Youth Services Specialist I - Pueblo Youth Services Facility

State of Colorado•Pueblo, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Division of Youth Services (DYS) aims to protect, restore, and improve public safety by providing a continuum of care that includes effective supervision, accountability to victims and communities, and support for youth to lead constructive lives through positive youth development. DYS operates healthy, trauma-responsive organizational environments characterized by prosocial, safe, and non-violent interactions. The Division manages a range of services including juvenile detention, assessment, commitment, and parole, and is statutorily responsible for the care and supervision of youth committed to the Colorado Department of Human Services. DYS operates 15 secure facilities for youth aged 10-21 and oversees the Colorado Youth Detention Continuum for at-risk youth. The Division also administers juvenile parole services statewide. DYS is committed to increasing staff diversity and providing culturally responsive programs and services, encouraging applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

Requirements

High school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED).
Must be a minimum of 21 years of age.
No felony convictions.
No history of domestic violence.
Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License.
Must be a Colorado state resident at the time of application and throughout employment.
Ability to physically intervene with assaultive youth.
Ability to climb stairs frequently.
Ability to work shift hours, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
Willingness to work mandatory overtime.
Willingness to report to work during inclement weather as an essential employee.
Must provide documentation for all qualifications.
Must complete the official State of Colorado online application.
Must specifically document work experience and qualifications in the application; do not use 'see resume' or 'see attached'.

Nice To Haves

College education in a behavioral health and/or juvenile justice-related field.
Experience working with adjudicated and/or detained youth within a secure residential facility and/or a behavioral health setting.
Experience facilitating psychoeducational groups.
Experience working with adolescents who have trauma.
Experience working with youth in positive leadership roles, such as mentoring and coaching.
Experience utilizing verbal de-escalation and motivational techniques.
Relevant years of state service experience.
Skilled in conflict management.
Strong work ethic, integrity, and dependability.
Sound judgment and decision-making skills.
Self-control, composure, and the ability to manage stressful situations.
Ability to verbally communicate clearly and willingness to do so respectfully.
Ability to identify and act on changes, inappropriate activity, hazards or potential security breaches and verbally communicate pertinent information.
Ability to study information and recount events in a written, factual, concise, and legible method.

Responsibilities

Provide direct care, safety, security, and supervision of adjudicated and/or pre-adjudicated youth in a secure setting.
Monitor, participate, support, and enforce behavioral management plans for individual youth.
Supervise youth or groups of youth, including daily activities.
Conduct youth orientations.
Intervene in crisis situations, employing non-escalation and de-escalation techniques.
Utilize physical response/restraint in emergency situations.
Debrief all incidents.
Conduct searches.
Actively and positively implement and follow the Youth Center’s behavioral management program, teaching, coaching, and redirecting youth.
Support DYS initiatives and strategies related to youth programming and crisis intervention.
Document observations of youth behavior and response to programs.
Document all unit activities and required information in appropriate logs and records systems.
Document all youth group activities in appropriate database systems.
Demonstrate, support, and contribute to a healthy, positive, and respectful cultural climate through adherence to organizational values.
Adhere to the CDHS Code of Conduct, DYS Compliance Review Standards, and CDHS and DYS policies.
Complete DYS Pre-Service training academy, Youth Center training, and orientation process.
Complete all assigned online training.
Maintain and support the Division’s prevailing behavior management and intervention strategies.
Travel may be required for training and/or alternate work sites.
Perform other duties as assigned.