Resident Care Specialist

Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs•Shawnee, OK

10d•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 the Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center in Tecumseh, Oklahoma. The role includes transportation, role modeling, paraprofessional guidance and counseling, behavior monitoring, documentation, and interventions to address aggressive behavior. Previous security experience working with juveniles in a residential care and treatment facility is a plus. The center is a 24-hour facility. Employees must be willing to work any shift as needed, and 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. The position may require on-call availability 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and job-related travel. The agency describes itself as Hope-centered, focusing on recognizing strengths, promoting resilience, and helping youth and families build pathways to success through prevention and treatment. A $5,000 sign-on bonus and a $6,000 continuous service bonus are available, subject to eligibility criteria. Shift differential pay of $2.50 per hour is available for second- or third-shift work Monday through Friday, and for any shift worked Saturday or Sunday; it applies to hours actually worked.

Requirements

For Resident Care Specialist I: be at least 21 years old and possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
For Resident Care Specialist II: meet Level I requirements and have completed 30 semester hours from an accredited college or university, or have one year of security experience.
Be willing and able to perform job-related travel.
Possess a valid Oklahoma driver’s license at the time of appointment.
Be willing to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Pass a background check, fingerprinting, and drug screening.
Be able to work any shift as needed; overtime may be required.
Knowledge of security methods, basic human physical and psychological needs, basic first aid, crisis intervention, health and safety precautions, behavioral problems typical among delinquent residents, household management practices, 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 residents from varied racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds; respond appropriately and quickly in emergencies; physically handle escapees and violent or unruly residents; and use good judgment.
The position is safety sensitive and involves direct childcare. Applicants testing positive for marijuana will not be hired, even if they have a valid medical marijuana license.
Complete a required 12-month trial period.

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 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, maintain order, support residents in developing and achieving personal goals, and participate in treatment-team reviews.
Lead groups of residents and review and assess their adjustment and functioning.
Inspect living areas and work locations for health and safety, search for unauthorized objects and contraband, and maintain security at assigned posts.
Control resident movement to and from living quarters, activities, and off-campus appointments; maintain order during programs, meals, and recreation.
Patrol facility grounds, living quarters, and work areas; check authorized persons in and out and deny access to unauthorized persons.
Check the physical security of the facility, including doors, windows, and lighting.
Complete written or typed incident and behavior reports, maintain a daily activity log, use a hand-held radio, and communicate with emergency responders by telephone during crises.
Transport youth in OJA custody to and from placements, juvenile detention centers, court hearings, and other appointments, including medical, dental, and mental health evaluations.
Perform GPS monitoring, tracking, inventory, and documentation in assigned areas, along with other assigned high-risk transportation duties.
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 work Monday through Friday, or any shift on Saturday or Sunday; applies to hours actually worked and is subject to eligibility criteria.
Generous state-paid benefit allowance to help cover insurance premiums.
A 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.
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.