Resident Care Specialist

Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs; McLoud (OK); On-site; USD 26,491 - 29,797; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefit allowance

Flexible spending accounts

Retirement Savings Plan with match

15 days vacation and sick leave

11 paid holidays

Student loan repayment options

Longevity bonus

Job summary

A juvenile care agency in McLoud, Oklahoma seeks dedicated individuals for roles providing direct care and supervision to youth within the juvenile justice system. Candidates will enjoy a competitive salary, full benefits including a $5,000 sign-on bonus, and a supportive mission focusing on hope, compassion, and commitment to youth and families. Applicants must be willing to engage in potentially hazardous situations, manage aggressive behavior, and possess necessary qualifications. The agency offers robust support and a creative environment for staff development.

Qualifications

• At least 21 years of age for direct care staff.
• Completion of required education/experience for RCS II.

Responsibilities

• Provide supervision and direct care to adjudicated youth.
• Document behaviors and monitor activities.
• Control aggressive behaviors through intervention.
• Ensure safety and enforce institutional rules.

Skills

Behavioral management

Crisis intervention

Security methods

Effective communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Thirty semester hours from accredited college or one year security experience

Job description

This job is located at the Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center in Tecumseh, Oklahoma.

Compensation

RCS I- $19.23 an hour
RCS II- $21.63 an hour

Basic Purpose

Positions in this job family are involved in providing direct care, supervision and security, transportation, and role modeling to adjudicated youth in the custody of the juvenile justice system. This will include providing paraprofessional guidance and counseling to residents, interventions to control aggressive behaviors, documentation of behaviors and activities, and monitoring and moderation of resident behavior.

Education and Experience

RCS I – Requirements at this level consist of the statutory requirements of OAC 377:3-13-43(c)(1): All direct-care staff shall be at least 21 years of age and possess a high school diploma or its equivalent (10 O.S. § 401 et seq.).

RCS II – Requirements at this level consist of those identified at Level I and the completion of thirty semester hours from an accredited college or university, or one year of security experience.

Job Description

Why you’ll love it here! HOPE. COMPASSION. COMMITMENT. As a Hope-centered agency the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) strives to provide Oklahoma youth and families the resources and support they need to reach their full potential. Our mission is to collaborate with youth, families, and community partners to create pathways for success through prevention and treatment for all Oklahoma Youth. Check out why we are passionate about juvenile affairs and believe it is the career for you!

Perks include a competitive benefits package for all eligible employees:

• Generous state paid benefit allowance to help cover insurance premiums.
• A wide choice of insurance plans with no pre-existing condition exclusions or limitations.
• Flexible spending accounts for health care expenses and/or dependent care.
• Retirement Savings Plan with a generous match.
• 15 days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave the first year for full time employees.
• 11 paid holidays a year.
• Student Loan repayment options
• Employee discounts with a variety of companies and vendors.
• Longevity Bonus for years of service

$5,000 SIGN ON BONUS AVAILABLE

$6,000 CONTINUOUS SERVICE BONUS AVAILABLE

*Must meet eligibility criteria*

Safety Sensitive

This position is a safety sensitive position as defined by 63 O.S. § 427.8 (K)(1)(i)(2) due to providing direct childcare. Therefore, those applicants testing positive for marijuana will not be hired even when in possession of a valid medical marijuana license.

Typical Functions

• Provides security and supervision to adjudicated residents in a variety of situations and activities.
• Performs routine duties in care, custody, education, and treatment of residents; observes, records, and reports health symptoms, behavior, and activity of residents.
• Manages aggressive and non-aggressive behavior through verbal and physical intervention using prescribed and approved techniques; quickly responds to physical assaults, riots, and other emergency situations.
• Conducts counts of residents and enforces institutional rules and regulations; observes resident and staff activities on multiple surveillance monitor screens.
• Provides paraprofessional counseling and instruction to residents by directing their daily activities, maintaining order, providing support, and helping them develop and achieve personal goals; serves on a treatment team to review residents’ progress, treatment and educational plans; serves as a group leader by reviewing and assessing the adjustment and functioning of a group of residents.
• Inspects the facility\'s living areas and work locations to ensure health and safety standards are met, conducts searches for unauthorized objects, materials, and contraband; maintains security in an assigned area or post; controls movement of residents to and from living quarters for activities and off-campus appointments; maintains order and discipline during programs, meals, and recreation periods by utilizing empathic verbal communication skills.
• Patrols facility grounds, juvenile living quarters and work areas on an assigned shift while observing the activities and movements of residents; checks authorized persons in or out of buildings and grounds area while denying access to unauthorized persons.
• Checks the physical security of the facility, including doors, windows, and lighting.
• Completes written and/or typed reports on a variety of incidents and residents\' behaviors; sends and receives verbal transmissions over a hand-held radio; maintains a written log of daily facility activities; communicates by telephone with emergency responder agencies in crisis situations.
• Provide safe and secure transport services for OJA custody youth to and from placement, juvenile detention centers, court hearings, and various other appointments such as medical, dental and mental health evaluations.
• Will have responsibility for GPS monitoring, tracking, inventory and documentation in assigned areas.
• Other high risk transportation duties as assigned and specified through the PMP.
• Assists other OJA employees as needed/other duties as assigned.

Level Descriptor

RCS I – This is the entry level of the job family where employees perform basic and routine duties and receive formal on-the-job training relating to safety and security of the juvenile residents and staff in a treatment environment. They will attend orientation and training to learn policies, practices, and procedures utilized in the residential and the community service treatment programs of the juvenile justice system.

RCS II – This is the career level where employees are assigned a wide range of duties at a full performance level, including security work and positive guidance with appropriate sanctions. Positions involve responsibility and sometimes hazardous disciplinary guidance and security work.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies

RCS I – Knowledge of behavioral problems typically found in delinquent residents; methods of household management; environments and events that impact the problems of youth in custody; state statutes and agency policies concerning care of residents in secure facilities. Ability to exercise good judgment in evaluation and decision-making.

RCS II – Knowledge of security methods, basic human needs, basic first aid, crisis intervention, health and safety, behavioral problems, household management, environments and events that affect youth in custody, and state statutes and agency policies. Ability to interact with juveniles, maintain effective working relationships, follow instructions, gather facts for reports, interact respectfully with residents of diverse backgrounds, stay alert in emergencies, physically handle escapees, and exercise good judgment in decision-making.

Special Requirements

Applicants must be willing and able to perform all job-related travel, possess a valid Oklahoma driver’s license at time of appointment, and be willing to be on-call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Some positions are safety sensitive as defined by 63 O.S. § 427.8.

Must be able to pass background check and drug screening.

A trial period of 12 months will be required.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.

Current active State of Oklahoma employees must apply for open positions internally through the Workday Jobs Hub.