Youth Services Worker

About the role

You will be working with staff to create a safe, therapeutic, and educational environment for youth in our day treatment and residential programs. To succeed in this position you will need to be empathetic, nonjudgmental, cooperative, encouraging, able-bodied, professional, and respectful; you must be able to communicate clearly, honestly and openly.

Responsibilities

• Provide Awareness Supervision to youth, with responsibility for their personal conduct, care, and therapy.
• Monitor activity, behavior, and movement of youth both within a residential/day treatment setting or while escorting youth off grounds; performing physical counts as necessary.
• Maintain security, including intervention and/or participate fully in physical restraints of youth during emergencies or altercations to prevent escapes and gain physical control of youth.
• Supervise youth in residential/day treatment facilities in the performance of work activities and during recreational and religious activities; conducts inspections for health and safety hazards.
• Absorb and refer issues to the group in accordance with the principles of the program.
• Observe and keep staff informed daily of significant behavioral conditions known about an individual and/or the group.
• Implement group and individual treatment plans.
• Maintain professional boundaries, modeling a reasonable, respectful, and professional demeanor at all times.
• Interact positively with youth, families, co-workers, management, and the public.
• Prepare reports regarding each client's adjustment and progress; maintain youth records.
• Dispense medications to youth.
• Intervene in youth medical emergencies defined as the ability to perform first-aid interventions for youth including, but not limited to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
• Transport and escort youth in everyday and emergency situations.
• Work on shifts and attend mandatory meetings during the evening, overnight, or daytime hours as assigned by the supervisor and respond to facility emergencies.
• Report all hours worked and absences accurately and in accordance with attendance policies and facility guidelines.
• Log work time daily in accordance with policy and submit timesheets to supervisor as directed.
• Auxiliary in the educational program.

Requirements

• Sixty or more earned credit hours from an accredited college or university with a minimum of six earned credit hours in one or a combination of the following: Counseling, Criminal Justice, Education, Psychology, Sociology, or Social Work.
• OR 2-4 years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of individual and group behavior.
• Knowledge of child development and the role of the family.
• Knowledge of the causes of juvenile delinquency and current methods of youth treatment.
• Ability to work with youth and family members.
• Ability to foster the cooperation of youth in the treatment process.
• Ability to physically respond appropriately to work situations or emergencies.
• Ability to learn verbal and physical crisis intervention/de-escalation techniques and emergency treatment procedures.
• Ability to transport youth and travel as necessary.

Skills

• Ability to communicate clearly, honestly and openly.
• Ability to intervene in youth medical emergencies.
• Ability to perform first-aid interventions for youth.
• Ability to transport youth.
• Ability to log work time.
• Ability to prepare reports.
• Ability to dispense medications.
• Ability to implement treatment plans.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries.
• Ability to interact positively with youth, families, co-workers, management, and the public.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, paid holidays, cafeteria plans, retirement, and more.
• Shift differential for some positions working qualifying evening or night shifts in a residential facility setting ($2.00 per hour).

Pay

The current rate for this position is $1,770.90 - $1,953.62 semi-monthly. Individual(s) selected for this position may receive a higher rate based on a pay differential (e.g. shift, or time-of-service pay).

Schedule

Employees may work shifts and attend mandatory meetings during the evening, overnight, or daytime hours as assigned by the supervisor and respond to facility emergencies.

Special Requirements

• Possession of a valid driver’s license.

Additional Information

Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees.

If you experience an accessibility issue while applying at mocareers.mo.gov, please contact courtney.a.hall@dss.mo.gov or call 573-526-0416.

If you have questions about this position please contact: hrc@dss.mo.gov.

All are encouraged to apply as locations may continue to become available.