Resident Care Specialist I / II

State of Oklahoma•Tecumseh, KS

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Positions in this job family are involved in providing direct care, supervision and security, transportation, and role modeling to adjudicated youth in the custody of the juvenile justice system. This will include providing paraprofessional guidance and counseling to residents, interventions to control aggressive behaviors, documentation of behaviors and activities, and monitoring and moderation of resident behavior. Level Descriptor RCS I: This is the entry level of the job family where employees are responsible for performing basic and routine duties and receiving formal on-the-job training relating to the safety and security of the juvenile residents and staff in a treatment environment. Employees are responsible for performing routine entry level duties while in a training status to build their skills in providing resident supervision and managing, observing and recording behavior of residents. In this role the employee will attend orientation and training to learn policies, practices, and procedures utilized in the residential and the community service treatment programs of the juvenile justice system. RCS II: This is the career level of the job family where employees are assigned a wide range of duties and responsibilities at a full performance level. Employees work independently enforcing appropriate rules and regulations to safeguard lives and property. In addition to security work, employees are required to furnish positive guidance, as well as sanctions for inappropriate behavior on the part of juvenile residents. Employees are responsible providing resident supervision, implementing group and individual treatment plans, developing constructive relationships with residents, coworkers, and other treatment team members. Positions will be assigned duties involving responsibility and sometimes hazardous disciplinary guidance and security work.

Requirements

RCS I Requirements at this level consist of the statutory requirements of OAC 377:3-13-43(c)(1): All direct-care staff shall be at least 21 years of age and possess a high school diploma or its equivalent (10 O.S. § 401 et seq.).
RCS II requirements at this level consist of those identified at Level I and the completion of thirty semester hours from an accredited college or university; or one year of security experience .
Knowledge of behavioral problems typically found in delinquent residents.
Knowledge of methods and practices of household management.
Knowledge of environments and events that impact the problems of youth in custody.
Knowledge of state statutes and agency policies concerning care of residents in secure facilities.
Ability to exercise good judgment in the evaluation of situations and in making decisions.
Knowledge of security methods.
Knowledge of basic human physical and psychological needs.
Knowledge of basic first aid methods.
Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.
Knowledge of simple health and safety precautions.
Ability to interact with juveniles.
Ability to establish and effective working relationships with others.
Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
Ability to gather facts and effectively communicate those facts in reports.
Ability to positively interact with residents of various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.
Ability to remain alert and act quickly and appropriately in emergency situations.
Ability to physically and appropriately handle escapees and violent or unruly juvenile residents.
Applicants must be willing and able to perform all job-related travel normally associated with this position.
Possess a valid Oklahoma driver’s license at time of appointment.
Willing to be on-call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Must be able to pass background check and drug screening.
A trial period of 12 months will be required.

Responsibilities

Provides security and supervision to adjudicated residents in a variety of situations and activities.
Performs routine duties in care, custody, education, and treatment of residents; observes, records, and reports health symptoms, behavior, and activity of residents.
Manages aggressive and non-aggressive behavior through verbal and physical intervention using prescribed and approved techniques; quickly responds to physical assaults, riots, and other emergency situations.
Conducts counts of residents and enforces institutional rules and regulations; observes resident and staff activities on multiple surveillance monitor screens.
Provides paraprofessional counseling and instruction to residents by directing their daily activities, maintaining order, providing support, and helping them develop and achieve personal goals; serves on a treatment team to review residents’ progress, treatment and educational plans; serves as a group leader by reviewing and assessing the adjustment and functioning of a group of residents.
Inspects the facility's living areas and work locations to ensure health and safety standards are being met, conducts searches for unauthorized objects, materials, and contraband; maintains security in an assigned area or post; controls movement of residents to and from living quarters for activities and off-campus appointments; maintains order and discipline during programs, meals, and recreation periods by utilizing empathic verbal communication skills.
Patrols facility grounds, juvenile living quarters and work areas on an assigned shift while observing the activities and movements of residents; checks authorized persons in or out of buildings and grounds area while assuring unauthorized persons are denied access.
Checks the physical security of the facility, including doors, windows, and lighting.
Completes written and/or typed reports on a variety of incidents and residents' behaviors; sends and receives verbal transmissions over a hand-held radio; maintains a written log of daily facility activities; communicates by telephone with emergency responder agencies in crisis situations.
Provide safe and secure transport services for OJA custody youth to and from placement, juvenile detention centers, court hearings, and various other appointments such as medical, dental and mental health evaluations.
Will have responsibility for GPS monitoring, tracking, inventory and documentation in assigned areas.
Other high risk transportation duties as assigned and specified through the Performance Management Process (PMP).
Assists other OJA employees as needed/other duties as assigned.