external constituencies.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic environment with multiple stakeholders while being sensitive and responsive to the diverse needs of students, families, and staff, with a high degree of cultural competency and collegiality.
- Ability to effectively and proactively interact with a wide variety of individuals in a manner that values diversity, and positively portrays our programs, personnel, and philosophies.
- Ability to adapt and remain flexible while leading, developing, and mentoring others.
- Ability to multitask and make sound and appropriate decisions under pressure, where situations/circumstances are continually evolving.
- Ability to work as a team player and cross-functionally with other disciplines and programs within Shrub Oak.
- Computer proficiency and a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and other software.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Full-time hourly position;
Pay: $25/hour + Competitive Benefits
Nature and scope of independent decisions made in this position
Must be able to think analytically, critically, assessing a variety of information to make complex judgements on student situations, outcomes, Shrub Oak policies and protocol.
Physical Demands
Work regularly requires sustained concentration. Sitting at a desk, walking up and down stairs (program has 3 floors), around a hilly campus as needed, may also require walking between floors or between buildings at a moment’s notice.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a 12-month Full-time position (36-hour work week). Your manager will discuss the particular shift hours, which could be day, evening and/or weekends. Demands of the job may require working outside these hours and on weekends as needed and required.
Schedules: Overnight: 5 days (varied); 11:30 pm to 7:30 am
EEO Statement
Shrub Oak International School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to apply for a job or to perform the essential functions of their job. Please advise us if you require a reasonable accommodation.
Shrub Oak International School maintains a smoke-free environment to ensure the health and safety of our students, employees and community. Smoking or vaping of any kind is strictly prohibited indoors, outdoors, and during off-campus activities, with enforcement measures in place including smoke/vape detectors. Non-compliance will result in disciplinary action including termination.
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