Secure Facility Officer

Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs•Tecumseh, OK

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Juvenile Affairs is hiring a Secure Facility Officer, described in the posting as a Resident Care Specialist, to provide care, custody, supervision, and security for adjudicated youth at Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center in Tecumseh, Oklahoma. The role provides direct care and paraprofessional guidance and counseling, helps residents develop personal goals, monitors and documents behavior and activities, and supports residents’ education and treatment. Staff use prescribed, approved techniques to manage behavior and respond to emergencies, while maintaining a safe and secure facility. The facility operates 24 hours a day. Employees must be willing to work any shift as needed; overtime may be required to maintain facility coverage. Listed 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 differentials are available for qualifying hours worked on second or third shift Monday through Friday and for any shift on Saturday or Sunday. The posting also advertises a $5,000 sign-on bonus and a $6,000 continuous service bonus, subject to eligibility criteria. Applicants must be 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 background and fingerprint checks and drug screening. A 12-month trial period applies. Applicants who test positive for marijuana will not be hired, including those with a valid medical marijuana license.

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 complete 30 semester hours at an accredited college or university, or have one year of security experience.
Be willing to work any shift; overtime may be required to maintain facility coverage.
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.
Pass background, fingerprint, and drug screening requirements.
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 practices, factors affecting youth in custody, and state statutes and agency policies for secure facilities.
Ability to interact with juveniles; build 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 promptly to emergencies; physically and appropriately handle escapees and violent or unruly residents; and use good judgment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide security and supervision to adjudicated residents in a range 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 using surveillance screens.
Direct residents’ daily activities, maintain order, provide support, and help residents develop and achieve personal goals.
Serve on treatment teams to review resident progress and treatment and educational plans, and lead groups by assessing residents’ adjustment and functioning.
Inspect living areas and work locations for health and safety, search for unauthorized items 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 physical security, including doors, windows, and lighting.
Prepare written or typed incident and behavior reports, maintain a daily activity log, use a hand-held radio, and contact emergency responders by telephone during crises.
Transport youth in OJA custody to and from placements, juvenile detention centers, court hearings, and appointments, including medical, dental, and mental health evaluations.
Monitor GPS, track, inventory, and document assigned areas; 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.
Shift differential of $2.50 per hour for qualifying second- or third-shift hours Monday through Friday, and for any shift on Saturday or Sunday; applies to hours actually worked.
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.
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.