Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist III, Shift Administrator, Paul T Leahy

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 Paul T. Leahy Center 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 -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; maintains 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