Youth Services Specialist I - Grand Mesa YSC - Grand Junction

The primary duties of this position are located within 30 miles of the state border; therefore, this position is exempt from the residency requirements. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado. Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies (Including both part and full time positions). Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details! Physical Job location: Grand Mesa Youth Service Center 360 28 Road Grand Junction, CO 81501 About the Division of Youth Services: The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates fifteen secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non-residential service providers throughout the State. For pre-adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, a State-funded, locally administered program that provides services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system. In addition to residential programming, the Division administers juvenile parole services throughout the State. We invite you to explore the DYS website and learn about the services provided to youth, families, and local communities in the State of Colorado at: https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs/dys Opt in below to receive text message updates on CDHS recruiting events! CDHSCareers You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times. WE WANT TO HIRE YOU IF: You have a passion for youth and a desire to improve your community You love learning new skills and teaching them to others You desire a job that teaches you what safe supervision is all about – physical, social, psychological, and moral You thrive on developing healthy relationships, professionalism, and teamwork About the position. This position is a direct care/essential role that provides direct and engaging supervision of Youth in DYS State Operated Secure Facilities. Specific duties and expectations are: Safety/Security, Youth Center Programming, Documentation/Recording and Reporting, Training, and Organizational Accountability. Positions may be required to work overtime on a rotating basis, based on business needs. Duties Include but are not limited to the following: Safety/Security . Work involves providing 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 as directed (e.g. Behavioral Contracts, Individual Growth and Change Plans). Duties include supervision of youth or group of youth, supervision of daily activities, youth orientation, intervention in crisis situations, non-escalation, de-escalation, use of physical response/restraint in emergency situations, debriefing of all incidents, and conducting searches. Youth Center Programming . Actively and with positive engagement, implement and follow the Youth Center’s behavioral management program, teach, coach, and redirect youth within the program. Support DYS initiatives and strategies as they relate to youth programming and crisis intervention. Documentation/Recording and Reporting . Document observations of youth behavior and response to program(s) and document all unit activities and required information in appropriate logs and records systems. Document all youth group activities in appropriate database systems. Organizational Accountability. Through all communications and behaviors demonstrate, support, and contribute to a healthy, positive, and respectful cultural climate throughout the Youth Center by adhering to our organizational values of Nonviolence, Open Communication, Social Responsibility, Growth and Change, Social Learning, Democracy, and Emotional Intelligence. Requirement to adhere to the CDHS Code of Conduct, DYS Compliance Review Standards, and CDHS and DYS policies. Success will come through the development of healthy, positive relationships supported by creating a trauma responsive environment. Training. Complete DYS Pre-Service training academy, Youth Center training, and orientation process as a new employee. Some travel may be required. Complete all assigned online training, and maintain and support the Division’s prevailing behavior management and intervention strategies. Training will help you learn problem-solving, the development of relationships with youth grounded in solid boundaries, how to teach skills to youth to decrease further risk and need, and a better understanding of trauma, behavioral health, and high-risk behavior. Other Duties as Assigned * Please read the entire job announcement and follow all of the instructions prior to completing the application. You must provide documentation to be given credit for it. There will be no exceptions on timelines to provide documentation. All documentation must be uploaded- this is the first evaluation in the selection process* Note: Applications will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualification for the position. If it is determined that you meet the minimum qualifications, your application will also be used as part of the examination process. You should ensure that your application specifically addresses the requirements as listed in the minimum and preferred qualifications, as well as the job duties and the highly desired competencies. Take the time to adequately address your specialized experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: High school diploma or General Education Diploma, (GED). Substitutions: None These positions are not sedentary positions. Employees are typically on their feet during the entire shift. Youth living quarters are located on multiple levels and employees must frequently climb stairs in the performance of job duties. Please take into account your physical ability in relation to the essential job duties when applying for the job. Employees must also be willing and able to physically intervene with assaultive youth. Preferred Qualifications: 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; Education/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. Highly Desirable Competencies 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. Work Environment: Employees are required to work shift hours. This includes evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Shifts may vary between agencies and may include eight (8) hours, ten (10) hours, or twelve (12) hours in duration. Mandatory overtime may be required. Day shift work is not usually available. As a Correctional Youth Security Officer, your position is considered essential and you may be required to report to work during inclement weather. Conditions of Employment: Full Background - CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons): CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults