Job Description
Summary Job Description:
The Life Coach is a vital part of Permanency Planning, providing ongoing social and emotional support to youth while developing individualized academic and career development goals. The Life Coach serves as an advocate, supporter, counselor and mentor for the youth ensuring needed services and supports are established for independent living.
This position offers a full-time, 35 hour-per-week, in person and in field work schedule and is based in Richmond Hill. This position requires travel and flexibility in working hours.
About St. John's
Founded in 1826 as a home for orphaned children, St. John's has evolved into a nonprofit social services agency providing residential care to New York City youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. We offer holistic, trauma-informed support to young people up to age 21.
Our main campus in Rockaway Park, Queens, houses a Residential Treatment Center, Close to Home Non-Secure Placement programs, administrative offices, clinical services, and an on-site NYC Department of Education school. We also operate a Non-Secure Detention residence in Richmond Hill and Limited Secure Placement programs in Brooklyn and Staten Island.
St. John's is dedicated to helping youth heal, grow, and build the skills they need to achieve their goals and return to family or a stable, supportive environment as engaged members of their communities.
Principal Responsibilities
- Demonstrates fidelity to the agency's service values and organizational imperatives.
- Works with youth 1:1 to ensure entry/re-entry into academic institution or work program; creatively thinking outside of the box for individual needs.
- Provides support to youth using trauma informed practices to drive positive outcomes related to overall well-being, safety, social and emotional needs.
- Collaborates with Permanency Planners, Tutors, Specialists, Parents/ Resources to help youth achieve identified goals.
- Conducts field visits to academic institutions, housing resources, families in effort to coordinate and assess services to support youth in achieving identified goals related to education, employment and independence.
- Connects youth with peer groups or other community resources to sustain continued progress.
- Reassesses, redirects and helps youth to navigate challenges, celebrate successes and plan/prepare for their journey as it relates to housing, academia and/or career development.
- Maintains accurate and comprehensive files on each youth related to work/engagement and ensures any/all electronic notes, reports are entered/submitted timely.
- Assists youth in application/follow-up with financial aid or other financial assistance required to achieve academic, housing or other personal needs. > Serves as an integral part to the youths' permanency, sharing strives and outcomes with the assigned Permanency Planners, in real time.
- Attends and facilitates meetings to include resources/supports/appropriate staff in constructive dialogue and planning on behalf of youth.
- Establishes and presents oneself as a reliable and available professional resource to the youth.
- Responsible for ensuring communication is consistent across relevant departments/positions.
- Attends trainings, seminars, events to support success in the Coach role as it pertains to helping youth to succeed.
- All other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Social Services or related field with minimum 1 to 2 years of experience with at-risk youth or an Associate's degree in Social Services or related field, with minimum of 2 years, preferably 3+ years in child welfare
- Direct experience with working with troubled youth and families
- Valid Driver's License and access to a working vehicle required.
- Must be compassionate, resilient, creative, mature, professionally responsible and committed to helping our youth.
- Candidate will be a team player, able to work independently, possess strong organizational/time management skills and detail oriented.
- Able to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries while providing exceptional care to youth.
- This role must have excellent writing skills and be comfortable engaging with and presenting information to others.
- Must be able to work flexible hours, manage crisis/ conflict and plan for outcomes.
Travel Requirements
Position requires in person and field work schedule and is based in Richmond Hill. This position requires travel and flexibility in working hours.
Disclaimer
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent in this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of a person in this position.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Statement
With more than 250 years of combined experience, Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York and St. John's Residence for Boys have a long-standing history of serving children, youth, adults and families of color. Our mission, vision and values are grounded in elevating the shared humanity of every staff member, community partner and those with whom we engage. We recognize that our DEIB work is continuously evolving as we strive for equity and inclusion for individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, ages, abilities, religions and lived experiences.
Accessibility
Some job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may be designed to protect the safety and health of the employee, their fellow employees and the individuals being served and may therefore exclude some individuals.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
St. John's Residence for Boys provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected group status.
Job Tags
Full time, Flexible hours,