Youth Support Specialist

About the role

The Youth Support Specialist (YSS) reports directly to the Youth Support Coordinator 2 (YSC2) or Community Multiservice Office (CMSO) Supervisor. The YSS provides assistance to the Youth Support Coordinator I as they manage youth who are in the custody of OCFS. The YSS will engage youth and families in residential settings and provide support and transportation as needed. The YSS is charged with providing assistance in efforts to engage youth in community programs, the monitoring of youth attendance in community programs, school and other academic programs, as well as curfew checks. In addition, the CMSO YSS is required to be flexible in this role as they will be required to take on a variety of tasks that assist the efficient functioning of each CMSO office. These positions exist in limited secure and residential programs operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Anticipated vacancies are located throughout the state. The nature of this position requires shift, weekend, holidays, and overtime assignment, including mandatory overtime.

Responsibilities

• Engage youth and families in residential settings
• Provide support and transportation as needed
• Assist in efforts to engage youth in community programs
• Monitor youth attendance in community programs, school, and other academic programs
• Conduct curfew checks
• Perform a variety of tasks to assist the efficient functioning of CMSO offices
• Provide supervision at youth medical appointments, intramural games, extracurricular activities, or other events (some intrastate travel required)
• Act to ensure the health and safety of youth and staff, which may include use of approved physical restraint techniques

Training Requirements

• Attend a 2-week Juvenile Justice Basic Training orientation
• Be proficient in OCFS-approved physical skills and youth restraint techniques (training given two times a year for eight hours total)
• Complete NYS employee mandated annual trainings
• Complete other annual training refreshers

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications (one of the following):

• Two years full-time direct care experience* in the care and programming of youth from ages 6–21; OR
• A Bachelor’s degree; OR
• An Associate’s degree AND six months experience; OR
• A high school graduation or equivalency diploma AND one year of experience*; OR
• A satisfactory equivalent combination of the above education and experience requirements

*Direct care experience with youth involved in the juvenile justice system or in an institution, camp, school, community center, youth rehabilitation program, mental health or correctional institution, or residential center. Appropriate verifiable part-time experience will be accepted on a prorated basis.

Satisfactory completion of the probation period must include possession of a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and the ability to operate a motor vehicle legally in New York State.

Additional Information

Telecommuting is available for this position; however, it is at the sole discretion of the assigned supervisor and the Office of Community Partnerships when a candidate may be considered. Telecommuting applications will be reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the OCFS Telecommuting Pilot Program Policy.

The position is represented by the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc (CSEA) and is subject to all attendant CSEA-OCFS agreements, rules, and opportunities.

All youth who reside in OCFS facilities, regardless of age, are considered ‘vulnerable persons’ and protected by the NYS Justice Center. The Justice Center works to ensure that no youth is subject to abuse, neglect, or other mistreatment while residing in an OCFS facility.

Background Investigation Requirements

All prospective employees will be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC), which includes State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. All convictions must be reported; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, or any falsified or omitted information on the prospective appointee’s employment application, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information, and may be required to pay any necessary fees. All prospective employees will be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees will be required to pay any necessary fees. For Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) prospective appointees will be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable.

Physical/Medical Requirements

Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include a fitness test, a medical standards evaluation, and a substance abuse screening. The YSS position is physically demanding. A candidate must be prepared to act to ensure the health and safety of youth and staff, which may include use of approved physical restraint techniques.