Job Description

The Department of Youth Services (DYS) is seeking dynamic, positive, and service-minded individuals to fill the role of Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist II (JJYDS II) at the Central Region Reception Center located at 363 Belmont St, Worcester, MA 01604. The selected candidate will work with juvenile justice involved young people ages 12 - 20 years old (most of the youth served are 14 -18 years old) in DYS residential facilities.

The role of the incumbent is to support the Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist I. The Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist II performs various care and security activities in connection with youth in custody of DYS. They will monitor the conduct and behavior of youth assigned to the facility, while maintaining communication with staff members, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders. The Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist II provides guidance and direction to the Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist I staff.

• Observe the conduct and behavior of youth confined to the facility and take appropriate action to prevent disturbances and/or escapes, to ensure compliance with established policies, regulations and procedures and to ensure the safety of staff and youth; provide one-to-one youth watch, including suicide, elevated and medical watch to ensure the safety of the youth.
• Maintain custodial care and control of youth to uphold order and security within the facility; ensure the security of staff and youth by making periodic rounds, head counts and security checks and searches of youth and visitors to make certain all youth are accounted for and to ensure that weapons and contraband are not on the premise.
• Supervise and monitor the deployment of up to six (6) JJYDS I staff by checking duty stations and ensuring the completion of assigned tasks to ensure the safety and security of staff, youth and visitors.
• Assist the Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist III in their absence and assume responsibilities for the operation of the assigned shift.
• Conduct intake of youth and complete appropriate documentation; document behavioral issues to establish patterns and monitor changes; complete incident reports and transportation, medical, visitor and daily operations logs to inform appropriate personnel during meetings and shift changes.
• Maintain resident, program, department and related documentation, ensuring that shift documentation is completed as well as creating and improving current systems and procedures to help shape an efficient working atmosphere.
• Provide crisis and behavior management to youth as a means to prevent and or intercede with crisis situations; facilitate and/or co-facilitate group meetings to assist the youth in developing coping skills to deal with their problems and issues and to develop pro-social and life skills; establish a rapport with the youth and advocate for the youth to ensure that their needs are being met; provide guidance and support through daily interaction and role modeling in order to facilitate re-entry into the community.
• Deliver leadership through role modeling and reinforcement of positive practices as well as participation in staff meetings and training sessions as needed.
• Facilitate orientation of new staff as well as train and coach staff with techniques, group interactions and appropriate responses in emergency situations including physically subduing and/or restraining practices to ensure a safe and secure environment.

• Ability to understand, explain and apply the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures guidelines, etc. governing assigned unit activities.
• Knowledge of the factors, trends and challenges in providing secure residential and rehabilitative care to youth including Positive Youth Development (PYD) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, including planning and assigning work according to the nature of the job to be accomplished, the capabilities of subordinates and available resources; controlling work through periodic reviews and/or evaluations.
• Proficient at gathering information by examining records and documents and through questioning and observation.
• Capacity to interact with people who are under physical and/or emotional stress as well as the Ability to maintain a calm manner in stressful and emergency situations.

• Effective communication including the ability to give oral and written instructions in a precise, understandable manner.
• Experience in establishing rapport with persons from different ethnic, cultural and/or socio-economic backgrounds including the ability to deal tactfully with others.

• Experience working with youth including residential care, treatment, counseling and/or rehabilitation of juveniles and/or adult offenders.
• Proven ability to interact with youth in a supportive, safe and encouraging way.
• Demonstrated program measurement, reporting and evaluation skills.
• Proficient usage of Microsoft Office products including Word, Outlook, and Excel.

• Minimum Age Requirement: 21 years
• Applicants must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Must be able to perform the physical requirement of the job (i.e. Ability to properly restrain or subdue youth through appropriate use of handcuffs or other restraint techniques) if necessary.
• Able to talk and/or hear, stand, and walk, run, kneel, and climb stairs, as well as lift, carry, push, or pull up to 55 pounds with or without assistance and with or without the use of devices and/or equipment to assist in the lifting effort.
• Based on assignment, incumbents may be required to possess a current and valid motor vehicle driver's license at a class level specific to assignment.
• Upon hire, incumbents must complete and maintain a valid certification in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and first aid.

• Incumbents may be exposed to verbal and/or physical confrontations and potentially dangerous environments.
• Incumbents may be required to physically restrain youth.
• Incumbents typically work a standard work week (five 8-hour shift); however, may be required to work extended hours, nights, holidays, or weekends.
• Incumbents may be required to travel in-state and based on assignment may be required to travel out of state.

• Drug Screening

• Psychological Screening

• Medical Examination

• Physical Abilities Test (PAT)