Youth Services Group Worker I

Apply Now

Report as suspicious

Full-Time Or Part-Time

Full-Time

Salary Range

$31,189.34 to $40,454.18 Annually

Bargaining Unit

Shift

Multiple

Confidential

Number Of Vacancies

City/Town

Westfield

Region

WESTERN
Facility Location:
Westfield Detention Unit A, Westfield Detention Unit B, Westfield Revocation and Westfield Stabilization (Westfield, MA)

Application Deadline

06-30-2013

Apply Online

Posting ID

J33356

Duties

The Groupworker I's primary duties include, but are not limited to the following:

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

Provide crisis and behavior management to residents as a means to prevent and or intercede with crisis situations; assist the residents in developing coping skills to deal with their problems and issues and to develop social and life skills; establish a rapport with the residents and advocate for the juveniles 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.

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

Observe the conduct and behavior of juveniles assigned to the facility and take appropriate action to prevent disturbances and/or escapes, to ensure compliance with establish policies, regulations and procedures and to ensure the safety of staff and residents; provide one-to-one resident watch, including suicide, elevated and medical watch to ensure the safety of the juvenile.

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.

Role model positive Youth Development, act as advocates throughout the youths stay in the treatment program, interact with family and visitors and promote healthy development.

Minimum Entrance Requirements

None.

Special Requirements

Based on assignment, position of a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator' License may be required.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in correctional institution work, the major duties of which included the secure residential care, treatment, counseling and/or rehabilitation of juveniles and/or adult offenders or in a law enforcement capacity.

Comments

This is a Civil Service position.

The Department of Youth Services is the juvenile justice agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Department's mandate is to take custody of juveniles who are pre-adjudicated (i.e., juveniles who are being detained in lieu of bail) as well as juveniles who are post-adjudicated (those who have been found delinquent of one or more of the crimes with which they have been charged). The Department has also been in the forefront of de-institutionalization, so that we essentially provide rehabilitation to juveniles committed to our care in small residential programs (15 to 20 beds). Some of our programs are ?staff secure? residential programs (youth have to stay in the facility but are not locked in) and some are ?hardware? secure facilities (these programs have locked perimeter doors and the bedroom doors are locked during the sleeping hours). The staff secure programs are generally run by private non-profit providers who contract with the Department; the hardware secure programs are generally run by the Department itself.

At our programs, the Department employs various categories of workers including clinicians, teachers, administrators, and ?line staff.? These line staff provide safety and security as well as mentoring and advocacy to youth in the program, and their primary function is to supervise the residents, this includes a one to one watch for suicide preventions, they must stand and walk for prolonged periods of time by moving residents from location to location, take appropriate action to prevent disturbances or escapes, be responsible for the safety and security of the facility, and must be able to physically escort or conduct physical restraints on residents who act out or are out of control. They also participate in education, treatment and rehabilitation services to the youth in the program. Line staff are called ?Groupworkers,? and are listed in three categories Groupworker I, II and III. The Groupworker I (Grade 12) is the entry level line staff for DYS.

Minimum age requirement: 21 years of age

Transportation Requirement: Valid Mass Driver's License - must have reliable transportation.

Candidate Must be flexible.

May be required to work extended hours, nights, holidays or weekends. Also, may be forced to work mandatory overtime shifts and may be required to work at other programs within the facility to meet staff to client ratios.

Hours to be Worked: 40

Days Off: TBD

Shifts (Various)

7:00 AM - 3:00 PM (First Shift)
3:00 PM - 11:00 PM (Second Shift)
11:00 PM - 7:00 AM (Third Shift)

Pre-Employment Requirements

Candidates must pass a pre-employment screening which includes: 1) Drug Screening; 2) Psychological Screening; 3) Medical Examination; and 4) Physical Abilities Test (PAT) for direct care positions. If you would like more information, please logon to the DYS website www.mass.gov/dys to access detailed information on the Pre-Employment process.

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visithttp://www.mass.gov/hhs/coriand click on "Information for Job Applicants."

OPEN CONTINUOUS POSTING THROUGHOUT "FY'13"

Please Send Cover Letter And Resume To

Attn: Mr. Ronald Brace

Westfield Youth Service Center

51 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085

Cover letter and resume may be also sent via facsimile to 413-784-1324.

Please reference the Posting ID# J33356 on all correspondence.

Agency Web Address

http://www.mass.gov/dysDiversity Officer:
Ms. Maria Caban Cordero, (617) 727-7575
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.