Youth Development Counselor: Sun-Wed 1pm-11pm

GET TO KNOW US

For more than a century, Vista Del Mar Child & Family Services (VDM) has been dedicated to supporting children and families across Los Angeles County through high-quality programs and compassionate care. Our goal is to help children and families build strong foundations that support growth, stability, and meaningful opportunities throughout their lives. Many of the individuals we serve have faced long-standing challenges, and we are committed to meeting families where they are with respect and understanding. Vista Del Mar is guided by values centered on growth, opportunity, fairness, and excellence in service.

OUR CULTURE

At Vista Del Mar, our work is strengthened by the people we serve and the dedicated staff who support them. We strive to create an environment where everyone is treated with dignity, care, and respect. We recognize that personal experiences and life circumstances shape how individuals engage within their communities, and we actively work to reduce barriers while improving access and outcomes for families. Vista Del Mar is committed to fostering a workplace rooted in care, collaboration, professional growth, and mutual support, where each individual feels welcomed and valued. We believe meaningful action is the foundation of lasting trust. We welcome qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences. Relevant professional and lived experience that supports effective service delivery to children and families is valued. All employment decisions are based on job-related qualifications, experience, and organizational needs.

MISSION:

Vista Del Mar provides a trauma-responsive continuum of services to empower children, youth, and families in Southern California to lead fulfilling lives.

Position Overview

The Direct Care Staff Youth Development Counselor: YDC Vista Haven ORR Program supervises, protects, and cares for youth in placement. They oversee and conduct youth development activities in a culturally sensitive, trauma informed manner for youth in the YDC’s assigned cottage. The YDC ensures that youth have access to all the services they need to meet their basic needs, such as food, clothing, hygiene, shelter, and medical and dental. The YDC is responsible for documenting resident services and incident reports and maintaining health and safety logs.

Available Shift

Essential Job Duties (other duties many be assigned)

• Constant supervision (1:6 staff to youth ratio), protection, and care of youth, individually and in groups, always in a manner consistent with their personal rights, to ensure safety within a trauma-informed framework.
• Ensures that youth have access to all the services they need to meet their basic needs, such as food, clothing, hygiene, shelter, and medical and dental.
• Works as a part of the treatment team to help youth develop various skills, including social, vocational, educational, hygiene, and other skills, and assists residents with strengthening their daily living skills.
• Establishes effective counselor-client relationships. Supports others in interacting with residents and assists youth and staff in cottage-based therapeutic activities, religious activities, outings, etc. Serves as an effective advocate for all youth in placement.
• Completes several health and safety reports, CCL reports, and ORR reports. Typical reports include daily room checks, religious logs, recreation logs, telephone logs, clothing inventories, client case notes, etc.
• Document all incidents during the shift as required and update the shift staff and resident specific exchange notes, significant incident/child-level event reports, and any other reporting tools provided.
• Inspect and maintain the cottage's cleanliness, including resident rooms and communal spaces, which includes logging oven cleanliness, drier and washer cleanliness, and refrigerator temperatures.
• Always maintains a professional approach with clients, colleagues, placement workers, and supervisors, as demonstrated by demeanor and adherence to dress code and code of conduct.
• Document the youth’s progress, identifying any possible need for professional services, and communicate such findings to treatment staff in a legible, professional, and timely manner. Participates in and/or conducts cottage group meetings and documents meeting content.
• Conduct daily living groups and write cottage reports for residents’ Treatment Plans.
• Understand and communicate policies and practices related to patient’s rights.
• Completes Special Incident/Unusual Occurrence Reports as mandated by ORR and State Licensing requirements and understands/demonstrates the requirement of reporting suspected abuse and/or mistreatment of youth under their care.
• Takes part in crisis intervention/de-escalation of residents using CPI and Risking Connections learning skills.
• Demonstrates an understanding and practice of relationship-based treatment, strength-based, Trauma-informed, and culturally/LGBTQ-sensitive approach in working with youth while 

What you bring to VDM

• A high school diploma is required, and a BA or BS degree is preferred.
• One year of experience in a similar environment is preferred.
• Able to interrupt physical and verbal altercations among residents using training from the CPI-Nonviolent Crisis Intervention and de-escalation skills, provide support and care via a trauma-informed lens acquired from TSI- Risking Connections training, administer CPR/First Aid, perform.
• Basic lifting and housekeeping duties and operate a motor vehicle.
• Bilingual in any language preferred.
• Be at least 21 years old.

Pay Range - $17.68 - $24.21 / hour

What Can We Offer You for All Your Hard Work

• Full benefits offered (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• FSA/Dependent Care and Supplemental benefits through The Standard
• 403 (b) - 3% Employer contribution based off annual salary
• 4 Mental Health Days
• Up to 12 Paid Holidays
• Up to 25% for Cell Phone Discounts with 3 Major Carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint)

Vista Del Mar’s Credentials:

Our nationally recognized clinical programs have been awarded a Gold Seal by the Joint Commission, the highest level of accreditation possible. In addition, our educational facilities are fully accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and our graduate degree program is recognized worldwide for its high quality of instructions.

Equal Employment Statement

Vista Del Mar is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. Therefore, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Vista Del Mar will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations as part of this commitment.