Residential Treatment Specialist

About the Role

The Residential Treatment Specialist provides direct service to children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional disorders in a residential setting. This role involves the general supervision of residents, teaching daily living and social skills, implementing the daily schedule, behavior management, crisis intervention, group work, and overseeing all aspects of daily living for the residents. The position requires role-modeling cooperative work with co-workers and conducting oneself in a professional, ethical, and therapeutic manner.

Key Responsibilities

• Job Knowledge Demonstration
• Supervises and monitors the whereabouts and activities of all assigned residents during the scheduled shift.
• Maintains current knowledge through mandatory training.
• Understands treatment goals and the RTS role in residential treatment.
• Uses knowledge of child development and disorders when intervening with residents.
• Follows all UCAN policies and procedures.
• Utilizes available programs, resources, and materials to meet resident needs.
• Is knowledgeable of the UCAN Clinical Philosophy and the residential program clinical model.
• Understands and appropriately utilizes established UCAN treatment interventions.
• Dorm and Client Behavior Management
• Manages resident behavior using approved behavioral management interventions to achieve treatment goals.
• Fairly and consistently enforces rules and applies appropriate consequences.
• Implements individual behavior management plans for residents, making suggestions to the team based on observations.
• Effectively manages the daily routine and dorm schedules.
• Leads dorm-based groups and develops dorm-based programs.
• Assists residents in identifying behavioral alternatives and selecting appropriate behaviors.
• Supervises and monitors resident self-administration of medication.
• Monitors physical vital signs (blood pressure, respiration, temperature, heart rate) as needed, after training.
• Utilizes an intoximeter for monitoring as needed, after training.
• Administers urine toxicology screens as needed, after training.
• Demonstrates a positive therapeutic approach with residents and reinforces positive behaviors.
• Effectively addresses and resolves conflict between residents.
• Maintaining Safety/Security
• Manages daily routines and monitors the safety conditions and overall cleanliness of the residential program.
• Provides transportation for residents as needed and within program guidelines.
• Maintains clean and orderly surroundings to minimize unsafe behaviors.
• Follows all policies, procedures, protocols, and safety directives to create and maintain a safe environment.
• Demonstrates proficient skills and uses them appropriately during physical intervention.
• Maintains alertness to potentially unsafe situations and responds to maintain a safe environment.
• Monitors resident behavior to ensure they are not a danger to themselves, others, or staff.
• Developing Therapeutic Relationships
• Provides a positive, stable role model and authority figure for residents.
• Establishes and maintains a caring and therapeutic relationship with residents.
• Works individually with assigned "primary" residents and reports on their progress.
• Uses understanding of mental health diagnoses when intervening to meet client needs.
• Considers cultural factors impacting clients.
• Participates in team meetings, supervisory sessions, and other program meetings.
• Establishes positive working relationships with team members and outside contacts involved with residents.
• Works effectively with all team members and assists others who request help.
• Communication/Documentation
• Maintains program records, daily logs, internal documentation, and computer data entry using Profile.
• Correctly completes daily routine management (Service Plans, Medicaid logs, etc.).
• Communicates all critical incidents to the team in a timely manner.
• Completes written documentation correctly and on time.
• Prepares reports for team meetings and staffing thoroughly and timely.
• Clearly communicates observations, ideas, and plans through writing.
• Cooperates in the creation of "Special Programs" for clients.
• Completes written documentation with accuracy, attention to detail, spelling, and grammar.
• Professionalism and Work Conduct
• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of UCAN.
• Acts professionally at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with clients.
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments.
• Reports to work, meetings, training, and activities prepared and as scheduled.
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and co-workers.
• Understands and supports UCAN’s standard of cultural proficiency.
• Responds to clients, families, staff, DCFS, service providers, and other stakeholders in a timely manner, ensuring follow-up.
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Less than 5 years of field experience.
• Meets the criteria for Medicaid RSA (Rehabilitative Services Associate).
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) certified or obtains within 30 days of employment.
• Physical ability to use TCI restraint techniques as required.
• First Aid/CPR certified or obtains within 30 days of employment.
• Valid driver’s license with approval/authorization by DCFS to transport children (preferred).
• At least 21 years of age.

Qualifications

• Completes written documentation with accuracy and sufficient attention to detail, spelling, and grammatical correctness.
• Has an understanding of trauma-informed practice.
• Has an understanding of Positive Youth Development.
• Willingness to learn the UCAN Clinical Philosophy and the residential clinical model.
• Willingness to become familiar with computers and learn to use programs such as Microsoft Word.
• Ability to effectively communicate with staff and clients.
• Open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients; willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Experience or ability to use computers for data entry, communication, and report writing.
• Must be able to work as a team member.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Voluntary Short-Term Disability
• Voluntary Critical Illness Insurance
• Voluntary Accident Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• Retirement Plan (401k) Match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Group Life and AD&D Insurance (Provided at No Cost)
• Group Long-Term Disability (Provided at No Cost)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (Provided at No Cost)