Resident Care Specialist

Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs•Mcloud, OK

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Juvenile Affairs is seeking a Resident Care Specialist to provide care, custody, supervision, and security for adjudicated youth at Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center in Tecumseh, Oklahoma. The role includes transportation, role modeling, paraprofessional guidance and counseling, interventions to manage aggressive behavior, documentation, and monitoring residents’ behavior and activities. The agency describes itself as Hope-centered and focused on recognizing strengths, promoting resilience, and helping staff and residents build a future-oriented mindset. Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center is a 24-hour facility. Employees must be willing to work any shift as needed; overtime may be required to maintain facility coverage. 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. Eligible employees receive a $2.50-per-hour shift differential for second- or third-shift hours worked Monday through Friday, or for any shift worked on Saturday or Sunday. The posting also lists a $5,000 sign-on bonus and a $6,000 continuous-service bonus, subject to eligibility criteria. Applicants must be willing and able to perform job-related travel, hold a valid Oklahoma driver’s license at appointment, and be willing to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The position is safety sensitive and requires passing a background check, fingerprinting, and drug screening. A 12-month trial period is required. Applicants testing positive for marijuana will not be hired, including those with a valid medical marijuana license.

Requirements

For Resident Care Specialist I: at least 21 years of age and a high school diploma or equivalent.
For Resident Care Specialist II: meet Level I requirements and have completed 30 semester hours at an accredited college or university, or have one year of security experience.
Be willing and able to perform job-related travel and possess a valid Oklahoma driver’s license at the time of appointment.
Be willing to work any shift as needed, be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and work overtime if required to maintain facility coverage.
Pass a background check, fingerprinting, and drug screening.
Knowledge of security methods, basic human physical and psychological needs, basic first aid, crisis intervention, health and safety precautions, behavioral problems common among delinquent residents, household management practices, environments and events affecting youth in custody, and applicable state statutes and agency policies.
Ability to interact with juveniles and establish and maintain effective working relationships; follow written and oral instructions; gather facts and communicate them effectively in reports; interact positively with residents from varied racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds; respond appropriately and quickly to emergencies; physically handle escapees and violent or unruly residents appropriately; and exercise sound judgment.
Previous security experience working with juveniles in a residential care and treatment facility is described as a plus.

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 varied 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 observe resident and staff activities on surveillance monitors.
Provide paraprofessional counseling and instruction by directing daily activities, maintaining order, offering support, and helping residents develop and achieve personal goals.
Participate on treatment teams reviewing residents’ progress, treatment plans, and educational plans; lead groups and assess residents’ adjustment and functioning.
Inspect living areas and work locations for health and safety compliance; search for unauthorized objects, materials, and contraband; and maintain security at assigned posts.
Control resident movement to activities and off-campus appointments and maintain order during programs, meals, and recreation using empathic verbal communication.
Patrol facility grounds, living quarters, and work areas; check authorized persons in and out and deny access to unauthorized persons.
Check physical security, including doors, windows, and lighting.
Complete written or typed reports on incidents and resident behavior, maintain a daily activity log, and communicate over handheld radio and by telephone with emergency responders during crises.
Transport youth in OJA custody safely to and from placements, juvenile detention centers, court hearings, and other appointments, including medical, dental, and mental health evaluations.
Handle GPS monitoring, tracking, inventory, and documentation in assigned areas, and perform other high-risk transportation duties as assigned through the Performance Management Process.
Assist other OJA employees and perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

$5,000 sign-on bonus available, subject to eligibility criteria.
$6,000 continuous-service bonus available, subject to eligibility criteria.
$2.50-per-hour shift differential for second- or third-shift hours worked Monday through Friday, and for any shift worked on Saturday or Sunday; applies to hours actually worked and requires eligibility.
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 expenses.
Retirement Savings Plan with a generous match.
15 days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave in the first year for full-time employees.
11 paid holidays per year.
Student loan repayment options.
Employee discounts with a variety of companies and vendors.
Longevity bonus for years of service.