Student Advocate

Salary Range $18.19 - $22.05 Hourly

Position Type Full Time

Job Shift Day

Education Level High School

Travel Percentage None

Category Nonprofit - Social Services

Description

The Student Advocate plays an essential role with children placed at Elmcrest. Having the greatest amount of contact with students, the Student Advocate utilizes a child-centered approach to work in the best interest of children while facilitating the individual and environmental conditions that are necessary to create change. The Student Advocate is charged with providing a safe, secure and nurturing learning environment while continuously using natural, everyday opportunities to teach, guide, and support students with their treatment, goals and academic success. The Student Advocate is scheduled in a manner that best accommodates the staff ratio and coverage requirements of programs. A regular, set schedule can be expected. There are times, however, when schedules are adjusted to accommodate non-school days.

Responsibilities:

• Create, support and engage in a learning environment by which each resident can be successful in making his/her own unique behavioral, emotional, intellectual, developmental and educational gains by:

• Teaching and fostering a resident’s skill development relative to his/her individual needs.

• Interacting and intervening with residents in accordance with their treatment plans, Individualized Crisis Management Plan, and Individual Education Plans.

• Support students as during the wake-up routine in their respective cottage followed by walking them to school.

• Maintain a physically and emotionally safe & supportive environment by:

• Developing and providing a safe and secure physical environment for each resident.

• Providing continuous supervision of residents.

• Using Therapeutic Crisis Intervention de-escalation techniques (proximity, time and space, caring gestures, etc.)

• Develop and maintain appropriate and positive relationships with residents by:

• Demonstrating appropriate social boundaries.

• Having a non-threatening and supportive demeanor.

• Actively involving residents in all facets of their educational day.

• Perform other essential functions of the job including:

• Complete all assigned paperwork accurately and on time.

• Attend regularly scheduled school meetings.

• Report incidents of child maltreatment, neglect, or abuse.

• Follow all agency and department policies & procedures.

• Other duties as assigned by supervisors.

• All of the Youth Development Professional responsibilities when working in cottages during wake-up routine and during non-school days.

Qualifications

• Elmcrest’s Core Values & Competencies :

• Honesty : Act with integrity and behave in a manner consistent with our policies, Code of Conduct and any regulatory and ethical guidelines. Utilize practices and techniques professionals train to interact with children, families and co-workers appropriately.

• Willingness to Learn: Open to new experiences and learning new skills and information that can improve professional development, progressive work environments and support the mission of Elmcrest.

• Dedication to Purpose : Display the necessary passion and empathetic abilities to serve the Elmcrest mission. Committed to improving the lives of children and families.

• Social Concern : Value human dignity and have respect for others. Actively seek out diverse approaches and points of view.

• Self-Examination : Systemically observe, analyze and utilize self-reflection to improve actions or results. Listen to constructive feedback and concerns and maintain positive relationships in the workplace.

• Competencies :

• Able to relate to a dynamic environment. Flexible and able to solve problems as unanticipated challenges present themselves.

• Self-aware, enjoys, and is comfortable interacting with children.

• Technically and physically able to provide crisis intervention, including physical restraints. The Agency provides this required training.

• Must understand and demonstrate the principles of care (Boys Town and TCI) to which Elmcrest ascribes and trains.

Required Education and Experience :

• High School Diploma or GED, College, and experience preferred.

Essential Job Qualifications:

• Ability to lift 50 pounds without assistance.

• Able to provide crisis intervention, including physical restraints. Restraints may include resistive force, bending, squatting, kneeling, lying down, and holding youth to maintain safety.

• Ability to sit, squat, crouch, and stand for elongated periods

• Ability to lift arms overhead in a reaching motion

• Ability to walk up and down stairs several times per day.

• Varying levels of travel as determined by departmental needs may be required with this position.

• Valid driver’s license and auto insurance, free from major infractions and deemed acceptable to our insurance carrier.

Equal Opportunity Statement : Elmcrest Children’s Center prohibits discrimination of any kind based on race, color, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

Accommodations : Elmcrest Children’s Center will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability so that they can perform the essential functions of a job unless doing so causes a direct threat to these individuals or others in the workplace and the threat cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation or if the accommodation creates an undue hardship to Elmcrest Children’s Center. Contact Human Resources with any questions or requests for accommodation.

At Will Employment : Your employment with Elmcrest Children’s Center is at will. This means your employment is for an indefinite period of time and it is subject to termination by you or Elmcrest Children’s Center, with or without cause, with or without notice, and at any time. Nothing in this job description or in any other policy of Elmcrest Children’s Center shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way, the at-will employment status of Elmcrest Children’s Center employees.