Youth Care Assistant

Are you passionate about caring for disadvantage youth? Do you have a heart for ministry and a love for children? The mission of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is to prevent delinquency and develop lawful, resilient and productive citizens. Make a difference in the lives of disadvantage youth! Join our team today!

SUMMARY

The Youth Care Assistant provides direct care and supervision to a group of youth in a cottage setting. The Youth Care Assistant teaches and models social, academic, and independent living skills. The Youth Care Assistant relieves Cottage Parents during their time off and, when doing so, handles the day-to-day operations of the cottage. When scheduled to work with the Cottage Parents, assists the Cottage Parents working under their direct functional supervision. The Youth Care Assistant is responsible directly to the Assistant Unit Director or Unit Director. Work performance is reviewed through regular supervisory conferences and performance evaluations. This position is eligible for overtime pay.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties and responsibilities are given as examples of the various types of work performed in this position. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. Demonstrates attentiveness, alertness, and discretion of each aspect of the Youth Ranches program while interacting and supervising youth. Helps provide a safe and caring environment.
2. Demonstrates resourcefulness and thriftiness in the wise stewardship of the cottage and programs resources including all equipment, buildings, and vehicles. Ensures cottage, campus grounds and other assets are maintained at Youth Ranches’ standards.
3. Demonstrates availability, benevolence, and responsibility by providing support to other cottage staff during the daily cottage schedule. Assumes the responsibilities of Cottage Parents in their absence.
4. Abides by agency policies in discipline, family and youth rights, child abuse and maintaining confidentiality of youth and other program information.
5. Practices virtue and truthfulness in keeping the Assistant Unit Director or Unit Director and other cottage staff informed of all program related activities and concerns. Communicates effectively with direct care staff during change over and keeps other staff informed of pertinent youth information and campus events.
6. Practices punctuality, thoroughness and orderliness in completing required paperwork such as daily logs, daily youth psycho social (BHOS) notes, Medication Administration Records (MAR), weekly and monthly cottage paperwork, incident reports, and time sheets.
7. Encourages youth’s active participation in work program, educational, chapel and recreational activities.
8. Displays dependability, flexibility and availability when faced with change and displays a willingness to assist other staff members or programs as needed or requested by Assistant Unit Director or Unit Director.
9. Exercises discretion and appropriate judgment to be an appropriate role model for our youth and fellow staff members at all times including work program, cottage outings, Chapel, and campus events.
10. Helps facilitate the Moral Spiritual Character Development of youth in the cottage.
11. If applicable, provides awake supervision during sleep hours for assigned cottage.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

This position requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Must be at least 21 years of age. Direct experience with youth in an educational or residential care setting is preferred for all levels. Must have a valid Florida Driver License and be able to maintain a safe driving record consistent with agency policy.

Job Type: Full-time (Schedule Varies)

Pay: $16.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k) Plan with up to 4% company match
• Annual Leave and Sick Leave
• 11 Holidays
• Company Paid Long Term Disability
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Eligible for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
• Health Savings Account, Supplemental Life Insurance, Short Term Disability and Aflac products available

We are an equal opportunity employer and a drug free workplace. We have a very extensive and strict background screening process.

Background Screening Requirement Employment in this position is contingent upon successful completion of a Level 2 background screening through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse, as required by Florida law. Pursuant to House Bill 531 (2025), applicants are encouraged to review the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness information available at: https://info.flclearinghouse.com