Youth Services Worker

About This Role

Provide treatment services and ensure the safety and security of youth in the care and custody of the Missouri Division of Youth Services. Employees will facilitate treatment programming and maintain a safe, therapeutic, and educational environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide Awareness Supervision to youth, with responsibility for their personal conduct, care, and therapy
• Monitor activity, behavior, and movement of youth within a residential/day treatment setting or while escorting youth off grounds; performing physical counts as necessary
• Maintain security, including intervention and/or participate fully in physical restraints of youth during emergencies or altercations
• Supervise youth in residential/day treatment facilities in the performance of work activities and during recreational and religious activities; conducts inspections for health and safety hazards
• Assist youth with their personal issues and refer issues to the group in accordance with the principles of the program
• Implement group and individual treatment plans
• Maintain professional boundaries, modeling a reasonable, respectful, and professional demeanor at all times
• Prepare reports regarding each client's adjustment and progress; maintain youth records
• Dispense medications to youth and intervene in youth medical emergencies (e.g., CPR)
• Transport and escort youth in everyday and emergency situations
• Work on shifts and attend mandatory meetings during the evening, overnight, or daytime hours as assigned

Requirements

• Empathetic, nonjudgmental, cooperative, encouraging, able-bodied, professional, and respectful
• Ability to communicate clearly, honestly and openly
• Knowledge of individual and group behavior
• Knowledge of child development and the role of the family
• Knowledge of the causes of juvenile delinquency and current methods of youth treatment
• Ability to work with youth and family members
• Ability to foster the cooperation of youth in the treatment process
• Ability to physically respond appropriately to work situations or emergencies
• Ability to learn verbal and physical crisis intervention/de-escalation techniques and emergency treatment procedures
• Ability to transport youth and travel as necessary

Qualifications

• Sixty or more earned credit hours from an accredited college or university with a minimum of six earned credit hours in Counseling, Criminal Justice, Education, Psychology, Sociology, or Social Work
• 2-4 years of relevant experience or 60+ credit hours from an accredited college/university

Benefits