The Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter has provided hope to children in Arkansas since 1993. Composed of three pillars: The Shelter, Hope Academy and Foster for the Future, our programs utilize and develop cutting-edge practices, grounded in over 30 years of trauma-centered research, to holistically meet the needs of children who have experienced abuse, abandonment or neglect. We are dedicated to continuing to develop high-quality programs and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration that will guide best practices for decades to come.

OUR VALUES: 
Compassion: Recognize and meet the needs of children with respect, sensitivity and unconditional love
Excellence: Set the standard for high-quality service for children by performing above the expected
Integrity: Strive with our words and actions to be worthy of the trust placed in us

THE POSITION: 

The Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter Youth Care Manager is primarily responsible for the overall safety, care and nurturance of residents. The Youth Care Manager is responsible for ensuring that the shelter environment, shift activities and tasks support the shelter’s mission and values and are carried out in accordance with the NWACS Employee Resource Book as well as current federal, state and local standards, guidelines and regulations.  Reporting to the Director of Youth Services, the Youth Care Manager is responsible for the orientation, supervision, evaluation and direction of Youth Care Team Leaders, as well as Youth Care Specialists.  

Key Responsibilities:

1. Living the Children’s Shelter Mission and Values

• Create an atmosphere for residents that operationalizes our mission to provide the children we serve with a safe haven, high-quality care and hope for the future.
• Create an atmosphere which exemplifies our values of compassion, excellence and integrity.
• Ensure the Children’s Shelter mission and values drive resident decisions.

2. Improving Teaching and Learning

• Promote professional growth and development of direct care staff through effective training, evaluation and ongoing supervision/support.
• Advocate for resources needed to increase quality of resident care, staff development and satisfaction, and shelter sustainability; participate in program planning and make recommendations.
• Understands and applies principles of child and adolescent development and communicates best practice to staff.
• Interacts with residents in a manner which is developmentally sensitive and reflects developmental strengths/needs.
• Promotes good health, hygiene, and nutritional practices that support health development and illness prevention.
• Collaborate with case managers to assess each child's strengths, needs and potential risk factors; ensure the individualized plan for each resident is carried out in order to help them obtain meaningful goals.

3. Health, Safety and Supervision

• Maintain staff accountability for compliance with policies and procedures, licensing regulations and all other applicable laws and regulations.
• Effectively communicate expectations of direct care staff and how they are linked to program goals in order to ensure the shelter environment is safe, clean and supportive of healthy child development.
• Coordinate with direct care staff to ensure scheduled and planned activities are carried out; revise schedule as needed, to meet the needs of the residents and shelter.
• Complete resident intakes and discharges; ensure accurate and complete information is entered into the database; assist in obtaining resident picture and exit interview, as needed.
• Ensure each wing is equipped with supplies needed to effectively complete tasks and meet the needs of the residents; request needed items when supplies are depleted.
• Identify wings or individual residents in distress or in need of additional supervision/assistance and be present on wing to provide direct support, as time allows.
• Practices and models appropriate safety precautions and rules; ensures compliance with safety protocols.
• In coordination with the Director of Youth Services, conduct and document emergency drills.
• Identify potential risks in the shelter environment, notify on-call staff, and intervene appropriately to avoid possible crises.
• Oversee the completion of nutrition activities, including preparation and clean-up of meals and snacks, in the absence of nutrition staff.
• Arrange transportation for medical and other appointments, as needed; arrange transportation to/from community activities.
• Follow approved procedures for storage, administration, and disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications; conduct and document medication counts to detect errors in administration.
• Establish an understanding of medications to be administered to residents, including use, dosage, possible side effects, and interactions; arrange for refills as needed to ensure an adequate supply is maintained.
• Monitor any medical conditions and promptly respond to any identified medical or similar needs of all residents.
• Adheres to all shelter policies and procedures.

4. Leading with Integrity and Professionalism

• Manage direct reports to include assigned Team Leaders.
• Set standards of performance and create realistic goals.
• Assure monthly supervisions are being completed with all direct reports.
• Provide guidance and positive leadership to Team Leaders and staff.
• Assure supervisory level staff are managing by walking around
• Train and orientate new Team Leaders.
• Attend all team meetings and disseminate information to respective shift.
• Maintain/approve time sheets for payroll, monitoring trends in attendance.
• Monitor and assure yearly training requirements are being met.
• Assure annual performance reviews are being completed on time.
• Monitor overtime and keep at a minimum.
• Lead shift in delegating duties, assigning tasks and following up with team members.
• Effectively address attendance and disciplinary issues with direct care staff in a timely manner; accurately and thoroughly document disciplinary actions in a timely manner in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Monitor staffing patterns and direct care staff schedules to assure compliance with all licensing requirements for rations and that resident shelter needs are met.
• Review resident logs, medication logs, supervisor logs, and any other pertinent documentation to ensure accurate, effective communication.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Attributes:  

• 21+ Years of age
• 3+ years of experience working with at-risk youth, or foster care setting
• 3+ years of experience in a supervisor role
• Bachelors or advanced degree in human service or a related field preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
• Ability to adapt to the needs of the organization and employees.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.

Working Conditions and Environment/Physical Demands:

The demands described are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

• Tasks may involve walking, standing, climbing, bending, kneeling, crouching, and lifting for long periods of time.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Must pass all criminal history and child maltreatment background checks.
• Must submit to pre-employment a drug screen as well as random drug screens when directed.
• Valid driver's license, proof of personal automobile insurance, and acceptable driving record required to drive shelter vehicles for shelter business.
• Must maintain confidentiality and privacy regarding all Children’s Shelter residents' information in accordance with NWACS policy and all applicable Federal and state laws/regulations.
• Attend and participate in mandatory training, staff meetings, and all other events, as required.
• Set, maintain and communicate appropriate personal and professional boundaries.
• Complete all required documentation in a timely manner per NWACS procedures.

Position Pay and Benefits:

• $45,000-$50,000 depending on experience and education
• Semi-flexible work hours
• Health Insurance, Dental and Vision, Supplemental Insurance Plans
• 403(b) with up to 3% discretionary match after one year of employment
• Paid holidays and sick time

This position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated with it. Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs.Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter is an Equal Opportunity Employer.