Youth Care Worker

General Purpose

The Youth Care Worker (Juvenile Correctional Officer) position is responsible for the care and custody of children and youth who have been alleged and/or adjudicated delinquent and are residents of the Northampton County Juvenile Justice Center.

Supervision Received

This position reports directly to the Juvenile Justice Center Supervisor and/or higher level official in the County Juvenile Detention Facility.

Supervision Exercised

This position exercises no supervision over other employees.

Essential Duties of the Position

• Provides for the care, activity and security for children and youth in the County Juvenile Justice Center.
• Provides supervision, structure, and control of the residents throughout their daily routines.
• Communicates with children and youth, discussing their concerns and interests to attempt to alleviate any adjustment or behavior problems.
• Plans, conducts and participates in resident activities, including but not limited to instructional or recreational activities.
• Inspects children and youth upon admission for cleanliness, freedom from disease and injuries.
• Processes admissions, intakes, and discharges accompanied by conducting pat and/or strip searches during this process, and on an as needed basis.
• Screens rooms and other facility areas for contraband.
• Reacts to crisis situations in the facility, deescalating with residents and separating and/or implementing physical interventions or individual processing when necessary.
• Transports and accompanies children and youth to other institutions, clinics, and foster homes.
• Affords assessments of issues of difficulty or potential problems and provides reports and recommends solutions to higher level staff.
• Completes appropriate admission and discharge forms for residents.
• Maintains records of shift activities, incidents and writes reporting concerning resident behavior.
• May assist with orienting newly hired Youth Care Worker staff.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Completion of sixty (60) college credits at an accredited college or university in Social or Behavioral Sciences, or a related field of study; OR at least one (1) year of full-time professional work experience with children in programs for juvenile offenders, corrections, law enforcement, residential and/or congregate care settings, residential treatment facilities, or inpatient behavioral/mental health programs.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of the care, custody and control of delinquent youth in an institutional setting; knowledge of the effects of institutionalization on the attitudes of children and youth, and social processes among them; knowledge of the growth stages of children and youth, including social, emotional and mental development through the teenage years; skill in communicating with children and youth alleged and/or adjudicated delinquent on personally sensitive or confidential issues; ability to supervise the activities of children and youth in custody, ensuring their safety and security; ability to use physical techniques to control residents, typically between the ages of 16 - 18 years of age; ability to establish and maintain understanding and effective relationships with facility residents, including children and youth with social and emotional problems; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with family members, representatives of law enforcement and court systems; ability to maintain records and prepare reports; ability to read, write, speak, understand and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position; must be available to work shifts on a twenty-four (24) hour, seven (7) days a week schedule.
• Tools and Equipment: Telephone or cell phone, personal computer (including word processing and job related software), calculator, fax machine, copy machine, radio and handcuffs.
• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. While performing the duties of this job the employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds, while physically restraining a resident. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment varies.

Selection Guidelines

• Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.

FLSA Status

FLSA NON-EXEMPT (ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME)

Designation

CAREER SERVICE

PAY GRADE

YC-18

Union Status

AFSCME YOUTH DETENTION CENTER UNIT