Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week; 3:00 PM -11:00PM)
This position is offering a $1,000 signing bonus.
As an Independent Living Plus (ILP) Coach, you will be primarily responsible for providing guidance, education, and support to youth in determining the course of the youth’s life skills course and to plan goals related to education, vocation, living situations and other life skills.
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. Due to state licensing staffing ratios, we are seeking female applicants for this position.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Facilitate group meetings based on ILP curriculum and state stipulations;
- Serve as a positive role-model to youth and cultivate an environment that promotes high self-esteem;
- Provide post-secondary educational opportunities and information, to include applying for college or vocational school, applying for financial aid, and other support as needed;
- Manage day-to-day conflicts as they arise and effectively resolve conflicts, while ensuring the mental and physical safety of clients;
- Effectively utilize crisis prevention, intervention and de-escalation techniques according to identified procedures and individual client and site protocols;
- Provide on-site employment support services to youth;
- Provide daily living skills training with subject matter that includes but is not limited to: budgeting, banking, public transportation, credit maintenance, social and socio-sexual skills, community involvement, etiquette and manners, interpersonal relationships, networking, job searching, goal setting in a weekly meeting with each youth for at least four (4) hours;
- Cultivate an environment with an awareness of clients’ rights and responsibilities for the program and for the U.S. laws and norms;
- Attend weekly meetings with supervisor to consult on cases, and to review case plan and direction;
- Perform essential work duties outside of normal business hours, some evenings or weekends;
- Assist and coordinate drivers training in the language required for the client;
- Coordinate translators for Life Skills and New Arrival Group classes;
- Provide valuable input to the formulation and development of individual treatment plans and reviews;
- Conduct initial, quarterly, and post assessments on independent living skills for each youth;
- Maintain accurate records of the youths' attendance and participation while reporting the details to the assigned case worker;
- Facilitate life skills activities to improve skills necessary for living independently, such as conflict resolutions, anger management, medication management, and tutoring;
- Effectively maintain communication with collateral resources as indicated by client needs;
- Maintain a good reputation with neighbors and property management;
- Collect log sheets that document their dates of contact, activities completed, and evaluations of each youth on assigned caseload on a monthly basis;
- Attend internal and external trainings, and apply newly gained knowledge on the job;
- Ensure youth’s case records follow state licensing and DHS standards;
- Complete other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Social Work, or equivalent field of study from an accredited college;
- Prior experience working with a diverse population, preferred;
- Bilingual in English and Spanish and/or other languages, preferred;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
- Demonstrate excellent clinical, therapeutic and crisis intervention skills;
- Must have an ability to provide excellent and compassionate customer service;
- Strong organizational and interpersonal skills;
- Ability to work independently and exercise a high level of confidentiality;
- Must have an ability to work flexible work hours to include some evenings and weekends;
- Must be reliable with time sensitive deadlines and tasks;
- Demonstrated knowledge of community resources and ability to build relationships with individuals from all the youths’ various networks;
- Knowledge of state, community and agency resources;
- Computer and typing skills sufficient to perform essential job functions;
- Active motor vehicle license and maintain a reliable automobile with adequate insurance coverage;
- Pass a criminal history screen, including state and local child protection agency registries;
- Subscription to and integration of the agency Statement of Faith, Mission Statement, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment.
