Group Home Youth Caregiver

Under general supervision by the Group Homes Supervisor in the Social Services Department, provides daily care, supervision, and life-skill support for the living needs of children and youth in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Group Homes.   Engages resident children and teenagers in a trauma informed manner who may be suffering from trauma This job class is treated as FLSA Non-Exempt.

Essential Functions: Essential functions may vary among positions and may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics.  This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of tasks performed by all positions in this classification.

1. Supervises all children and teenagers residing in the SRPMIC Group Homes.

• Attends to their needs during day, evening, and overnight as well as completes all shift responsibilities.
• Serves as a positive role model using Trauma Informed Care approaches to meet the physical, emotional and social needs of children and teenagers who must live in out-of-home care. 

2. Facilitates small group discussions for children and teenagers on various topics using a culturally sensitive approach. 

• Teaches life skills based on the age of the child, and development in a hands-on manner. 
• Demonstrates self-regulation skills, self-care practices, healthy coping skills, and mindfulness practices to teach the children to do the same. 

3. Participates in Community-based prevention education, life skills workshops, cultural events in the Community

4. Provides on-the-job training for newly hired employees and conducts peer training as requested.

5. Maintains the Group Homes in a warm, safe, clean and orderly fashion in accordance with licensure standards

• Inspect the group home and the grounds on each shift for safety, cleanliness and house security to ensure that children are in a safe and warm environment while maintaining a high standard of  cleanliness. 
• Participates in annual licensure inspections to maintain compliance. 

6. Supervises meals and their preparation to ensure proper nourishment.

• Takes advantage of "teaching moments" to train and educate children in healthy meals and snack choices. 
• Follows all Food Handler’s guidelines and practices proper hand-washing techniques. 
• Assists with grocery shopping as needed. 

7. Intervenes appropriately to help children deescalate from heightened behaviors and learn healthy coping mechanisms.

• Help children and teenagers identify healthy coping skills and implement skills in their daily lives. 
• Manages children’s behavior using appropriate techniques as trained.
• Maintain annual training. 
• Disciplines children appropriately by using positive reinforcement to assist children with healing from their trauma. 

8. Completes and maintains written documentation, case files and other confidential material.

• Records census count as required by policy.
• Reports behavior, medical and other information in appropriate logs and forms.
• Submits recommendations to improve youth outcomes and assists other team members to do the same. 
• Communicates in a Trauma Informed manner, verbally and in writing. 
• Completes medication documentation accurately. 

9. Confers with Social Workers, Therapists, Crisis Workers, Case Managers. medical personnel and others in a proactive, positive manner.

• Assists with dispensing medications as needed, calls in refills, and confers with pharmacy
• Attends psychiatric evaluations, medication reviews, medical, dental and vision appointments, school meetings, and Child and Family Team Meetings while providing valuable input for the child or teenager’s strengths and needs. 
• Acts as a mentor for children and teenagers, providing guidance, active listening, encouragement and support.
• Acts as a mandatory reporter for any disclosures of suspected abuse or neglect and follows policies and procedures on reporting disclosures. 

10. Acquires and maintains a working knowledge of SRPMIC Group Home policies, procedures and practices.

• Assumes accountability for obeying and enforcing the policies, procedures and practices.
• Consults with supervisory and peer staff in problem solving or clarifying, interpreting, and implementation of Group Home policies.

11. Drives youth to and from activities, visits and appointments in Tribal vehicles 

12. Ensures the supervisor is informed of Group Home events, happenings, incidents and that written reports and shift notes are submitted on time as required.

13. Establishes and promotes a cooperative, harmonious team environment that encourages teamwork, communication, interdependence and ethical behavior. 

14. Performs other job-related duties as assigned to maintain and enhance program and departmental operation.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics:

• Knowledge of the culture, customs, traditions, history and government of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
• Knowledge of methods and techniques for counseling youth and their families.
• Knowledge of concepts and practices for the care and treatment of youth with trauma who are at risk in society, particularly the problems of Native American youth in the child welfare system.
• Knowledge of resources within and outside the Community that may be utilized in the program.
• Knowledge of Behavior Management Techniques, verbal de-escalation methods and how to use them with the youth.
• Knowledge of human development, particularly early childhood development and the impact of trauma on the brain and the body

• Skill with planning, scheduling, time management and crisis intervention.
• Skill assessing client needs and program progress.
• Skill establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with children, youth and their families.
• Skill counseling individuals, groups and families.
• Skill establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with SRPMIC co-workers, multiple agencies, other service providers and the public.

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing in a trauma informed manner.
• Ability to maintain accurate and timely program records according to prescribed standards.
• Ability to make independent decisions related to client care, program development and crisis intervention.
• Ability to prepare food and serve meals.
• Ability to drive various SRPMIC vehicles 
• Ability to work non-standard work hours as required by program needs.
• Ability to perform CPR and First Aid.
• Ability to use recreation equipment as well as standard equipment found in a kitchen.
• Ability to lift and carry 25 lbs.
• Ability to perform physical intervention techniques if needed and be certified in Handle With Care verbal and physical de-escalation methods. 

Education & Experience: Graduation from High School or a GED equivalent required. Three (3) years’ experience working in child welfare, youth group homes, or other residential program. 

• An associate degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Psychology, Early Childhood Education, Childhood Development or closely related course of study preferred. 

Equivalency: Any equivalent combination of education and/or experience that would allow the candidate to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position will be considered.

Underfill Eligibility: An enrolled Community Member whom closely qualifies for the minimum qualifications for a position may be considered for employment under SRPMIC Policy 2-19, Underfill

• May be required to work beyond normal work hours including nights, weekends and holidays.
• Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of this position, successful completion of an extensive background investigation may be required.
• Must obtain First Aid and CPR certification within the first six (6) months of employment from the date of hire and maintain continuous certification.
• Must possess the Handle with Care verbal and physical deescalation techniques and Triple P Positive Parenting Program or earn them within the first six (6) months of employment from the date of hire.
• Must be physically capable of participating with children and adolescents in camping, hiking, recreational and other physically challenging activities. 
• Employees in, and applicants applying for, jobs providing direct services to children are subject to the “Community Code of Ordinances”, Chapter 11, “Minors”, Article X. “Investigation of Persons Working with Children”.

Prior to hiring as an employee, applicants will be subject to drug and alcohol testing. Will be required to pass a pre-employment background/fingerprint check. Employees are subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

"SRPMIC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer" Preference will be given to a qualified: Community Member Veteran, Community Member, Spouse of Community Member, qualified Native American, and then other qualified candidate.

In order to obtain preference, the following is required: 1) Qualified Community Member Veteran (DD-214) will be required at the time of application submission 2) Qualified Community Member (must provide Tribal I.D at time of application submission),3) Spouse of a Community Member (Marriage License/certificate and spouse Tribal ID or CIB is required at time of application submission), and 4) Native American (Tribal ID or CIB required at time of application submission).
Documents may be submitted by one of the following methods: 
1) attach to application
2) fax (480) 362-5860
3) mail or hand deliver to Human Resources.
4) Email to[email protected]
Documentation must be received by position closing date. 
IHS/BIA Form-4432 is not accepted.