L.O.S.T., Inc. - Let's Overcome Struggle Together is seeking a compassionate, highly organized, and experienced Child Welfare Supervisor / Residential Program Supervisor to provide direct leadership and oversight for the S.H.E. Home - Sisterhood Healing Empowerment Program . The S.H.E. Home is a trauma-informed residential program serving adolescent girls who may have experienced trauma, family disruption, placement instability, behavioral health challenges, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other significant life circumstances. The Child Welfare Supervisor plays a critical leadership role in ensuring that every youth receives safe, structured, therapeutic, individualized, and developmentally appropriate care. This position is responsible for supervising Residential Counselors and direct-care staff, coordinating daily residential operations, maintaining regulatory compliance, supporting treatment and service-plan implementation, overseeing documentation, responding to crises, and ensuring that the S.H.E. Home consistently maintains the highest standards of care. The Supervisor works closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director, Program Administrator, clinical team, nursing staff, case management staff, Residential Counselors, S.H.E. Retreat staff, families, schools, community providers, and child welfare partners. Our goal is not simply to provide housing. The S.H.E. Home is designed to create an environment where young women experience safety, healing, accountability, sisterhood, opportunity, leadership development, and preparation for successful adulthood. Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesResidential Program Supervision Provide day-to-day supervision and leadership of Residential Counselors, Youth Care Workers, relief staff, and other assigned direct-care personnel. Ensure appropriate staff coverage and supervision of youth 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Monitor staff-to-youth ratios and ensure staffing assignments comply with applicable L.O.S.T., Inc., DCFS, contractual, and licensing requirements. Review staffing schedules, shift assignments, call-offs, overtime needs, and coverage requirements. Conduct shift briefings and ensure staff understand significant youth needs, appointments, activities, behavioral concerns, safety issues, and upcoming program responsibilities. Maintain an active leadership presence throughout the residential program rather than functioning solely from an administrative office. Observe staff interactions with youth and provide immediate coaching when necessary. Promote consistency between day, evening, overnight, weekend, and relief staff. Youth Safety, Supervision and Well-Being Ensure the safety, supervision, dignity, and well-being of every youth residing in the S.H.E. Home. Maintain awareness of each youth's individual service plan, safety plan, behavioral support needs, educational needs, medical needs, family circumstances, and identified risk factors. Ensure staff understand and follow individualized youth supervision requirements.

Monitor daily routines including:

Wake-up and bedtime routines School attendance Transportation Meals Medication coordination Recreation Therapy Community activities Family engagement Visitation Independent-living activities Household responsibilities Evening programming Ensure youth are treated respectfully and never subjected to humiliation, retaliation, intimidation, inappropriate discipline, discrimination, abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Promote an environment in which youth feel physically and emotionally safe. Trauma-Informed Care Promote a trauma-informed, strengths-based, youth-centered approach throughout the residential program. Ensure staff understand that challenging behaviors may be connected to trauma, fear, loss, disrupted attachment, developmental needs, or previous adverse experiences. Support the use of appropriate interventions including: De-escalation Emotional regulation Positive reinforcement Conflict resolution Restorative conversations Coping skills Problem-solving DBT-informed skills CBT-informed strategies Trauma-responsive interventions Help staff distinguish between punishment and therapeutic accountability. Encourage youth participation in decision-making whenever appropriate. Reinforce the S.H.E. philosophy of Sisterhood, Healing and Empowerment. Crisis Intervention and Incident Management Provide leadership during behavioral, medical, psychiatric, environmental, or safety emergencies. Assist staff with crisis stabilization and appropriate de-escalation techniques.

Respond appropriately to incidents involving:

Youth AWOL/runaway Aggressive behavior Self-harm concerns Suicidal statements or behaviors Medical emergencies Family conflicts Community incidents Missing youth Allegations of abuse or neglect Medication concerns Unauthorized visitors Substance-related concerns Safety threats Ensure required notifications are completed promptly following serious incidents. Review incident reports for completeness, accuracy, professionalism, and required follow-up. Participate in post-incident reviews to identify contributing factors and opportunities for improvement. Ensure corrective action occurs when staff fail to follow safety or emergency procedures. Staff Supervision Provide structured supervision to assigned Residential Counselors and support staff. Conduct regular individual supervision meetings. Lead residential team meetings. Establish performance expectations and hold employees accountable for meeting those expectations. Evaluate staff performance and provide recommendations regarding: Coaching Retraining Corrective action Recognition Promotion Performance improvement plans Address attendance, professionalism, communication, documentation, boundaries, and performance concerns promptly. Promote teamwork and professional communication among employees. Ensure staff maintain appropriate professional boundaries with youth and families. Assist leadership with interviews, onboarding, training, evaluation, and retention of residential staff. Staff Training and Development Ensure staff complete all required orientation and ongoing training.

Reinforce training in areas including:

Trauma-informed care Crisis intervention Mandated reporting CPR/First Aid/AED Medication procedures Bloodborne pathogens Confidentiality Youth rights Professional boundaries Documentation Emergency procedures Transportation safety Suicide awareness Abuse and neglect prevention Cultural responsiveness De-escalation Behavior support Conduct coaching and skills reinforcement during normal program operations. Identify training needs based upon staff performance and program incidents. DCFS and Regulatory Compliance Assist the Executive Director and Program Administrator in maintaining compliance with applicable Illinois Department of Children and Family Services requirements. Support compliance with applicable requirements under Illinois DCFS Rule 403 , agency policies, contracts, licensing standards, and other governing requirements. Ensure direct-care operations follow approved agency policies and procedures. Maintain readiness for announced and unannounced monitoring visits, inspections, licensing reviews, and quality-assurance reviews. Immediately report potential compliance issues to senior leadership. Assist with corrective action plans when deficiencies are identified. Ensure required postings, emergency information, youth rights information, logs, and documentation remain current. Documentation and Recordkeeping The Child Welfare Supervisor is responsible for ensuring high-quality documentation throughout the residential program.

Responsibilities include reviewing or monitoring:

Daily shift notes Youth progress notes Behavior documentation Medication records Incident reports Transportation logs Visitor logs Appointment records School-related documentation Activity documentation House meeting documentation Attendance records Emergency drill logs Staff communication logs Youth supervision documentation Community outing documentation Therapeutic activity documentation Documentation must be accurate, timely, objective, professional, confidential, and consistent with regulatory and organizational requirements. Case Coordination Participate in meetings regarding youth progress, placement stability, treatment, education, family engagement, behavior, safety, and discharge planning. Communicate significant concerns promptly to the Program Administrator and appropriate members of the treatment team.

Coordinate with:

Case managers Therapists Clinical staff Nurses Schools Families Guardians Child welfare professionals Medical providers Community organizations Ensure residential staff understand changes to youth plans and expectations. S.H.E. Retreat Coordination The Supervisor will help coordinate residential participation in activities offered through the S.H.E. Retreat & Empowerment Hub .

Programs may include:

Individual and group therapy Family engagement Supervised visitation Life-skills education Leadership development Youth House Council Art and creative expression Health and wellness programs Mentoring Employment readiness Financial literacy Cooking and nutrition Etiquette Self-care Entrepreneurship Community service Recreational activities Therapeutic outings Cultural experiences The Supervisor will help ensure activities complement each youth's individualized goals rather than functioning solely as recreation. Independent Living and Youth Development Promote youth independence while maintaining appropriate supervision. Ensure Residential Counselors actively teach daily living skills.

Skills may include:

Cooking Cleaning Laundry Personal hygiene Budgeting Banking Transportation Time management Employment readiness Resume preparation Interview skills Communication Conflict resolution Healthy relationships Community safety Self-advocacy Encourage youth to develop leadership abilities and personal accountability. Youth Voice and House Governance Support meaningful youth participation in the operation and culture of the S.H.E. Home. Facilitate or supervise youth House Council meetings. Encourage residents to identify concerns and recommend improvements. Teach youth appropriate advocacy and leadership. Ensure grievances and complaints are handled respectfully and according to policy. Promote a residential environment where youth understand that their voices matter. Family Engagement Encourage appropriate family involvement whenever consistent with the youth's service plan. Assist with coordinating visits, family meetings, transportation, and supervised visitation. Encourage professional and respectful communication between staff and families. Support reunification, permanency, and healthy relationship development when appropriate. Education Monitor school attendance and educational participation. Work with staff to ensure youth arrive at school or educational programming on time and prepared. Address patterns of truancy, school refusal, suspension, behavioral difficulties, or academic concerns. Communicate educational concerns to appropriate leadership and case team members. Encourage educational achievement, graduation, GED completion, vocational training, and post-secondary planning. Medication and Health Coordination The Supervisor does not replace licensed nursing personnel but helps ensure staff follow established medical and medication procedures.

Responsibilities include:

Monitoring medication administration documentation. Ensuring medication concerns are immediately communicated to nursing or authorized medical personnel. Ensuring youth attend required medical, dental, behavioral health, and psychiatric appointments. Ensuring medical recommendations are communicated appropriately to the residential team. Protecting the confidentiality of health information. Transportation and Community Activities Monitor transportation practices involving youth. Verify authorized staff are operating agency vehicles. Ensure community outings are properly planned and documented. Confirm staff understand destination, supervision expectations, emergency procedures, youth needs, and return times. Support therapeutic outings, educational activities, recreational activities, cultural experiences, and approved travel. Program Quality Improvement Regularly review residential program performance and recommend improvements. Identify patterns in incidents, grievances, staff performance, documentation, youth behaviors, or program operations. Participate in quality-improvement initiatives. Assist leadership with identifying measurable outcomes.

Support efforts to improve:

Youth safety Placement stability Youth satisfaction Staff retention Education Family engagement Behavioral outcomes Independent-living skills Documentation quality Regulatory compliance Administrative Responsibilities Maintain organized records and supervisory documentation. Prepare reports requested by senior leadership. Utilize Microsoft Office and approved agency systems for administrative responsibilities. Monitor residential supplies and communicate purchasing needs. Assist with maintaining appropriate inventory. Participate in budget awareness and responsible use of program resources. Ensure purchases and expenditures follow L.O.S.T., Inc. authorization procedures. Minimum Qualifications Candidates should demonstrate experience in child welfare, residential services, behavioral health, developmental disabilities, social services, juvenile services, community services, or a related human-services environment.

Preferred qualifications include:

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Counseling, Education, Public Administration, or a related field. Relevant supervisory experience in residential child welfare, behavioral health, social services, developmental disability services, or related settings. Experience supervising direct-care personnel. Knowledge of trauma-informed care. Knowledge of adolescent development. Strong crisis-management and conflict-resolution abilities. Strong documentation and report-writing skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a residential environment. Experience working with underserved populations. Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills. Knowledge of child welfare regulatory requirements. Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams. Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Preferred Experience Preference may be given to candidates with experience involving: Illinois DCFS programs Residential group homes Adolescent girls Trauma-informed residential care Child welfare Behavioral health Youth in foster care Crisis intervention Developmental or behavioral disabilities Family engagement Medicaid-funded behavioral health programs Staff training Quality assurance Residential licensing and compliance Professional Expectations The successful candidate must demonstrate: Leadership Integrity Compassion Accountability Professional boundaries Emotional maturity Reliability Organization Sound judgment Excellent communication Cultural awareness Respect for youth and families Ability to remain calm during emergencies Commitment to continuous improvement The Supervisor must be able to lead staff firmly while maintaining a supportive and professional workplace culture. Work Environment This position operates within a 24-hour residential child welfare environment. The Supervisor must understand that residential services may require leadership involvement outside of traditional business hours. Availability may occasionally be required during: Evenings Weekends Holidays Emergencies Staff call-offs Critical incidents Licensing or regulatory matters Participation in an on-call leadership rotation may be required. Our Philosophy At L.O.S.T., Inc., we believe youth deserve more than placement. They deserve a place where they are heard, protected, challenged, encouraged, educated, supported, and prepared to succeed. Through the S.H.E. Home and S.H.E. Retreat, our goal is to build a model of residential care focused on: Sisterhood. Healing. Empowerment. Safety. Accountability. Opportunity. Leadership. Permanency. The Child Welfare Supervisor is one of the most important leaders responsible for bringing that mission to life every day. Position Child Welfare Supervisor /

Residential Program Supervisor Organization:

L.O.S.T., Inc. -

Let's Overcome Struggle Together Program:

S.H.E. Home -

Sisterhood Healing Empowerment Employment Type:

Full-Time Department:

Residential Child Welfare Services Reports To:

Program Administrator /

Executive Director Supervises:

Residential Counselors, Youth Care Workers, Relief Staff, and other assigned residential personnel L.O.S.T., Inc. is committed to creating an inclusive professional environment and providing high-quality, compassionate services to children, youth, families, and communities. I would use "Child Welfare Supervisor / Residential Program Supervisor - S.H.E. Home" as the public job-posting title because it makes clear that this is not simply an office supervisor—it is the person responsible for the day-to-day leadership and quality of the residential program.

Pay:

$51,435.17 - $68,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Employee assistance program Employee discount Flexible schedule Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Loan assistance Loan forgiveness Paid time off Parental leave Professional development assistance Referral program Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person