Job Description

The Department of Youth Services (DYS) is seeking a dynamic, positive, and service-minded individual to fill the role of Program Administrator at the Central Region Reception Center located at 363 Belmont Street, Worcester, MA 01604.

The Program Administrator will be responsible for overseeing the front-line care and custody for some of the most at-risk youth in the Commonwealth. The selected candidate is the primary custodian of a Department of Youth Services community- based program. In this role, the incumbent will ensure that juvenile offenders receive the necessary and appropriate level of care while offering creative and engaging programming that encourages and develops positive change in the youth in their care.

• Oversee the operation of the program to ensure a high quality of care and oversight of the population and ensure that all DYS policies and procedures are adhered to.
• Conduct security audits and checks; ensure adequate controls for contraband; respond to programmatic issues and emergencies, conduct investigations when necessary
• Direct, assign and supervise the work of direct care professionals in the unit, ensure adequate staff to client ratios that conform to Early Education and Childcare regulations; confirm and approve time in SSTA for subordinate staff; prepare work schedules; manage the use of overtime; ensure staff members are certified annually in Restraint Techniques, Suicide Prevention First Aid, CPR and PREA; supervise personnel in the reporting structure.
• Prepare written materials including but not limited to monthly reports, internal and external investigative reports, serious incident reports, and emergency/contingency plans.
• Manage the process of the Performance-based Standards project (an online database that compares MA DYS to other states), and update and revise program procedures.
• Provide oversight of Emergency Preparedness training and drills and PREA audit compliance; provide written response post-audit/on-site visit to inquiries from DYS monitors to ensure DPH compliance.
• Work as a member of the program's team of senior staff in developing program goals and objectives.
• Maintain the safety, security, and order of a locked secure treatment program with an emphasis on the safety and security of staff, clients, and visitors.
• Develops community involvement to provide enrichment opportunities for youth and to foster community relations.
• Establish effective communication systems and working relationships with Regional Managers, Clinicians, Caseworker staff, families, outside agencies, and volunteers.
• Ensure effective communication within the program by organizing and acting as chair of regular staff meetings; create a regular structure for daily shift change, bi-weekly community meetings, weekly administrative meetings, monthly supervisors meetings, monthly all-staff meetings, and shift meetings as needed.
• Create opportunities for program improvements and to exploit successes; Conduct program analysis to determine budgetary, training, and physical resource needs; Recommend program revisions based on analysis and evaluation.

• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills as well as clinical and organizational skills in a field directly related to the functions of the Department of Youth Services.
• Demonstrated understanding of clinical concepts and practice along with experience working in settings with clinical services.
• Knowledge of the DYS continuum of care and the goals and objectives of DYS.
• Knowledge of the Principles of Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (J.D.A.I.).
• Ability to supervise and integrate employees and programming from a variety of disciplines.
• Knowledge of and the ability to work with other areas of the criminal justice field.
• Considerable knowledge of State laws pertaining to juvenile laws and juvenile rights including experience in juvenile/adult corrections.
• Ability to allocate resources within a set budget.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.

• Oversee the operation of the program to ensure a high quality of care and oversight of the population and ensure that all DYS policies and procedures are adhered to.
• Conduct security audits and checks; ensure adequate controls for contraband; respond to programmatic issues and emergencies, conduct investigations when necessary
• Direct, assign and supervise the work of direct care professionals in the unit, ensure adequate staff to client ratios that conform to Early Education and Childcare regulations; confirm and approve time in SSTA for subordinate staff; prepare work schedules; manage the use of overtime; ensure staff members are certified annually in Restraint Techniques, Suicide Prevention First Aid, CPR and PREA; supervise personnel in the reporting structure.
• Prepare written materials including but not limited to monthly reports, internal and external investigative reports, serious incident reports, and emergency/contingency plans.
• Manage the process of the Performance-based Standards project (an online database that compares MA DYS to other states), and update and revise program procedures.
• Provide oversight of Emergency Preparedness training and drills and PREA audit compliance; provide written response post-audit/on-site visit to inquiries from DYS monitors to ensure DPH compliance.
• Work as a member of the program's team of senior staff in developing program goals and objectives.
• Maintain the safety, security, and order of a locked secure treatment program with an emphasis on the safety and security of staff, clients, and visitors.
• Develops community involvement to provide enrichment opportunities for youth and to foster community relations.
• Establish effective communication systems and working relationships with Regional Managers, Clinicians, Caseworker staff, families, outside agencies, and volunteers.
• Ensure effective communication within the program by organizing and acting as chair of regular staff meetings; create a regular structure for daily shift change, bi-weekly community meetings, weekly administrative meetings, monthly supervisors meetings, monthly all-staff meetings, and shift meetings as needed.
• Create opportunities for program improvements and to exploit successes; Conduct program analysis to determine budgetary, training, and physical resource needs; Recommend program revisions based on analysis and evaluation.

• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills as well as clinical and organizational skills in a field directly related to the functions of the Department of Youth Services.
• Demonstrated understanding of clinical concepts and practice along with experience working in settings with clinical services.
• Knowledge of the DYS continuum of care and the goals and objectives of DYS.
• Knowledge of the Principles of Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (J.D.A.I.).
• Ability to supervise and integrate employees and programming from a variety of disciplines.
• Knowledge of and the ability to work with other areas of the criminal justice field.
• Considerable knowledge of State laws pertaining to juvenile laws and juvenile rights including experience in juvenile/adult corrections.
• Ability to allocate resources within a set budget.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.

• Experience with the laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing juvenile justice as well as the professional standards of assigned unit activities.
• Knowledge of the types and availability of public and private organizations providing services to juveniles.
• Familiarity with the types and application of emergency medical procedures such as basic first aid, and CPR.
• Trained in Restraints and crisis intervention.
• Experience in DYS programming, population data, and internal operations including DYS data management system (including JJEMS).

• 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 the appropriate use of handcuffs or other restraint techniques) if necessary.
• Able to talk and/or hear, stand, 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 the assignment, incumbents may be required to possess a current and valid motor vehicle driver's license at a class level specific to the 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 shifts); 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.