Social Service Assistant I

The purpose of this position is to assist in the supervision and delivery of quality service and care of youth ages 13-18 with substance use/co-occurring problems. The Assistant works very closely with the Supervisory Social Service Assistant to ensure a safe structured and therapeutic residential treatment environment. Supervises clients in the dormitory, cafeteria, recreation room, and on outings as well as maintains appropriate records.

Provides twenty-four (24) hour staff coverage for the residential center.
Works outside scheduled hours to ensure staff coverage.
Works on-call rotation and rotates days off to accommodate staff coverage.
Review client’s reports to maintain up-to-date information on the client's condition and needs.
Monitors and records the client’s behavior and notifies appropriate staff members of any changes.
Sets a therapeutic, healthy, and safe environment both on and off the units.
Teaches life skills such as coping, health and hygiene, finding and keeping a job, how to clean living areas and do laundry, and financial management.
Supervises resident groups engaged in housekeeping chores to ensure a clean, orderly, safe, and comfortable dorm atmosphere and appearance.
Monitors classroom activities and assist when requested by the client making sure the clients are working on appropriate school material.
Monitors client’s movement in and outside of the unit, escorting clients to and from groups and counseling sessions.
Transports clients to and from medical appointments.
Presents necessary medical forms to staff and returns forms to the appropriate staff member(s) on the unit.
Monitors client’s medications and signs off on medication log sheet. Notifies nurses and appropriate staff of medication errors, missed medication, and possible side effects of medication.
Monitors clients throughout the night by maintaining a thirty (30) minute bed check to ensure the safety and health of clients.
Transports clients and staff safely on outings to and from the unit, including ensuring the proper wearing of seatbelts during transport.
Maintains logbooks, activity reports, medication logs, records of any significant events affecting clients and any other reports required for each shift.
Prepares and serves healthy meals at designated times and follows menus and cleaning schedules of kitchen and dining areas.
Purchases and stores food in the proper manner, cleans appliances, freezers, and refrigerators as needed to maintain a clean and safe environment.
Inspects rooms and buildings daily and reports any maintenance issues.
Complies with facility safety, infection control, injury prevention, and security protocols.
Supports facility internal and external customer service standards.
Follows relevant ethical and legal aspects of providing care to clients in a residential treatment setting.
Applies basic knowledge of principles, theories, techniques, and practices regarding adolescent behavior and development to provide non-professional counseling services.
Maintains HIPAA compliance and confidentiality at all times and protect all personal health information as it relates to patient data.
Other duties as assigned.

Performs work under general supervision.
Handles basic issues and problems, and refers more complex issues to higher-level staff.
Possesses beginning to working knowledge of subject matter.

High School diploma or GED required.

An additional one (1) year of specialized training or education preferred.

Decision-making skills.
Oral communication skills.
Detail oriented.
Attentiveness.
Ability to understand and follow directions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee may occasionally be required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; taste or smell. The employee may frequently be required to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and may occasionally be required to lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
Specific vision requirements for this position are close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to correct/adjust focus.

Must possess a valid driver's license with a driving history verified through a motor vehicle report that meets the requirements for Cherokee Nation underwriting rating.
Must be certified in CPR and maintain throughout employment. CPR may be obtained during orientation.
Must obtain Food Handler Permit within six (6) months of hire and maintain throughout employment.

The employee must not be and will not be under sanction by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) or by the General Services Administration (GSA) or listed on the OIG's Cumulative Sanction Report, or the GSA's List of Excluded Providers, or listed on the OIG's List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).
Must meet and maintain periodic background investigation and adjudication for child care.