MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL

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Houseparent Job Description

The Houseparent job description includes the following essential functions:

  • Nurturing, Education, and Parenting Students
  • Facility and Office Management
  • Program Development
  • Professional Development

More detailed information for each responsibility area is listed below. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.0 — Nurturing, Educating, and Parenting Students (60%)

1.1— Demonstrates ability to nurture each student entrusted to their care consistent with the "Collaborative Parenting Style" established in the MHS Parenting Model by:

    1. establishing trust,
    2. advocating for students' best interest,
    3. mentoring students,
    4. developing strong, mutually respectful relationships,
    5. providing consistent emotional support through praise, affection, empathy, and recognizing student achievement,
    6. advising students through personal problems,
    7. listening to students' thoughts, feelings, concerns, and problems,
    8. creating a family style environment by establishing student home family rituals and traditions,
    9. helping students in developing relationships,
    10. maintaining students' dignity and self-esteem,
    11. providing opportunities for students to develop personal maturity through developmentally appropriate freedoms and responsibilities,
    12. maintaining confidentiality of sensitive materials according to the MHS Confidentiality Policy,
    13. supporting students by attending as many functions that involve their students as practical, and
    14. supporting students through participation in the Intramural Program.

1.2 — Fosters relationships between students and their families of origin by:

    1. orienting students and their families to the student home upon enrollment and counseling regarding possible separation issues,
    2. providing opportunities for and promoting interaction with siblings,
    3. participating in parent conferences when necessary,
    4. communicating with the family of origin regarding student’s progress, accomplishments, growth areas, and concerns about the student,
    5. consulting with the family of origin, when appropriate, and involving them in decision- making concerning the student’s care.

1.3 — Protects the rights and dignity of individual students by:

    1. making decisions based on the best interest of students,
    2. supporting the ethical treatment of all students,
    3. serving as a direct link to students in cases of student's rights violations, and
    4. promoting problem solving and relationship development between students.

1.4 — Attends to students' health care needs by:

    1. recognizing students' health care needs and referring to medical services when appropriate,
    2. maintaining and securing prescription and non-prescription medications as well as other medical/first aid supplies,
    3. implementing prescribed/suggested medical treatments as practical within a group living situation,
    4. administering medical treatments as prescribed as practical within a group living situation,
    5. maintaining accurate student home health care records.

1.5 — Attends to students' mental health needs by:

    1. reporting signs of student abuse, depression, and suicide ideation to psychological services,
    2. maintaining students' dignity and self–esteem,
    3. recognizing and supporting students in bereavement and separation issues, and
    4. listening actively to students' thoughts, feelings, concerns, and problems, and counsels, when appropriate.

1.6 — Attends to the moral, spiritual, and character development of students by:

    1. is responsible to the spiritual needs of the student by making appropriate referrals,
    2. assisting students in learning about various faiths,
    3. teaching and modeling values related to sound moral and character development,
    4. leading daily devotions and prayer at meals consistent with the religious heritage of MHS and the Office of Religious Programs,
    5. teaching and role-modeling appropriate choices in movies, music, and television programs, and
    6. support students' attendance at the community church of their faith.

1.7 — Teaches social, self-help, life-long learning, and basic life skills by:

    1. implementing the designated divisional social and life skills program,
    2. teaching developmentally appropriate decision-making and critical thinking strategies,
    3. providing a supportive and flexible structure from which students learn responsibility, problem solving, and time management,
    4. providing opportunities for students to practice and demonstrate learned skills including manners, conflict resolution, budgeting, and cooperation and teamwork,
    5. teaching students to develop a positive peer culture through helping relationships,
    6. facilitating students' development of individual and student home goals and objectives,
    7. teaching students developmentally appropriate leadership and communication skills, and
    8. encouraging individuality and creative thinking from students.

1.8 — Facilitates student scholastic achievement by:

    1. providing a structured learning environment and assisting with homework when necessary,
    2. teaching and modeling appropriate study skills,
    3. assessing students' school grades and performance and implementing additional learning support when necessary,
    4. communicating with teachers on a regular basis, and
    5. counseling and preparing students for post-secondary education and/or careers.

1.9 — Manages and evaluates the students' individualized goal attainment through established methods as identified in each Division:

    1. stressing the importance of setting goals, evaluating progress, developing a strong work ethic, following through and remaining committed,
    2. collaborating with others to decide how best to help each child reach their best potential, and
    3. participating in overall assessment of students.

1.10 — Attends to students' personal safety by:

    1. being aware of student location,
    2. being aware of and attentive to warning signs of emotional distress,
    3. maintaining an accurate visiting roster,
    4. adhering to the established visiting policy, and
    5. supporting overall campus supervision.

1.11 — Facilitates student leisure and recreational activities by:

    1. teaching students to make leisure activity choices,
    2. planning for and leading students on educational and/or recreational trips and/or activities,
    3. facilitating student home activities,
    4. participating in divisional and/or school activities, and
    5. encouraging and supporting students' involvement in MHS community activities.

1.12 — Teaches students healthy lifestyles by:

    1. teaching, coaching, and modeling personal hygiene,
    2. planning, participating, and involving students in regular physical activity,
    3. teaching students to choose and prepare nutritious meals and snacks,
    4. educating and counseling students on dating relationships, human sexuality, and drug and alcohol issues, and
    5. making referrals to appropriate student support services when necessary.

1.13 — Teaches students to exhibit behaviors and values deemed appropriate for a member of the MHS community through:

    1. displaying appropriate modeling,
    2. maintaining personal self-control,
    3. respecting and appreciating diversity, and
    4. modeling positive marriage relationships.

1.14 — Establishes and maintains a developmentally appropriate behavior management system by:

    1. managing student behavior in the home, MHS community, and public,
    2. collaborating with students in developing student home rules and regulations,
    3. effectively utilizing Therapeutic Crisis Intervention skills to prevent and/or deescalate intense situations while maintaining the dignity and respect of the student,
    4. holding students accountable by delivering natural and logical consequences and using corrective teaching,
    5. implementing the school's uniform discipline policy, determining minor infractions and consequences, and consulting with Home Life staff regarding serious offenses,
    6. utilizing modules from level 1 houseparent certification such as active listening, pro-active teaching, corrective teaching, and self-awareness,
    7. utilizing a consistent incentive system that reinforces and rewards student appropriate behavior, and
    8. collaborating with Home Life, other MHS departments, and outside agencies to develop strategies to effectively manage student behavior.

2.0 — Facility and Office Management (20%)

2.1 — Responsible for managing and maintaining the student home facility by (requires the use of stairs by the employee):

    1. ensuring a safe, secure, and clean environment by conducting daily home inspection,
    2. performing minor home maintenance and submitting work orders when necessary,
    3. conducting monthly fire drills and reviewing emergency exit plan with students,
    4. maintaining and organizing student home inventories, and
    5. maintaining OSHA, first aid and universal precaution guidelines and procedures.

2.2 — Facilitates, coordinates, and provides student transportation needs by:

    1. transporting students to student home and divisional and school activities,
    2. performing minor vehicle maintenance and submitting work orders when necessary, and,
    3. transporting students to off-campus public transportation facilities for breaks.

2.3 — Manages and maintains the student home by:

    1. developing and coordinating students' and student home schedules by consulting all published school schedules, bulletins, and medical, dental, and psychological appointments, e-mails, voicemails, and School grapevines,
    2. preparing student home schedule and instructions for relief and training couples,
    3. dveloping and managing student home budgets, and
    4. maintaining food and supply inventories. 

2.4 — Manages and maintains the student home office by:

    1. completing all student performance reports, monthly fire drill reports, break and weekend papers, incident reports, purchase orders, weekly menus, YRE paperwork visitation registry, accident reports, chore documentation,
    2. utilizing available technology by:
      1. corresponding via e-mail, 
      2. proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, SASI, Filemaker Pro, Groupwise, and IT/SPT forms on the intranet
    3. maintaining accurate student records from scholastic, medical, psychological, Home Life and other internal/external departments and agencies.  

3.0 — Program Development (10%)

3.1 — Implementing and maintaining individualized student programs including:

    1. facilitating and participating in Service Provider Teams and collaborating to develop and implement an individualized plan,
    2. collaborating and/or implementing individual behavioral management programs for students as necessary, and
    3. implementing individual community restitution/responsibility programs in collaboration with internal departments and external agencies.

3.2 — Implementing and maintaining student home programs including:

    1. implementing a student home motivation/incentive system,
    2. implementation of divisional initiatives,
    3. implementing a life skills program,
    4. developing and/or implementing a student home chore program,
    5. planning and facilitating regular family meetings to discuss issues such as student home trips, community service projects, and student home programs,
    6. collaborating with students to plan nutritional menus,
    7. implementing a social skills program,
    8. maintaining student home and relief handbooks,
    9. developing a student home orientation program for new students and parents/sponsors,
    10. implementing a student home government and leadership program in accordance with guidelines from the office of Student Life and Leadership, and
    11. maintaining, teaching, and modeling a safety program including universal safety recautions, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and driver safety.

4.0 — Professional Development (10%)

4.1 — Achieves and maintains Milton Hershey School Professional Houseparent Certification by:

    1. participating in and reaching minimum standards of the MHS Professional Houseparent Certification Program (Level 1),
    2. participating in a minimum of 40 hours of ongoing training, development, and educational activity annually,
    3. reading and researching information pertinent to parenting skills and student development,
    4. setting/meeting annual professional development goals,
    5. evaluating self performance in collaboration with supervisor(s), and
    6. soliciting and implementing feedback on job performance and professional behavior.

4.2 — Assists in the professional development and support of MHS employees by:

    1. mentoring and coaching houseparents in training and other full-time houseparents,
    2. training and coaching relief houseparents,
    3. participating in meetings and committees for professional development, and
    4. modeling the sacred values of MHS.