What are the responsibilities and job description for the Youth Support Specialist (Hourly) position at Children & Family Services, Office of?
OR two years of full-time experience* in the care, programming and/or secure custody of residential clients in a health care, mental hygiene or correctional institutional setting;
OR an Associate’s degree AND six months experience as described above*;
OR a Bachelor’s degree;
OR a satisfactory equivalent combination of the above education and experience requirements;
OR a high school graduation or equivalency diploma AND one year of experience*
- Appropriate verifiable part-time experience will be accepted on a prorated basis.
**Direct-care experience with youth involved in the juvenile justice system or in an institution, camp, school, community center, youth
rehabilitation program or residential center.
Satisfactory completion of the probation period must include possession of a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and the ability to operate a motor vehicle legally in New York State.
- Serve as a member of a treatment team.
- Assist in the supervision and guidance of youth. Create a safe, healthy and therapeutic living environment that supports the acquisition and utilization of pro-social skills for youth under their care.
- Establish a relationship of confidence and trust with youth under their supervision.
- Develop youths’ attitudes towards personal hygiene, appearance, manners, work and study habits.
- Organize, arrange, supervise, and participate in various recreational, educational and social activities.
- Attend case conferences, community and staff meetings.
- Establish rapport and attempt to allay anxieties and tensions.
- Supervise and/or assist youth during various work assignments.
Additional duties will be discussed in detail during the interview.
Please note: These positions exist in limited secure and residential programs operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Anticipated vacancies are located throughout the state.
The nature of this position requires shift, weekend, holidays, and overtime assignment, including mandatory overtime.
Youth Support Specialists are required to attend training in approved Office of Children and Family Services restraint techniques two times a year (four hours each).
Background Investigation Requirements:
Prospective appointees will be: 1) Checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable. 2) Investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC), which includes State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. All convictions must be reported; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, or any falsified or omitted information on the prospective appointee’s employment application, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information, and may be required to pay any necessary fees. 3) Screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees will be required to pay any necessary fees.
Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. OCFS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. OCFS is committed to ensuring equal opportunity for persons with disabilities and workplace diversity. It is the policy of OCFS to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the position for which they are applying or for which they are employed. OCFS does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under title I of the ADA.
