Behavioral Support Officer

Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs•Tecumseh, OK

11d•$19 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Juvenile Affairs is hiring a Behavioral Support Officer at Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center in Tecumseh, Oklahoma. The role provides direct care, custody, supervision, and security for adjudicated youth in the juvenile justice system. It includes paraprofessional guidance and counseling, behavior monitoring and documentation, interventions to manage aggressive behavior, and transportation of youth to placements, courts, detention centers, and appointments. The position works in a 24-hour facility and is subject to shift work; employees must be willing to work any shift needed for coverage. Overtime may be required. Available shifts are 6:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. Shift differential pay is available for eligible hours worked on second or third shift Monday through Friday, or any shift on Saturday or Sunday. The role requires a valid Oklahoma driver’s license at appointment, willingness to perform job-related travel and be on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and successful completion of background, fingerprint, and drug screening requirements. A 12-month trial period applies. This is a safety-sensitive position involving direct childcare. A $5,000 sign-on bonus and a $6,000 continuous service bonus are available, subject to eligibility.

Requirements

Direct-care staff must be at least 21 years old.
High school diploma or equivalent.
For RCS II, in addition to RCS I requirements, completion of 30 semester hours from an accredited college or university or one year of security experience.
Knowledge of security methods, basic human physical and psychological needs, basic first aid, crisis intervention, health and safety precautions, behavioral problems among delinquent residents, household management, factors affecting youth in custody, and applicable state statutes and agency policies.
Ability to interact with juveniles; establish and maintain effective working relationships; follow written and oral instructions; gather facts and communicate them in reports; interact positively with people of varied racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds; respond appropriately to emergencies; physically handle escapees and violent or unruly residents; and use good judgment.
Willingness and ability to perform job-related travel.
Valid Oklahoma driver’s license at the time of appointment.
Willingness to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and to work any shift as needed.
Pass background check, fingerprinting, and drug screening.
Applicants testing positive for marijuana will not be hired, including those with a valid medical marijuana license.

Nice To Haves

Previous security experience working with juveniles in a residential care and treatment facility.

Responsibilities

Provide security and supervision to adjudicated residents in a variety of situations and activities.
Perform routine care, custody, education, and treatment duties; observe, record, and report residents’ health symptoms, behavior, and activities.
Manage aggressive and non-aggressive behavior using prescribed and approved verbal and physical intervention techniques, and respond to assaults, riots, and other emergencies.
Conduct resident counts, enforce institutional rules, and monitor resident and staff activities on surveillance screens.
Provide paraprofessional counseling and instruction, direct residents’ daily activities, support personal goal development, and participate in treatment-team reviews and group leadership.
Inspect living areas and work locations for health and safety, search for unauthorized items and contraband, maintain security at assigned posts, and control resident movement.
Maintain order during programs, meals, and recreation using empathic verbal communication.
Patrol facility grounds, living quarters, and work areas; monitor resident activity; and manage access to buildings and grounds.
Check facility physical security, including doors, windows, and lighting.
Prepare written or typed reports, maintain a daily activity log, communicate over a hand-held radio, and contact emergency responders by telephone during crises.
Safely transport youth to and from placements, detention centers, court hearings, and medical, dental, mental health, and other appointments.
Perform GPS monitoring, tracking, inventory, and documentation in assigned areas.
Perform other high-risk transportation duties assigned through the Performance Management Process.
Assist other OJA employees and perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

A $5,000 sign-on bonus is available, subject to eligibility.
A $6,000 continuous service bonus is available, subject to eligibility.
Shift differential of an additional $2.50 per hour for eligible hours worked on second or third shift Monday through Friday, and for any shift on Saturday or Sunday.
Generous state-paid benefit allowance to help cover insurance premiums.
Choice of insurance plans with no pre-existing condition exclusions or limitations.
Flexible spending accounts for health care and/or dependent care.
Retirement Savings Plan with a generous match.
For full-time employees, 15 days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave in the first year.
11 paid holidays per year.
Student loan repayment options.
Employee discounts with a variety of companies and vendors.
Longevity bonus for years of service.