About Our Organization: St. Catherine’s Center for Children is a leading non-profit organization in New York’s Greater Capital District. Our comprehensive range of human services reach more than 1,000 children, 600 families, and hundreds of adults across Upstate New York each year. Our multi-faceted programs are designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families, and adults we serve. We offer residential and therapeutic foster care programs for children and youth, Kinship support, homeless and community-based services for adults and families, a special education elementary school for ages 5-13, and so much more. St. Catherine’s employs more than 300 full and part-time staff. Our spectrum of services for children, families and individuals suffering from the lasting effects of abuse and neglect, family instability, mental illness, homelessness and other ongoing traumas, continues to grow. We are committed to cultivating a culture where all employees can bring their authentic and best selves to work. Our DEI-B initiatives are designed to support and build a more equitable, inclusive and diversified workplace, one which exemplifies true respect and dignity. We pay for background checks & TCI Training! some conditions may apply Function: St. Catherine’s has immediate openings for Child Care Specialist I (Direct Care Specialist) positions who will manage the physical, emotional, and treatment needs/goals of the children in the Residential Program. This position works directly under the supervision of the Assistant Supervisor. Candidates with relatable life experience are encouraged to apply! VERY LIMITED FULL TIME DAY/MORNING OPTIONS AVAILABLE WEEKENDS, & AFTERNOONS, EVENINGS/NIGHTS REQUIRED | FULL TIME STRONGLY PREFERRED Shifts available: Mornings - 7am-9am (Mon-Fri), 6am-10am (Mon-Fri), 7am-3pm (some weekdays & all weekends) Afternoons/evenings - 2pm-11pm Overnights - 11pm-9am Duties/Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
The Child Care Specialist (Direct Care Specialist) provides direct supervision (sight/sound) of the clients in the residential program.
Implement children’s treatment plans as directed by the Treatment Team.
Complete all forms required to document treatment services.
Participate in the daily routines and activities of the children in accordance with current standards of therapeutic treatment of children and the philosophy and mission of St. Catherine’s Center for Children.
Attend all treatment meetings, staff meetings and mandated trainings.
Participate in the general upkeep of the physical environment.
Attend and successfully complete the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training
Fulfill individual schedule requirements on time while staying within agency paid leave guidelines.
Maintain good working relationships with agency colleagues and representatives from other organizations.
Carry out other directives as requested by the Unit Supervisor, Treatment Team and the Director of Child Care.
Attend all required Agency trainings, (e.g., New Hire Orientation, TCI Training, etc.)
Additional position-related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor/director.
Position Specifications:
High School diploma or equivalency is required ; Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field is preferred. In lieu of a college degree, a combination of relevant professional experience and relatable life experience will be considered.
Formal crisis intervention training is preferred (TCI, SCIP etc.)
Experience working in a human services agency.
Professional experience working with children exhibiting a variety of emotional, behavioral and interpersonal challenges , mental health diagnoses and trauma history, preferred.
Self-confidence; interpersonal skills; Excellent professional judgment.
Excellent communication skills, in both verbal and in written format.
Demonstrated ability to work with clients and as a team member.
Highly detail-oriented and well organized.
Must have a Clean and Valid New York State Driver’s License, with licensed driving experience for at least one year, and the ability to meet criteria as outlined in the Policy for Agency Drivers.
Must have the ability to pass required pre-employment background checks, to include fingerprinting.
What We Offer:
Competitive Pay with an E xcellent Benefits P ackage
Health Insurance options: M edical, D ental and V ision
Generous Combined Leave Time and Holiday Pay
$500 Employee Referral Bonus
Professional Development & Career Growth Opportunities
We are a 501(c) (3) agency, which is a qualifying employer for eligible staff under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Pension Plan with Aggressive Agency contribution
Life Insurance – Automatic Benefit!
Paid Training & Tuition Reimbursement
Travel/ Mileage Reimbursement
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
The Comfort of a Business Casual Environment.
some conditions may apply
EEO Statement: St. Catherine’s Center for Children is committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, reproductive health and pregnancy, family history and genetics, disability, age, military status, veteran status, politics, or other beliefs, and any other characteristics protected by law.
Background Checks : We run a thorough and complete pre-employment background check on all candidates being considered for a position, this includes fingerprinting. All candidates must successfully clear the pre-employment background check process, which follows NYS/DOJ requirements. We pay for all pre-employment background checks!
