Please apply for these positions at info@therefugedmst.org. House Parent Job Description The role of the house parent is to act as a parent, advocate, life skills teacher, and role model for the youth of THE REFUGE for DMST. He or she provides a structured, nurturing home environment that promotes inclusiveness and fosters a sense of belonging, life skills, education, and acculturation with preserving the youth s own culture. He or she is responsible for ensuring safety at all times through close supervision and high interaction with youth and for implementing agency policies, procedures, and philosophy. Responsibilities Complete PRIDE pre-service training and meet competency criteria as well as maintain mandatory annual training hours. Successfully complete initial Home Study process, quarterly monitoring visits, two-year revalidation. Assist youth in the acculturation process to ensure successful functioning within the home, work, community, and school environments. Promote the development of life and academic skills to all youth in the home. Consistently implement daily schedule that creates life skills teaching opportunities. Promote vocational and educational learning opportunities to include cooking meals with children. Create a warm, welcoming learning environment. Ensure individual service plan goals, objectives, and strategies are implemented on a daily basis. Be responsible for timely and accurate communication within program (e.g. incident reports, verbal reports, shift documentation). Ensure all administrative duties are carried out in a timely manner. Advocate for youth by working closely with school personnel, therapist, physician, psychiatrist, and other key professionals to ensure youth s needs are being met. Operate home within the budget. Host youth relatives and friends to promote family and community connections as applicable Collaborate with support staff in the daily management of the home. Coordinate, implement, and engage with youth in family-oriented recreational activities, promoting family fun and healthy lifestyles, such as yoga and equine therapy. Supervise residents in their daily activities while creating a safe and nurturing home environment. Provide transportation for residents to legal and medical appointments, activity outings, etc. 1 P a g e
Ensure all youth s basic needs and rights are met in a humane and dignified manner at all times. Be present to celebrate with the youth during all key holidays and personal achievements, such as birthdays, Christmas, Easter, graduations, etc. Collaborate with Case Manager on developmental needs. Participate in regular Circles of Care treatment team meetings to discuss youth s service plans, progress, and challenges. Collaborate with program staff as needed in relation to the needs of youth. Participate in supervisory meetings/trainings appropriate for job function. Qualifications High School Diploma or equivalent required. At least one year of experience working with youth required. Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred. Positive role model for youth and co-workers while promoting positive work environment. Must be willing to give and receive constructive feedback for skill development. Meet all program and model of care professional competencies. Maturity and sensitivity to cultural and individual differences. Ability to maintain professional demeanor while exercising judgment and discretion in work. Must be able to read and write to complete professional documentation requirements. Basic computer skills. Ability to work both independently and as an active team member. Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills. Ability to follow oral and written instructions. Ability to read and interpret documents, such as operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and professional journals. Ability to write reports and correspondence. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Other Requirements Must have reliable transportation, valid Texas driver s license, and valid vehicle insurance. Position requires driving in personal vehicle and/or agency vehicle to include freeways and highways to satellite offices, offsite meetings, and events as needed. Must be able to work on a flexible schedule as needed to meet work, program, and project deadlines. Contacts 2 P a g e
Requires contact by telephone, written communication, and in-person with state agency personnel, foster families, families of house parents, and reunification related agencies. Equipment Used Desktop computer, laptop computer, telephone, calculator, fax machine, and/or copier. Working Conditions Work is carried out in several settings, including office, homes, and various recreational settings. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required. Mandatory attendance to team meetings once per week. Travel anticipated between sites, home office, and event venues. Physical Requirements While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand. The employee is occasionally required to walk. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Mental and Aptitude Requirements Ability to remain productive and maintain control under stress. Ability to collaborate with others in a non-coercive manner. Ability to analyze and organize systems. Ability to listen, speak, and write effectively. Ability to use problem-solving and decision-making skills. Must look out for the safety and wellbeing of the youth in care by reporting any issues of abuse or neglect suspected at any time to your immediate supervisor, Regional Director of Quality Assurance, and to the DFPS Hotline at 1-800-252-5400. This job description in no way implies that the duties listed here are the only ones the employee will be required to perform. The employee may be expected to perform other tasks, projects, and training as requested by his or her supervisor. 3 P a g e
Support Staff Job Summary Support staff are responsible for supporting and assisting house parents in supervising and caring for youth. Support staff should promote a sense of connection to family, community, and culture. Support staff will assist house parents to create opportunities within the program for youth to experience the core value of independence through teaching life skills. Support staff will work closely with house parents and case managers to ensure youth s permanency plan is progressing. Responsibilities Assist house parents in providing a safe nurturing and learning environment for youth. Supervise youth in the home during recreational activities and outings. Provides one-on-one supervision to youth when safety concerns are noted for both community and group homes. Assist youth with homework and independent living activities, such as learning to cook. Distribute medicine to clients as needed, documenting in the medicine log. Assist in preserving youth s culture by implementing their youth s traditions or cultural activities. Assist with daily homework. Provide receipts for all expenditures as needed. Assist foster families with transportation, errands, and necessary appointments for youth. Consult daily with house parents to ensure needs of clients are being met. Provide daily documentation noting the events during shift. Maintain personal staff development requirements for a minimum of thirty hours annually to include First Aid/CPR and Behavior Management, as set forth by licensing. Participate in service trainings, conferences, meetings, projects, and other events provided by THE REFUGE for DMST. Attend meetings and individual supervision to discuss clients, house- and program-related issues. Be able to complete PRIDE, Minimum Standards, and TBRI trainings successfully. Be a positive role model for youth and co-workers while promoting positive work environment. Must be willing to give and receive constructive feedback for skill development. Participate in supervisory meetings/trainings appropriate for job function. Must be able to work flexible schedule. Responsible for obtaining and maintaining confidential information. Qualifications High school diploma or equivalent with at least one year of related experience required. 4 P a g e
Minimum age of 25 years old. Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred. Knowledge of social work principles and ethics. Experience working with adolescents and families and/or at-risk youth. Other Requirements Must have reliable transportation, valid Texas driver s license, and valid vehicle insurance. Position requires driving in personal vehicle and/or agency vehicle to include freeways and highways to satellite offices, offsite meetings, and events as needed. Must be able to work on a flexible schedule as needed to meet work, program, and project deadlines. Contacts Requires contact by telephone, written communication, and in-person with state agency personnel, foster families, families of house parents, and reunification related agencies. Equipment Used Desktop computer, laptop computer, telephone, calculator, fax machine, and/or copier. Working Conditions Work is carried out in several settings, including office, homes, and various recreational settings. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required. Mandatory attendance to team meetings once per week. Travel anticipated between sites, home office, and event venues. Physical Requirements While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand. The employee is occasionally required to walk. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Mental and Aptitude Requirements Ability to remain productive and maintain control under stress. Ability to collaborate with others in a non-coercive manner. Ability to analyze and organize systems. Ability to listen, speak, and write effectively. Ability to use problem-solving and decision-making skills. 5 P a g e
Must look out for the safety and wellbeing of the youth in care by reporting any issues of abuse or neglect suspected at any time to your immediate supervisor, Regional Director of Quality Assurance, and to the DFPS Hotline at 1-800-252-5400. This job description in no way implies that the duties listed here are the only ones the employee will be required to perform. The employee may be expected to perform other tasks, projects, and training as requested by his or her supervisor. 6 P a g e
Volunteer Respite Caregiver Job Summary To act as a parent, advocate, life skills teacher, and role model for the children of the Refuge Ranch DMST. To provide a structured nurturing home environment that promotes inclusiveness and fosters a sense of belonging, life skills, education, and acculturation with preserving the child s own culture. Be responsible in ensuring safety at all times through close supervision and high interaction with children and youth, implement agency and program policies and procedures, and philosophy. Responsibilities Complete program PRIDE pre-service training and meet competency criteria as well as maintain mandatory annual training hours; Successfully complete initial Home Study process, quarterly monitoring visits and two-year revalidation; Assist youth in the acculturation process to ensure successful functioning within the home, work, community, and school environments; Promote the development of life and academic skills to all youth in the home; Consistently implement daily schedule that creates life skills teaching opportunities; Promote vocational and educational learning opportunities to include cooking meals with children; Ensure individual service plan goals, objectives, and strategies are implemented on a daily basis; Be responsible for timely and accurate communication within program (i.e. incident reports, verbal reports, shift documentation); Carry out all administrative duties in a timely manner; Advocate for youth by working closely with school personnel, therapist, physician, psychiatrist, and other key professionals to ensure youth s needs are being met; Collaborate with support staff in the daily management of the home; Coordinate, implement, and engage with youth in family-oriented recreational activities; Supervise youth in their daily activities while creating a safe and nurturing home environment; Provide transportation for residents to legal and medical appointments, activity outings, etc; Ensure all youths basic needs and rights are met in a humane and dignified manner at all times; Collaborate with Case Manager on developmental needs; Participate in Circle of Care treatment team meetings to discuss youths service plans, progress, and challenges; Collaborate with program staff as needed in relation to the needs of the youth; and Other duties as assigned. Qualifications 7 P a g e
High school diploma or equivalent. Minimum age of 25 years old. Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred. Knowledge of social work principles and ethics. Experience working with adolescents and families and/or at-risk youth. Other Requirements Must have reliable transportation, valid Texas driver s license, and valid vehicle insurance. Position requires driving in personal vehicle and/or agency vehicle to include freeways and highways to satellite offices, offsite meetings, and events as needed. Must be able to work on a flexible schedule as needed to meet work, program, and project deadlines. Contacts Requires contact by telephone, written communication, and in-person with state agency personnel, foster families, families of house parents, and reunification related agencies. Equipment Used Desktop computer, laptop computer, telephone, calculator, fax machine, and/or copier. Working Conditions Work is carried out in several settings, including office, homes, and various recreational settings. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required. Mandatory attendance to team meetings once per week. Travel anticipated between sites, home office, and event venues. Physical Requirements While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand. The employee is occasionally required to walk. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Mental and Aptitude Requirements Ability to remain productive and maintain control under stress. Ability to collaborate with others in a non-coercive manner. Ability to analyze and organize systems. Ability to listen, speak, and write effectively. Ability to use problem-solving and decision-making skills. 8 P a g e
Must look out for the safety and wellbeing of the youth in care by reporting any issues of abuse or neglect suspected at any time to your immediate supervisor, Regional Director of Quality Assurance, and to the DFPS Hotline at 1-800-252-5400. This job description in no way implies that the duties listed here are the only ones the employee will be required to perform. The employee may be expected to perform other tasks, projects, and training as requested by his or her supervisor. 9 P a g e