Therapeutic Support Staff

Therapeutic Support Staff at the Italian Home for Children are passionate about the wellbeing of youth ages 5-14 who are in crisis and wants to make a difference in the lives of youth across a variety of programs. The youth served are experiencing mental health and behavioral challenges, some of which may require a break from their education for about 1-4 weeks while they receive daily treatment and care in order to stabilize and return to their home and school. These team members are a vital part of the treatment team and an important voice in the care of the youth served. This position requires skill in building rapport with youth, engaging youth in therapeutic activities and groups, communicating observations to the clinical team, deescalating youth in crisis, and collaborating with others. With training, Therapeutic Support Staff develop the skills and tools necessary to provide youth with the best possible care. There are full- and part-time positions available; we are not currently hiring staff on a per diem basis.

At the Italian Home for Children, all care is trauma-informed and evidence-based treatment is essential. All treatment approaches are person-centered, individualized, safe, and respectful. Support, hope, and recovery are emphasized in all treatment approaches. Our approach offers clients the opportunity to learn new life skills and to replace maladaptive behaviors with more appropriate and socially acceptable strategies.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title.  Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Implement counselor activities identified in treatment plan
• Maintain eyesight and supervision of clients at all times
• Contribute to treatment team meetings, rounds, and discussions about youth progress; contribute to understanding/interventions for effective outcomes
• Facilitate/co-facilitate group therapy daily and plan activities/topics; maintain a consistent and predictable schedule and structure
• Prompt, assist with, or facilitate youth's self-management of Activities of Daily Living
• Prepare for and appropriately utilize dedicated time with supervisor
• Attend staff meetings for clarification on policies, procedures, changes in programming, scheduling, and more
• Maintain strong professional boundaries
• Adhere to policies around confidentiality and HIPPA guidelines
• Document observations of youth participation in program/treatment/groups, observed response to interventions, behavior, and concerns/progress

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School diploma required; Bachelors degree in Human Services field preferred
• 1-2 years previous experience working with children and adolescents preferred
• Valid US Driver's License preferred, but not required
• Knowledge of standard office equipment: internet, e-mail, Microsoft Word and Excel
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills
• Confidence and comfort in responding to emergency situations quickly and safely; able to perform in a stressful and fast paced environment 
• Ability to take initiative and work autonomously
• Thorough understanding and strict commitment to agency, employee, and client privacy; Adherence to all HIPPA guidelines and regulations
• Effective interpersonal and teamwork skills
• Physical ability to run, climb stairs, bend, lift up to 75 pounds

Italian Home for Children is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, height, weight, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

We are dedicated to ensuring a fair hiring process and an equitable work environment. If you require accommodations during the application, and/or interview process, please contact [email protected].

The hourly wage for this role is $21 per hour USD. This number does not reflect additional compensation-related benefits such as PTO, medical and life insurance, EAP, and the Italian Home for Children 403(b) retirement plan. Some of these benefits may not be available to part-time employees, please ask your recruiter for more information.