The posting
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.
Essential Job Duties (other duties may be assigned): 1. Constant supervision, protection and care of youth, individually and in groups at all times in a manner consistent with their personal rights, to ensure safety within a trauma informed framework. 2. Work as a part of the treatment team to help youth in the development of various skills including social, vocational, educational, hygiene and other skills. 3. In collaboration with the VH team, develop and implement various activities for the youth. 4. In collaboration with the VDM team, develop and implement various activities for the youth. 5. Demonstrates an understanding and practice of relationship-based treatment, strengthbased, Trauma-informed, and culturally/LGBTQ-sensitive approach in working with youth while administering appropriate and effective interventions and sets limits for behavior per agency policy. 6. Maintains a professional approach at all times with clients, colleagues, placement workers and supervisor, as demonstrated by demeanor and adherence to dress code. 7. Provide basic needs to UC youth upon arrival to the program (to include but not limited to meal, clothing, hygiene products, shower and bedroom assignment). 8. Serves as an effective advocate for all youth in placement and understands/demonstrates the requirement of reporting suspected abuse and/or mistreatment of youth under their care (this includes and is not limited to physical abuse and verbal abuse). 9. Ensures that youth receive medical treatment when injured and follows internal protocols for involving Health Center personnel for support and intervention. 10. Documents the youth’s progress, identifying any possible need for professional services and communicates such findings to professional staff in a legible, professional, and timely manner. 11. Actively supervises, protects and cares for residents individually and in groups. 12. Purchases and cares for residents’ clothing. 13. Orders food, repairs, etc. 14. Is responsible for agency vehicles under their care and signing in and out of the vehicle log sheet (F_VF_ Daily Vehicle Use Log). Drives residents in agency vehicles as requested. 15. Inspects and maintains the cleanliness of the cottage. 16. Participates in and/or conducts cottage group meetings, and documents meeting content. 17. Completes the F_DC_ Client Daily Log (blue sheet) when assigned to do so. 18. Completes individual chart notes per agency policy and procedure. 19. Carries out monthly fire drills as assigned by direct Care Staff (YDC) Supervisors. 20. Escorts and closely supervises youth at all times (unless a team meeting dictates otherwise and is reflected in the Needs and Services Plan [NSP]), on-campus and during off-site appointments and outings; 21. Understands and communicates policies and practicesrelated to patient’s rights. 22. In collaboration with the VDM team, develop and implement various activities for the youth. 23. Writes cottage reports for their assigned primary resident’s Treatment Plan Reviews, to be completed a week before any scheduled conference (reports should be given to the resident’s assigned clinician before the Treatment Plan Review) 24. Completes Special Incident/Unusual Occurrence Reports (F_VDM_SIR-UOR) as mandated by licensing requirements. 25. Assists residents with strengthening their daily living skills. 26. Takes part in crisis intervention/de-escalation of residents which may involve physical restraint. 27. Is able to form meaningful interdepartmental relationships. 28. Establishes effective counselor – client relationships. 29. Meets training requirements (40 hours in-service training per year, CPR, First Aid, Pro-ACT)/CTI. 30. Supports others in their interaction with residents, such as in school or activity groups. 31. Other related duties as assigned to ensure health and safety of the youth. Secondary Duties: 1. Assists with New Hire Orientation as delegated by the Program Director and/or Direct Care Staff (YDC). 2. Is responsible for money distribution. 3. Assists youth and staff to participate in centralized unit and cottage-based programs, such as therapeutic activities, religious activities, etc. 4. Integrates school involvement with the milieu functioning (i.e., attendance at/participation in school community meetings, school open houses, etc.). 5. May be required to participate in committees, agency meetings, and other functions as related to the overall needs of the institution. Qualifications Required: To perform this job successfully, the applicant must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required; reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 1. Experienced in residential care preferred. 2. Be at least 21 years old. 3. Preferred bilingual in Spanish. 4. Is physically able to perform Pro-ACT, a physical technique to control aggressive behavior; administers First Aid/CPR and is able to operate an agency motor vehicle. 5. Able to hear and verbally communicate with others. 6. Able to independently perform light housekeeping tasks, including cleaning, meal preparation, laundering, bed making and vacuuming. 7. Able to independently use a computer and learn necessary computer programs. 8. Able to work independently and organize multiple projects with minimum supervision 9. Able to work as a team member. 10. Able to maintain the highest level of confidentiality and professional boundaries with clients and staff. 11. Able represent the agency professionally and appropriately with all constituencies.
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.
