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 respite and life-skills programming to the needs of each individual household. Actively listen to the wants and needs of the parent/caregiver and take into account 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.
• 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, strengthbased 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.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Must have a High School Diploma or GED.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be able to obtain a level-one fingerprint clearance through the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, clean driving record, reliable transportation and proof of registration and insurance as required by the Law in Arizona.
• Must have the ability to travel between 25 percent to 50 percent of the time in assigned geographic area. Required to transport children.
• Must be familiar with using Microsoft Office.
• Qualification as a behavioral health technician or behavioral health professional, according to OBHL regulations and internal policy.
• Requires adequate writing and typing skills to complete and submit necessary information and communication effectively between coworkers, external services and for/about the member.