Youth Support Specialist (Permanent) Position Available In Columbia, New York

Basics Schedule Location Job Specifics How to Apply Indicates whether if this vacancy posting is part of the

NY HELPS

Program. NY HELP No The agency in which the vacancy exists. Agency Children & Family Services, Office of The job title for the vacancy. Title Youth Support Specialist (Permanent) The job title for the vacancy. Occupational Category Other Professional Careers The salary grade for this vacancy. Salaries are determined by salary grade and bargaining unit. Salary Grade 14 The collective bargaining unit to which this vacancy is assigned. Bargaining Unit ISU – Institutional Services Unit (CSEA) The minimum and maximum of the salary range for this vacancy. Salary Range From $61702 to $68630 Annually Indicates whether this job is full-time or part-time. If the job is part-time, an estimated percentage will be provided. Employment Type Full-Time This indicates the type of job, typically permanent, temporary, or provisional. ‘Provisional’ means that the appointment will be temporary until the incumbent takes and passes an appropriate civil service examination. Appointment Type Permanent Jurisdictional class is the indicator for how this job can be filled. The classified service is governed by the Civil Service Commission, and consists of competitive, non-competitive, exempt, and labor classes. ‘Competitive class’ indicates that the applicant must take and pass an appropriate civil service examination. ‘Non-competitive class’ indicates that the applicant’s qualifications will be evaluated without a civil service examination. ‘Exempt class’ indicates that the applicant will be evaluated by methods other than competitive or non-competitive, and that incumbents will not be granted tenure. ‘Labor class’ requires that applicants possess skills or other physical characteristics that cannot effectively be evaluated by other means. The unclassified service is legislatively defined, and includes such positions as elected officials, department and agency heads, and all academic personnel in public schools, colleges, and universities. Jurisdictional Class Non-competitive Class Estimates the percentage of time incumbents of this vacancy will be required to travel. Travel Percentage 0% This provides information on the expected workweek. Workweek Variable The number of hours in the workweek, typically 37.5 or 40 for full time, or any other number for part time. Hours Per Week 40 Workday The start time for this vacancy. If the agency employs flextime, this will be the earliest time this vacancy’s shift can start. From 12 AM The end time for this vacancy. If the agency employs flextime, this will be the latest time this vacancy’s shift can end. To 12 AM If checked, the agency allows flextime. Flextime allowed? No If checked, this vacancy includes mandatory overtime. Mandatory overtime? Yes If checked, this agency allows compressed workweek scheduling. Compressed workweek allowed? No If checked, this agency allows telecommuting for this position. Telecommuting allowed? No The county in which the vacancy is located. County Columbia The street address where the vacancy is located. Street Address Brookwood Secure Center 419 Spook Rock Road The city where the vacancy is located. City Claverack The state where the vacancy is located (the default is New York). State NY The zip code where the vacancy is located. Zip Code 12513 The duties that the incumbent of the vacancy will be expected to perform. Duties Description The Youth Support Specialist (YSS) works directly to supervise court-placed youth, age 12-20, who reside at OCFS secure, limited-secure, and/or non-secure residential facilities. YSSs are part of a team that ensures that a facility is physically secure (e.g., responsible for youth movement, key and door control, and conflict resolution) and emotionally safe for both youth and other staff. YSSs help create a professional, healthy, and therapeutic environment.

A YSS must:

• Establish a relationship of professionalism, confidence, safety, and trust with youth and other staff from different racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, physical ability, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) and/or socio-economic backgrounds. Supervise and monitor youth, which, depending on a youth’s clinical needs, may include 1-to-1 supervision.
• Actively participate as a member of a youth’s support team. A support team is a treatment-focused group of professional and para-professional staff who work together to address the emotional and behavioral needs and goal of youth.
• Be confident in engaging with people who may be under physical and/or emotional stress.
• Employ graduated harm reduction strategies while supervising youth.

This includes correcting, and in some cases, verbally or physically intervening when a youth displays unsafe behaviors toward themselves or other youth and staff. Harm reduction requires that a YSS learn to recognize personal or situational flags that could lead to conflict or harm, provide positive mentorship to youth, and help youth work on their own interpersonal skills and use of self-regulation strategies.

• Take opportunities to improve the well-being of the facility community by being collaborative and informed.
• Supervise and/or assist youth during recreation and education activities, as well as take on various, as-needed assignments
• Establish and maintain positive, professional, and appropriate relationships with youths’ families and loved ones.
• Assist youth in achieving education, work readiness, and community transition goals. Training Requirements Attend a 4-week Juvenile Justice Basic Training orientation, be proficient in OCFS-approved physical skills and youth restraint techniques (given two times a year for eight hours total), take NYS employee mandated annual trainings, and other annual training refreshers.
• Some intrastate travel may be required (e.g., supervision at youth medical appointments, intramural games, extracurricular activities, or other events)
• The YSS position is physically demanding.

A candidate must be prepared to act to ensure the health and safety of youth and staff, which may include use of approved physical restraint techniques. Additional duties will be discussed in detail during the interview.

Other Information:

• The YSS position is at all nine facilities operated by OCFS. Vacancies are throughout the state.
• The YSS position requires shift, weekend, holidays, and overtime assignments, including mandatory and voluntary overtime. The minimum qualifications required for this vacancy. Minimum Qualifications Two years full-time direct care experience
• in the care and programming of youth from ages 6-21; OR a Bachelor’s degree; OR an Associate’s degree AND six months experience; OR a high school graduation or equivalency diploma AND one year of experience
• OR a satisfactory equivalent combination of the above education and experience requirements;
• Direct care experience with youth involved in the juvenile justice system or in an institution, camp, school, community center, youth rehabilitation program, mental health or correctional institution, or residential center.

Appropriate verifiable part-time experience will be accepted on a prorated basis 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. Additional comments regarding the vacancy. Additional Comments Please specify in your cover letter and/or resume how you meet the minimum qualifications (as described above) when responding to this posting. For example, you should provide specific date ranges for qualifying experience, qualifying education or certifications, or the age range of individuals served. Non-specific submissions may be disqualified from further consideration if the information you provide does not meet the minimum qualifications.

IMPORTANT

Candidates must indicate in their cover letter and/or resume how they specifically meet the minimum qualifications when responding to this posting. Without this information OCFS will not be able to consider your application. For example, a candidate should provide specific date ranges for qualifying experience, qualifying education or certifications, or the age range of individuals served. All youth who reside in OCFS facilities, regardless of age, are considered ‘vulnerable persons’ and protected by the NYS Justice Center. The Justice Center works to ensure that no youth is subject to abuse, neglect, or other mistreatment while residing in an OCFS facility. Civil Service Employees Association, Inc (CSEA) represents that YSS position. The position is subject to all attendant

CSEA-OCFS

agreements, rules, and opportunities.

Background Investigation Requirements:

1) All prospective employees will be 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. 2) All prospective employees will be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees will be required to pay any necessary fees. 3) For Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) prospective appointees will be 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. Physical/Medical Requirements Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include a fitness test, a medical standards evaluation, and a substance abuse screening. Drug Testing Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a drug screening test and are responsible for the clinical laboratory fee. Failure to meet the standards may result in your disqualification. The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is an equal opportunity employer. OCFS does not discriminate based upon age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, military or veteran status, sex, disability (including pregnancy-related conditions), predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status or status as a victim of domestic violence, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice and recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We are committed to the diversity of our staff, and encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply. In furtherance of Executive Order 31 and OCFS’s mission to have a diverse workforce, all people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment of inclusion that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned and lived expertise, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our staff. Applicants of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to self-identify during the application process. Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity. The name of the contact person for this vacancy. Name New York State Office of Children and Family Services The telephone number to use for questions about this vacancy. Telephone 518-473-7936 The fax to use for this vacancy. Fax 518-473-6122 Email address for emailing applications, or to ask questions about this vacancy. Email Address eoajobpostings@ocfs.ny.gov Address The street address of the contact for this vacancy. Street Bureau of Personnel – TAB 52 Washington Street, 231 North The city for the contact for this vacancy. City Rensselaer The state of the contact for this vacancy (the default is New York). State NY The zip code for the contact for this vacancy. Zip Code 12144 Instructions for potential applicants. Notes on Applying Qualified candidates should e-mail their resume and letter of interest to eoajobpostings@ocfs.ny.gov You MUST include the Vacancy number of the position in the subject line of your email and/or cover letter to ensure receipt of your application. In order to qualify you for the position when you have current or prior New York State employment, you may be contacted by OCFS Personnel for your social security number to confirm your employment history.