Youth Care Specialist

Youth Care Specialist-Intervention Center

The Youth Care Specialist is a professional person appointed to promote public safety by providing a safe, clean, caring setting to deliver program services that lower risk and respond to the mental health, behavioral health and life-skills needs of court-involved youth and families in Greene County with a focus on reducing reliance on secure confinement while promoting the goals, objectives and mission of the organization.

POSITION TITLE: Youth Care Specialist-Intervention Center

DEPARTMENT: Prevention & Intervention Svc.

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

SUPERVISOR: Director of Prevention & Intervention

CIVIL SERVICE STATUS: Unclassified

EMPLOYEE STATUS: Full-time (35 hours/week)

Duties/Responsibilities

JOB DUTIES (Examples may not be comprehensive):

• Youth Supervision and Direct Care: Supervise and interact with youth as a direct-care worker; direct and supervise the movement of juveniles; provide direct supervision of volunteers, interns, parents, visitors and service personnel; ensure compliance with program rules, policies and procedures; perform daily assignments including transportation and food service; ensure quality and timeliness of program schedule; facilitate delivery of Behavior Reinforcement System and sanctions pursuant to principles of cognitive-behavioral interventions; inform disciplinary decisions relating to youth; intervene and direct crisis intervention pursuant to policy and CPI training; mediate disputes; facilitate group sessions including social skills training; support program completion and transition; prepare and maintain records on youth activities including incident reports and behavior progress; collaborate with Director and Assistant Director of Prevention and Intervention Services, Mental Health Therapist and Assessment Service Coordinator regarding delivery of treatment needs of youth; monitor personal hygiene practices of youth; assist in self-administration of medications pursuant to medical treatment plans; supervise and assist youth in the cleaning/maintenance of the facility.
• Safety and Security: Randomly search youth as part of search for contraband; ensure safety, health and security standards are upheld at all times; observe and report illness or injury; ensure first aid kits are re-stocked; administer CPR/first aid; escort youth to and from different areas of the facility; maintain control via verbal intervention techniques pursuant to crisis prevention training; operate electronic security system.
• Program Operations and Services: Facilitate property maintenance, including landscaping, painting and deep cleaning tasks; facilitate special projects and programming; facilitate quality assurance measures; ensure orderliness and cleanliness of facility towards positive image and compliance with health and safety code regulations; stock supplies; facilitate preparation and consumption of meals; document safety and emergency exercises; manage facility community service tasks including but not limited to project point of contact, community networking, project strategy and supervision, general maintenance and grounds-keeping functions.
• Family Engagement Support: Support with coordinating initial contact with youth and families referred to the Intervention Center; deliver orientation to youth and families referred to the Intervention Center; manage transportation needs and scheduling of transportation; attend court hearings; maintain regular contact with families as a support staff.
• Community and Public Relations: Ensure the organization and its mission, programs and services present a positive image; act as liaison with the public, other youth service agencies including the Ohio Department of Youth Services, court officials, mental health practitioners, social services workers, medical personnel, university personnel, parents/guardians, students, case workers, school officials, law enforcement; deliver presentations to tour groups; attend court hearings.
• Meetings/Committees: Program Review Committee; Assessment Team Meeting; Intervention Center Meeting; Ohio Department of Youth Services RECLAIM Meeting; other meetings and committees, as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES (Examples may not be comprehensive/job related skills may be acquired pursuant to on-the-job training): Security and supervision best practices; program development; criminology and juvenile delinquency; juvenile rights; communication skills; time management skills; organization skills; operation of security system and other technologies; recognition and effective response to unusual or threatening conditions; effective response in crisis situations pursuant to training; accurate and neat record-keeping; maintenance of positive relationships with youth, co-workers and the general public; physical fitness; presentation to public, tour groups and/or professional personnel in court settings; application of cognitive-behavioral interventions including behavior reinforcement/effective punishment and cognitive re-structuring techniques; teach character development curricula to at-risk youth, including structured social skills training; role model for at-risk youth modeling pro-social behavior; high degree of discretion dealing with confidential information; ability to make difficult decisions; represent the organization/appointing authority in a positive manner in the community.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (Examples may not be comprehensive): Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice, Social Work, Sociology, Childhood Development, humanities or related field or any combination of education and professional experience commensurate with a degree; two years of experience in juvenile court or related field working with youth and families in an organized setting or equivalent combination of education and/or work experience with youth and/or juvenile offenders sufficient to perform the job duties as listed above; satisfactory completion of professional references check; satisfactory completion of criminal background check; satisfactory completion of sexual risk assessment; satisfactory completion of Ohio Attorney General Offender Search; affirmative duty to report prior and/or current misconduct; confirmation of valid Ohio driver's license and driving requirements established by the Greene County Board of Commissioners; confirmation of degrees, licenses and/or certificates.

Supplemental Information

WORK CONDITIONS (Examples may not be comprehensive): The Youth Care Specialist – Intervention Center, occupies an office at the Greene County Juvenile Court Assessment and Intervention Center (AIC), which is located off-site from the Juvenile Justice Complex. The AIC is a low security office and group activity setting for male and female youth ages 12-18. Youth interactions may occur with youth under the age of 12. The population consists of at-risk, emotionally disturbed and/or potentially violent youth. There is potential for exposure to communicable diseases and/or parasites. All workers are mandated reporters required to report harassment, abuse and/or neglect pursuant to established policy and procedure. Work is to be conducted, at times, in a fast-paced environment involving deadlines. Routine physical requirements include reaching, stooping, kneeling, standing, walking, writing/keyboarding, talking, hearing, seeing, driving and repetitive motions. Tasks minimally require exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects including the human body. Additional physical requirements may include self-defense maneuvers pursuant to crisis prevention training and/or exertion resulting from first aid/CPR/AED interventions. Work schedule is flexible except that the employee is required to be present at the Assessment and Intervention Center or Juvenile Justice Complex primarily during core times (Monday-Thursday, 8am-8pm). Field visits are not a core function of the position except in special circumstances and in relation to a safety plan. On call status outside of core hours is possible; full-time (35 hours per one-week pay period). Variable shifts may be required. The Youth Care Specialist – Intervention Center is classified as a non-essential worker and is not required to report to work during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT (Examples may not be comprehensive): Orientation training in policies, procedures and practices with additional training annually. Required training includes but is not limited to: CPR/1st Aid/AED certification; Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certification; Greene County Risk Management training (including Fire Safety and Prevention, Hazard Communication and Defensive Driving); Parent Project – instructor certification; Aggression Replacement Training (ART); Greene County Personnel Handbook

NOTICES While Ohio has approved medical and recreational marijuana, the law does not require employers to permit or accommodate an employee's use, possession, or distribution of marijuana. Greene County is a drug-free workplace. Employees are required to comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws regarding drug-free workplaces and while working for the County, will be required to follow the County's drug-free workplace policy. Employees cannot work under the influence of, purchase, transfer, sell, manufacture, deliver, dispense, use, or possess illegal drugs, alcohol, marijuana (medical or recreational), or misuse/abuse prescription drugs in any way. The Greene County Juvenile Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, religion, age, disability or military status in employment or the provision of services.