Youth Care Worker

Position Summary

As an Unaccompanied Children (UC) Transitional Foster Care (TFC) Case Manager, this position is primarily responsible for providing casework and supportive services to children in foster care, foster families, and biological families referred to refugee and immigrant services TFC program. This position must provide child-facing services on-site.

This position is expected to function effectively with moderate supervision while following the guidelines given on procedures, along with agency, federal, and state regulatory requirements.

Hourly Salary Range: $17.16/hr - $20.19/hr

Are you passionate about discovering new ways to help empower people and make a difference in their lives?

If you’ve got what it takes to support us in our mission to provide help and create hope through innovative, collaborative, and diverse programs within the community, then we’ve got the right opportunity for you.

About Catholic Charities West Michigan

Catholic Charities West Michigan (CCWM) is a community-based agency providing programs in Western Michigan and offering a variety of services in family preservation, behavioral health, child welfare, and community outreach.

• CCWM is committed to ensuring a diverse workforce and a work environment whereby all staff are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.
• CCWM encourages persons of diverse backgrounds and faiths to apply for employment.

Essentials Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides direct supervision of youth clients in care, including always maintaining line-of-sight.
• Establishes a family-like environment that includes modeling supporting behaviors and expectations.
• Assist young clients with participating in daily schedule and routine, including preparing and organizing educational and recreational/leisure activities.
• Provides child-facing services on-site.
• Transports clients on an as needed basis.
• Supervises children during field trips.
• Drives for Agency business.
• Performs other special assignments at the supervisor’s request.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the staff member is regularly required to talk and/or hear.  The staff member is regularly required to sit, walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms.  The staff member is occasionally required to stand, climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The staff member on occasion may be asked to move or lift items up to 40 pounds in weight.

Work Environment:

This position is primarily office based, however, on occasion it may require travel to other agency as required by position responsibilities and/or agency management.  The position is on-site — must be willing to work entirely in person, however, there may be times that ad hoc or situational telework is needed. This position will be routinely exposed to typical office noise levels and/or exposure to various weather conditions.

The position on occasion may require travel to other agency offices and/or client homes as required by position responsibilities and/or agency management. This position will be routinely exposed to typical office noise levels and/or exposure to various weather conditions.

The qualifications listed above are guidelines for selection purposes; alternative qualifications may be substituted if sufficient to perform the duties of the job.

Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to communicate clearly, effectively, and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment.
• Ability to relate to diverse populations and cultures while communicating with clients and the public in a courteous and effective manner.
• Ability to work effectively on a multi-disciplinary treatment team.
• Ability to build rapport with clients to help them adjust to new life circumstances.
• Ability to provide excellent and compassionate customer service.
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgement, and a high level of confidentiality.
• Computer and typing skills sufficient to perform essential job functions.
• This position requires reliable transportation.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and good driving record with zero work restrictions.
• Must have personal auto insurance as required by law with minimum bodily injury coverage limits of $250,000 per person/$500,000 per incident or $500,000 combined.
• Must be willing to work irregular hours including evenings, holidays, and weekends.
• This is an on-site role that requires regular, full-time attendance at the office.
• Successfully pass an annual TB test and document preference to receive or decline Hepatitis immunization.
• Must show documentation proof of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases transmitted by the respiratory route.
• Must submit to agency approved background checks.

Recommended Employment Qualifications

Education:

• A high school diploma or GED is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of 1 year of prior employment work experience in the child welfare field working with children and/or adolescents in a social service setting is required.
• A minimum of 1 year of prior employment direct care work experience in a mental health field or working with vulnerable youth is preferred.
• Bilingual Spanish/English fluency is highly preferred.

Professional Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:

• Valid CPR and First Aid certified upon hire or within 60 days of hire is required.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Our Mission

Inspired by the Church's social teachings, Catholic Charities West Michigan fosters individuals and families to flourish by providing help and creating hope.

Our Vision

Catholic Charities West Michigan is called to create a just and compassionate community where all people can achieve their divine purpose.

Our Values

• Sanctity of All Life
• Compassion
• Integrity
• Respect
• Equity

CCWM is an equal opportunity employer, subject to all federal and state laws as applicable to a religious Agency.