About Upbring 

At Upbring, we are servants on a mission to break the cycle of child abuse. We are warriors, brave as the thousands of Texas Children and families we serve. We stand up for those who can’t speak for themselves. We are a family who values innovation, empathy, patience, understanding and trustworthiness.  

About New Life Residential Treatment Center

Many of the girls arrive at New Life after experiencing severe abuse or neglect. These courageous young women are between the ages of 11-17, and they begin to grow and heal through in-depth clinical therapy, personal development activities and spiritual care in a safe setting.

Girls stay an average of six to eight months and begin to feel a restored sense of hope in their futures – thanks to the support of New Life’s staff and therapists specializing in Trauma-Informed Care. Often during the healing process, girls discover special interests and talents and begin to live a healthy lifestyle. Many girls are either reunited with biological family or connected with a loving foster family after living at New Life.

What You'll Do

While maintaining a safe, supportive therapeutic environment, the Residential Support Specialist is responsible for supervising, teaching social skills, and meeting the individualized care plan and personal development needs of youth in accordance with Agency standards, state licensing standards, federal, state, and local regulatory requirements while following a designated routine as assigned.

Our Upbring staff members are servant-leaders in the pursuit of breaking the cycle of child abuse and empowering others to do the same through example while embodying our core values: We are Warriors. We are Servants. We are Family.

We Are Warriors | We Set the Standards for Child Welfare

Work Standards 

• Maintain direct supervision, interaction, and observation of all youth in their living spaces or common areas; always remain aware of the location of all youth during the shift
• Interact, observe, and supervise youth in accordance with their individualized treatment and behavior support plans
• Ensure that all living spaces are clean, organized and maintain the youth’s living space to provide a safe, hygienic, and therapeutic environment
• Ensure safety, security and sanitation standards are always maintained in all work areas
• Prepare and attend supervision, unit, team, and facility meetings as required
• Strong time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and complete tasks in a timely manner
• Work within the Agency’s Code of Ethics and establish working relationships within the ethical boundaries established
• Complete required training hours per licensing standards and program requirement
• Other duties and special projects as assigned

Communication

• Communicate with youth and team members in a strength-based manner
• Enter all assigned duties in a strength-based, concise and understandable manner, such as behavior sheets, observation notes, communication logs, shift reports personal restraint records, incident reports, etc. in the computer before the end of shift
• Ensure all necessary youth information is entered into the computer before the end of the shift
• Report and properly enter all incidents in a timely manner (prior to the end of the shift)

We Are Servants| We Help Others

Adaptability

• Set appropriate behavioral limits with youth in accordance with Agency policy and individualized treatment and behavior support plans
• Work in a manner that seeks to prevent crisis situations; proactively intervene to manage or de-escalate crisis situations; apply verbal redirection when deemed appropriate
• Maintain awareness of resident behavior and utilize the proper intervention and appropriate consequence in accordance with Agency policy and the resident’s individual treatment and behavior support plans; accurately enter the behavior and intervention
• Assist the Residential Support Specialist III with conducting searches for contraband in youth living space as needed
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with a diverse staff, youth population, including youth’s families and systems of support
• Ability to use good judgment, think and react rationally and calmly in difficult and stressful situations

Teamwork

• Teach and Provide youth with a full range of basic living skills, including, but not limited to bathing, feeding, cleaning, shopping, and laundry
• Assist the Residential Dorm Supervisor with conducting searches for contraband in youth living space as needed
• Provide back-up services and assistance to other units/programs when needed
• May be required to complete driving duties as driver and/or accompanying during transport. Subject to being designated as an authorized driver
• Develop and maintain a positive working relationship with the program and clinical management team and staff, youth, and volunteers to meet the needs of the youth and ensure the program goals and objectives are being met
• Work closely with management, the program, and clinical staff to ensure program operations, goals and objectives are being met and the youth are receiving the highest quality of services and support

We Are Family | We Are Passionate & Compassionate

Building Relationships

• Converse with youth to reinforce positive behavior and promote social interaction and community inclusion
• Assist with new resident orientation
• Work as team player and exhibit professionalism (commitment, confidence, responsibility, dependability, honesty, ethics, appearance) with both internal and external clients that reflects positively on the Agency and is consistent with Agency policies and practices
• Accompany youth professionally, participate, and manage resident behavior in group therapy sessions as needed
• Accompany and/or transport youth professionally to appointments, outings and activities using established safety protocol
• Teach, supervise, and assist youth in achieving daily goals including laundry, mopping, sweeping, organizing, caring for grounds, and facilities
• Work as team player and exhibit professional behavior and a positive attitude with both internal and external clients that reflects positively on the Agency and is consistent with Agency policies and practices
• Actively participate in exhibiting cultural awareness and sensitivity when interacting with youth, parent(s)/guardian(s), staff, and the community

Residential Support Specialsit Minimum Qualifications 

• Must be 21 years of age or older per licensing requirements
• High School Diploma or GED equivalent
• Prior experience working with people
• Familiarity with basic computer skills, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Strong communication skills, with demonstrated ability to enter information into a computer in a concise and understandable manner
• Strong time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and complete tasks in a timely manner
• Ability to work both in a team environment and independently

Residential Support Specialist Preferred Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Social Services, Human Services, or closely related field
• One (1) year employment experience in the child welfare field working with children and/or adolescents
• Trauma Informed Care training and understand of effects on trauma on development
• Knowledge of behavior modification and therapeutic settings
• Ability to provide conflict resolution and de-escalation methods and techniques to ensure the well-being and safety of youth

Perks at Upbring 

• Competitive PTO & paid holidays  
• Health, dental, vision insurance & more!  
• 403(b) Plan 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Discounted Gym Memberships  

Physical Demands & Work Conditions

• Requires working with a diverse population of youth with varying degrees of behaviors and trauma
• Requires standing for long period of time
• Lift, push, pull, move up to 125 lbs.

The physical requirements for this position with or without reasonable accommodation are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. While performing this position the employee with or without reasonable accommodation should have the ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, speak, and hear with aid, see, read, reach with arms and hands, lift and/or move up to specified weight, and use equipment that is essential to performing the job, such as a computer, copier, fax machine, telephone, and automobile, if applicable. Specific vision requirements of this position may include color vision, seeing things close up, and the ability to adjust focus.

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. Belonging  

We are a diverse and inclusive Organization that recognizes our strength is in the efforts of our selfless warriors. Honoring and recognizing the value and dignity of all individuals is the cornerstone of our agency. The more diverse the individuals, thought processes and lived experiences, the greater the opportunity is to combine unique perspectives to make a greater impact. Our trust, respect, and appreciation for one another is demonstrated through our communication, celebration of progress and relentless effort to be at our best TO FULLFILL OUR MISSION OF BREAKING THE CYCLE OF CHILD ABUSE.

Upbring is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status.