Youth Center Officer

County of Chester; West Chester (Chester County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Chester seeks a Youth Center Officer to supervise Shelter and Detention residents, ensuring health, safety and wellbeing. The role involves direct supervision, counseling and mentoring within a system-of-care framework.

Candidates must have an associate degree or 60 credits, a valid driver's license, and may need a bachelor’s degree. Experience in human services or related settings is preferred. The position requires flexibility for all shifts including weekends and holidays.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university.
• A valid driver’s license is required.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• At least one year of applicable experience in human services, a residential or institutional facility, school, camp, correctional facility, or related setting.
• Working knowledge of the Pennsylvania State Child Protective Services Act, the Juvenile Act and Title 55-3800 regulations.
• Safe Crisis Management certified.
• CPR and first aid certified.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work extended hours handling and resolving recurring problems.
• Strong professional ethics.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision to Shelter and Detention residents.
• Maintain safety and security of the building and parking lots.
• Monitor security cameras and visitor access from the Control Center.
• Complete state mandated documentation in a timely manner.
• Counsel and mentor residents.
• Troubleshoot security and maintenance concerns with the supervisor.
• Monitor and report hazards or breaches.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Extended hours

Professional ethics

Education

Associate degree or 60 credits

Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Detention/Shelter

The Youth Center Officer provides direct supervision to the Shelter and Detention residents in order to ensure their health, safety and well-being.

Security Control:

The Youth Center Officer is also required to maintain the safety and security of the building and parking lots through visual observations in the control Center.

This job requires the following documents to be obtained, reviewed as acceptable by the supervisor and re-obtained every five years: PA Child Abuse, PA Criminal History and FBI Criminal History.

A person in this position is expected to demonstrate the system of care practice model, which maximizes all resources around an individual or family. This system of care includes child and adult serving agencies and community partners that join with an individual or family to meet their goals.

• 24-hour facility that requires all individuals to be flexible and committed to working all shifts, including weekends and holidays.
• Provide supervision, structure, and control of the residents throughout their daily activities on the units.
• Provide counseling and mentoring while working with the residents.
• Completion of all State Mandated documentation in a timely manner.
• Monitor security cameras to ensure safety and security in the Control Center.
• Monitor all visitor access utilizing security cameras in the Control Center.
• Monitor and report irregularities such as fire hazards, leaks, and security breaches.
• Assist Supervisor with troubleshooting all security and maintenance concerns.

Minimum Requirements:

• Associate degree or 60 credit hours bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• A valid driver’s license is required.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• At least one year of applicable experience working in human services, a residential or institutional facility, school, camp, correctional facility, or related setting.
• Working knowledge of the Pennsylvania State Child Protective Services Act, the Juvenile Act and Title 55-3800 regulations.
• General knowledge of the County of Chester’s policies and procedures.
• Safe Crisis Management certified.
• CPR and first aid certified.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work extended hours handling and resolving recurring problems.
• Strong professional ethics.

Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have:

• Basic Word skills
• Basic Excel skills
• Basic OutLook skills (Email and Calendar)

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, talk, or hear, taste or smell, and lift or carry heavy items. Occasionally, the employee will need to sit, and work with an uncommon level of noise. On rare occasions, the employee will need to reach above shoulders; work with arms above shoulder height; bend at the waist or work bent at the waist; kneel, stoop, crouch, or squat; climb stairs; lift and carry items; and drive a vehicle.

There are no special vision requirements listed for this position.

Work Environment:

• The noise level in the work environment will vary from quiet to moderately loud.
• Will be required to work in all environmental conditions (no exceptions).
• Will work with residents that have a wide range of behaviors and psychopathologies (e.g., attention deficit orders, conduct disorders, oppositional defiant disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, drug and alcohol issues, impulse control disorders, etc.).