Youth Services Worker

About the role

Working with the Division of Youth Services involves creating a safe, therapeutic, and educational environment for youth in day treatment and residential programs. This position requires empathy, professionalism, and strong communication skills to support youth in care.

Responsibilities

• Provide Awareness Supervision to youth, ensuring their personal conduct, care, and therapy.
• Monitor activity, behavior, and movement of youth within residential/day treatment settings or while escorting them off grounds; perform physical counts as necessary.
• Maintain security, including intervention and/or participation in physical restraints during emergencies or altercations to prevent escapes and gain control of youth.
• Supervise youth during work activities, recreational and religious activities, and conduct inspections for health and safety hazards.
• Assist youth with personal issues and refer them to the group in accordance with program principles.
• Observe and report significant behavioral conditions of individuals or groups to staff daily.
• Implement group and individual treatment plans.
• Maintain professional boundaries, modeling respectful and professional behavior at all times.
• Interact positively with youth, families, co-workers, management, and the public.
• Prepare reports on each client’s adjustment and progress; maintain youth records.
• Dispense medications to youth and intervene in medical emergencies, including performing first-aid and CPR.
• Transport and escort youth in everyday and emergency situations.
• Work shifts and attend mandatory meetings during evening, overnight, or daytime hours as assigned; respond to facility emergencies.
• Report all hours worked and absences accurately; log work time daily and submit timesheets as directed.
• Assist in the educational program as needed.
• Perform other assigned tasks.

Awareness Supervision is defined as the ability to see, be seen by, hear, and be heard by youth at all times to enable swift, appropriate responses.

Requirements

• Sixty or more earned credit hours from an accredited college or university, with a minimum of six 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. (Earned credit hours may substitute for experience at a rate of 30 credit hours for one year, up to a maximum of three years.)
• Possession of a valid driver’s license.
• 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

• 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 cooperation of youth in the treatment process.

Pay

The current rate for this position is $1,770.90 - $1,953.62 semi-monthly. Selected individuals may receive a higher rate based on pay differentials (e.g., shift or time-of-service pay). Some positions working qualifying evening or night shifts in a residential facility receive a $2.00 per hour shift differential.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid holidays.
• Cafeteria plans.
• Retirement (defined pension plan).
• Generous leave and holiday time.