Juvenile Justice YDS III, Shift Administrator, Sharp Transition

The Department of Youth Services (DYS) is seeking a dynamic, positive, and service-minded individual to fill the role of Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist, Shift Administrator (JJYDS III) at the Sharp Transition program located at 363 Belmont Street, Worcester, MA 01604.  The selected candidate will work with juvenile justice-involved young people ages 12 – 20 years old (most of the youth served are 14 to 18 years old) in DYS residential facilities. 

The selected candidate performs various care and security activities in connection with young people in the custody of the Department of Youth Services.  They will observe the conduct and behavior of juveniles assigned to the facility; maintain liaison with staff members, law enforcement agencies, professional specialists, and others. They serve as a part of a team to provide guidance and direction to the JJYDS and JJYDS Shift Supervisors and supervise the operations of assigned shifts.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Ensure proper security, control, and supervision of shift as well as all unit policies, rules, and regulations are followed.

• Supervise up to six (6) direct-report staff as well as direct the activities of staff and residents, plan activities, and coordinate resources.

• Act as a liaison for communication of any concerns or problems from direct reports up through the chain of command

• Maintain custodial care and control of youth to uphold order and security within the facility; ensure the security of staff and youth by making periodic rounds, head counts and security checks and searches of youth and visitors to make certain all youth are accounted for and to ensure that weapons and contraband are not on the premise.

• Observe the conduct and behavior of youth confined to the facility and take appropriate action to prevent disturbances and/or escapes, to ensure compliance with established policies, regulations, and procedures and to ensure the safety of staff and youth; provide one-to-one youth watch, including suicide, elevated and medical watch to ensure the safety of the youth.

• Conduct intake of youth and complete appropriate documentation; document behavioral issues to establish patterns and monitor changes; complete incident reports and transportation, medical, visitor, and daily operations logs to inform appropriate personnel during meetings and shift changes.

• Provide crisis and behavior management to youth as a means to prevent and or intercede with crisis situations; facilitate and/or co-facilitate group meetings to assist the youth in developing coping skills to deal with their problems and issues and to develop pro-social and life skills; establish a rapport with the youth and advocate for the youth to ensure that their needs are being met; provide guidance and support through daily interaction and role modeling in order to facilitate re-entry into the community.

• Perform and oversee various care activities of youth in custody of the agency such as escorting and/or transporting them to activities, the recreational areas, meetings, and medical appointments; participate in activities to maintain order and security of the assigned facility and to monitor participation.

• Maintain electronic records/documents regarding the daily behavior and activities of youth including incident reports.

• Coordinate and oversee the activities and programs of an assigned program, service, or division to ensure effective operations, proper care, and treatment of youth and to ensure compliance with governing laws, rules, regulations, and established standards.

• Supervise and monitor the deployment of staff by checking duty stations and ensuring the completion of assigned tasks to ensure the safety and security of staff, youth, and visitors.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to supervise, including planning and assigning work according to the nature of the job to be accomplished, the capabilities of subordinates and available resources, and controlling work through periodic reviews and/or evaluations.

• Ability to understand, explain, and apply the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures guidelines, etc. governing assigned unit activities. 

• Knowledge of the factors, trends, and challenges in providing secure residential and rehabilitative care to youth including Positive Youth Development (PYD) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

• Proficient at gathering information by examining records and documents and through questioning and observation.

• Capacity to interact with people who are under physical and/or emotional stress as well as the ability to maintain a calm manner in stressful and emergency situations.

• Effective communication including the ability to give oral and written instructions in a precise, understandable manner.

• Experience in establishing rapport with persons from different ethnic, cultural and/or socio-economic backgrounds including the ability to deal tactfully with others.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with youth including residential care, treatment, counseling, and/or rehabilitation of juveniles and/or adult offenders. 

• Proven ability to interact with youth in a supportive, safe, and encouraging way.

• Demonstrated program measurement, reporting, and evaluation skills.

• Knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, guidelines, etc. governing assigned unit activities.

• Knowledge of the types and availability of public and private organizations providing services to juveniles such as settlement houses, child guidance clinics, health, welfare, and recreation agencies.

• Proficient usage of Microsoft Office products including Word, Outlook, and Excel.

Special Requirements:

• Minimum Age Requirement: 21 years

• Applicants must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Must be able to perform the physical requirement of the job (i.e., Ability to properly restrain or subdue youth through appropriate use of handcuffs or other restraint techniques) if necessary.

• Able to talk and/or hear, stand, walk, run, kneel, and climb stairs, as well as lift, carry, push, or pull up to 55 pounds with or without assistance and with or without the use of devices and/or equipment to assist in the lifting effort.

• Based on assignment, incumbents may be required to possess a current and valid motor vehicle driver’s license at a class level specific to the assignment.

• Upon hire, incumbents must complete and maintain a valid certification in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and first aid.

 

Working Conditions:

• Incumbents may be exposed to verbal and/or physical confrontations and potentially dangerous environments.

• Incumbents may be required to physically restrain youth.

• Incumbents typically work a standard work week (five 8-hour shift); however, may be required to work extended hours, nights, holidays, or weekends.

• Incumbents may be required to travel in-state and based on assignment may be required to travel out of state.

Schedule:

7:00 am- 5:00 pm

Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays off

 

About the Department of Youth Services:

As the Juvenile Justice agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Department of Youth Services promotes positive change in the youth in our care and custody. 

Our mission is to make communities safer by improving the life outcomes for youth in our care. We achieve our mission through investing in highly qualified staff and a service continuum that engages youth, families, and communities in strategies that support positive youth development.  

For more information, please go to: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-youth-services.



Pre-Hire Process:

Candidates must pass a pre-employment screening, which includes: