Youth Care Leader

Mission of the position:

The Youth Care Leader is responsible for accompanying children and young people in growing up in a secure way, guiding the individual development of young people towards independence and becoming self-autonomous and participating members of society. He/she works within the framework of SOS Children’s Villages organisation standards and guidelines and the child rights-based approach. The YCL plays a key role in guiding individual young people, accompanies them through their career and  contributes to the quality of youth care. Together with young people the YCL creates an environment where young people can develop life skills, resilience and responsibility for themselves. The YCL, the SOS caregivers, the family of origin and the Family Like Care Director cooperate closely.

The Youth Care Leader ensures his/her availability to cover night shifts at the Youth House as per a monthly attendance schedule.

Main clients:

• Referred children/young people  
• SOS caregivers, SOS CV Family Like Care Director, CV Programme Director (CVPD)
• National Office staff with responsibilities regarding quality of care and Child Safeguarding, human resources and sponsorships, Funds Developoment and Communication Department, and finance department

• External stakeholders (schools/educational institutions, employers, doctors, therapists, state authorities etc.)
• Biological/extended families
• Therapists and Social Worker of the Youth Care Small Group Home

Key performance areas and main responsibilities:

Guide the personal development of the young people

• Supports the transition process of the youngster from SOS family to youth care programme (plans for regular visits of youth to the YC home prior to their transition, coordinates with the NO program staff and the pedagogical team in the locations, and continually follows-up on the personal development plan before transitions takes place, in collaboration with the CVPD and the team for a smooth and efficient transition.
• Creates a secure and safe environment for and with the young people (Carries-out risk assessments, supervision of safety mesures and safety plans for special cases with regular follow-up and monitoring on plans).
• Conducts individual case management and ensures participation of young people in individual development/case management process.
• Builds up emotional bonds and stability with young people within the professional boundaries.

• Supports young people to develop sense of self-worth, skills for regulating emotions, and other life skills by thourough coordination with therapists and pedagogical team to ensure that youth receive the needed support, training, guidance, and PSS activities/sessions.
• Supports the young people in taking on responsibility for their own lives in developing team spirit and social skills by planning for voluntary and social-based activities, and closely coordinates with the YouthCan! Advisor.
• Consolidates the young people’s training to autonomously keep a hygienic and homely living environment.
• Supports young people in dealing with health-care services.  
• Is responsible for leading the youth through the transition process from the youth care small group homes to supervised living programme (semi-independent living) by coordinating with the pedagogical team at the YC small group homes.

Create contact opportunities with young people’s biological family, SOS family & community

• Maintains ongoing contact and cooperation with the SOS family members etc as per the SOS visit guidelines.
• Encourages ongoing contact with young person’s family of origin (in best interest of youth)
• Assists the integration of young people into the community by maintaining social networks which are appropriate to their age, talents, interests and skills.
• For former SOS young people, he/she plans for opportunities to maintain contact between the current SOS youth and the former ones.

Support the educational and career development of the young people

• Supports the youths' education by following up on their scholastic/vocational training and education with constant liaision with the academic advisors to follow-up on the youths' progress and intervene in case of any problems.

• Is actively interested in the young persons’ school life and extra-curricular acitvities and motivates them to make necessary changes that enhances their overall development. Empowers young people to actively participate in making decisions that directly affect their life. 
• In collaboration with the pedagogical team, identify relevant courses/trainings and encourages participation.
• Prepares the young persons for autonomously finding a job and supports in establishing contacts with local companies in collaboration with the YouthCan Advisor.
• Assists the young people to establish and maintain a secure financial situation.

Fulfill administration and managing duties

• Supports the young people in administration issues and ensures that all daily administrative routines in the youth facility/youth care programme are carried out
• Demonstrates responsibility for all properties and facilities of the youth care programme
• Fosters and participates in team work and cooperation with other youth care co-workers
• Follows-up on the implementation of the procurement policies and guidelines.
• Conducts the annual, budget, and inkind planning for the house, and monitors the budget spending, the house needs, and the donations reception and distribution, and reports, on a monthly basis, to the finance and FDC departments.

Child Safeguarding (CS)

• Prevent and protect children/young people from all forms of abuse, abandonment, exploitation, violence and discrimination in coordination with the NCSA as per the SOS child safeguarding policies and principles.
• Ensures strong focus on CS prevention by organising informal and formal discussions, workshops and other capacity buildings activities for young people to make them understand  CS risks and protection mechanisms in coordination with the SW and CS advisor.
• Responsible to report any CS suspicion, concern, allegation or incident immediately, following Child Safeguarding reporting procedures. CS reports should be made to the national CS team
• Makes sure the CS reporting channels are accessible for all youth and all CS related personel