Direct Care Coach

Full-Time Direct Care Coach (Child Care Worker)

Organization Type:  Non-Profit, Faith-Based, 50+ Employees

Position Type:  Full-Time; Non-Exempt Hourly

Travel Requirements:  Yes

Education and Experience:  Possess, at a minimum, a high school diploma or GED and two years of residential direct care service experience with children and families; or an Associates’ Degree or higher in a behavioral or social science field.

Summary: Responsible for the daily care and supervision of program participants in the Girls Residential Program.  This program is a Maximum Watchful Oversight (MWO) program.  (***See definition at the end of job description.)  Partners with the therapeutic, educational, and life skills staff to meet organizational goals and individual participant goals.

 

Job Duties – The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:

 

Maintaining Program Structure:

·       Follow the daily program schedule as set by the Direct Care Coach Administrator or the Shift Coordinator

·       Intentionally work with participants to guide them in the faith journey, allow for questions and spiritual education, lead daily morning and evening devotions, and participate in weekly Spiritual Formation group

·       Actively participate in program (and volunteer-led) activities

·       Perform administrative functions (to include, but not limited to completing/filing room check sheets, balanced living sheets, shift notes and medication logs)

·       Transport participants to appointments and activities (in WSL vehicle)

·       Complete and document 15 minute bed checks for participants during sleeping hours; complete and document 5 room checks for participants who’ve been identified as a danger to themselves (or others)

·       Complete grocery shopping, meal planning, and meal preparation for participants.  Follow Safe Serve guidelines which includes, maintaining the cleanliness of the kitchen,, completing Kitchen Checklist (daily, weekly, and monthly); teach participants daily living skills such as food planning, budgeting, nutrition, how to prepare food and how to properly clean the kitchen, etc.

·       Lead psycho-educational groups and enrichment activities in the evenings and on weekends with participants - work to develop groups/activities based on participants interests and needs

·       Attend Direct Care training within 90 days of hire; attend all mandatory trainings and staff meetings and utilize all skills trained on including the strength-based approach with participants and staff

·       Administer random drug screens

·       Administer and document medication use of participants (follow medication protocol)

·       Ensure adherence to program guidelines including details outlined in the Participant and Caregiver Handbook

·       Provide safety checks of the home; maintain cleanliness of the home; teach participants daily living skills including personal hygiene, how to do laundry, keeping their rooms clean, etc.

·       Complete accurate and detailed documentation in daily shift logs

·       Participate as a team member in developing and applying strength based service plans, safety contracts, Action plans, and Behavior Plans

 

Develop and Model Healthy Living for Participants:

·           Maintain an active, growing relationship with the Lord

·           Use time on shift to engage with participants and develop intentional appropriate adult relationships

·           Cultivate an atmosphere of mutual respect through words and behaviors

·           Lead by example in modeling a healthy lifestyle in the body, soul and spirit

·           Provide direction and encouragement to program participants

·           Practice and teach healthy boundaries to program participants

·           Navigate interpersonal conflict by speaking the truth in love

·           Provide support and crisis help as is necessary

·           Maintain a teachable attitude

 

Other Qualifications:

·           Never have been shown by credible evidence (e.g., a court or jury, a department investigation, or other reliable evidence) to have abused, neglected, sexually exploited, or deprived a child or adult or to have subjected any person to serious injury as a result of intentional or grossly serious injury as a result of intentional or grossly negligent misconduct as evidenced by an oral or written statement to this effect obtained at the time of application and evidence of having made efforts to obtain and evaluate references from previous employers

·           Documentation of at least two professional, educational or personal references that attest to the person’s capability of performing the duties of the position and to the person’s suitability of working with or around children

·           Satisfactory preliminary criminal history background check determination and a satisfactory fingerprint records check determination as required by law

·           Clean driving record is essential to fulfilling the job responsibilities

·           Documentation from a licensed physician or other licensed healthcare professional of a health screening examination within thirty (30) days of hiring sufficient in scope to identify conditions that may place residents at risk of infection, injury or improper care

·           Current evidence of successful completion of a biennial training program in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and a triennial training program in first aid which have been offered by a certified or licensed healthcare professional; such programs shall be completed within the first year of employment

·           Participate in all required trainings and show competency in skill areas of training content

·           Must be 21 years of age or older

 

Skills:

·           Understand and demonstrate a willingness to engage in the core values of Wellspring Living and guiding principles for the program

·       Represent Wellspring Living in a positive way at social activities and events

·           Abide by organization policies and procedures

·           Possess crisis management skills

·           Display strength-based tendencies

·           Effectively communicates with others

 

Character Requirements:

·           Reliable

·           Self-motivated

·           Flexible

·           Team-Oriented

 

Physical Requirements:

·           Must have ability to administer physical restraints as governed by policies and procedures 
of programs 


·           Must have ability to walk up and down 3 flights of stairs multiple times per day

·           Must have the ability lift and carry boxes and bags (clothing donations, taking out the trash, carrying a vacuum)

·           Must have the ability to do light housework (vacuuming, mopping, sweeping, changing light bulbs) and other home maintenance as needed

·           Ability to drive company vehicle as needed 


 

The following are the child characteristics and operational impact on children in MWO::

• School attendance is poor, grades are poor, concentration is poor when in school; requires oversight from teachers, family and/or caregiver

• Multiple school suspensions and disciplinary actions

• History of explosive outburst in schools

• Failure and/or inability to learn

• IEP with placement in specialized classes for behavioral or learning disabilities

• May require adaptive learning tools

• Refuses help with school work or tutoring

• Several years behind in the development of age-appropriate knowledge of self-care or life skills

• Verbal aggression (Use of vulgar and/or provocative language)

• Oppositional and defiant in the home and school setting

• Demanding and/or threatening

• Smearing and/or throwing of feces

• Bedwetting – graduating to intentional urination in places other than the toilet

• Hiding soiled clothing/bed linens

• Limited ability to perform routine tasks of daily living such as chores and laundry

• Deliberately or impulsively destroying property while in a structured setting breaking windows, pictures, mirrors, damage to furniture, appliances, clothing, electronics, and vehicles

• Preoccupation with fire

• History of cruelty to animals

• Sexual acting out with or without aggression that may be opportunistic, situational or planned

• Highly sexualized behaviors, promiscuity, seeking inappropriate relationships with older persons, poor physical boundaries, often with history of sexual abuse and poor self esteem

• Recurrent and/or severe self-injurious behaviors and/or suicidal behaviors that are under control • Homicidal and/or suicidal threats

• Physical aggression and/or assault (hitting, kicking, spitting, attacking may with or without a weapon, throwing objects) toward adults and/or other children with and/or without injuries

• Withdrawn behavior, attention-seeking behaviors that are excessive, constant complaining about physical ailments, nightmares, difficulty going to bed and/or refusal to stay in bedroom

• Fears, worries, and anxieties that affect daily activities; frequent and severe headaches, stomach aches and/or refusal to get out of bed

• Serious problems with personal hygiene

• Impulsive behaviors that present barrier to maintaining physical safety

• Chaotic and poor control of anger toward self and others with frequency and intensity that needs attention

• Inflexibly adheres to routines or rituals and has difficulty with transitions, which may lead to serious harm to self or others or extremely aggressive behaviors

• Difficulties with social interactions and/or communication (failure to speak, make eye contact, shake hands, hiding, standing too close, revealing personal information inappropriately to strangers, etc.)

• Odd, bizarre or explosive actions, which pose a significant risk of harm to self or others • Hearing voices and/or seeing things that are not there

• Frequent and/or uncontrollable behavioral outbursts and mood swings

• Seems unable to form any meaningful friendships, is socially isolated and unable to enjoy activities with peers

• Delinquent behaviors – stealing, burglary, assault and/or battery

• Recurring involvement with Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)

• Fire setting with intent to destroy property or injure others and/or preoccupation with fire

• Intentionally and/or maliciously cruel to animals

• Runs away with involvement in situations where high risk activities are likely to occur

• Drinking and/or drug use which may have resulted in disciplinary actions and/or affect daily function

• Involvement with gangs and/or gang-like activities

• Poorly prepared for and lacking skills necessary for independent living A child served in this group may have moderate medical needs requiring specialized services. Child generally sees 2 or more physicians at least on a quarterly basis for medical needs, requires routine lab work to assess the effectiveness of medications. Medical needs in this group could include two-three of the following:

 • Global developmental delay as the primary diagnosis

• Mild Cerebral Palsy

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

• Recovering from head injury

• Cancer in remission

 • Diabetes – managed with insulin and follow up with Endocrinologist

 • Ordered to have physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy 1-2 times weekly

 • Infant with sucking difficulty and/or on a monitor

• Reflux that is controlled with 1-2 medications

 • HIV exposure with medications

• Severe visual impairment to include a diagnosis of legal blindness

• Seizure disorder requiring medication

 • Episodes of enuresis or encopresis or a history of one or both

 • Autism (high functioning)

 • Deafness or severe hearing impairment

• May have self-harming behaviors such as cutting or ingesting harmful substances.

 • Children with mental retardation may not be able to follow simple one and/or two step directions and frequently have difficulty with three step directives.