YOUTH SERVICES AIDE

Polk-County,-Ia; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Polk County Juvenile Detention Center is seeking a Youth Services Aide to support care, security, welfare, and custody of youth under supervision. You will help conduct bedroom checks, maintain security, document activities, and back up Youth Services Workers.

The role involves health monitoring, light laundry/housekeeping, admissions/discharge support, and potential transport of youth. Strong communication and observational skills are essential for shifts including evenings and weekends.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Six months relevant experience in an institutional setting with youth.
• Any equivalent combination of training and experience.

Responsibilities

• Assists in ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of youth; maintains security by bedroom checks and reports suspicious activity.
• Performs minor medical duties, including dispensing medication and health problem screening.
• Maintains professional interaction, enforces facility rules, and disciplines youth as needed.
• Makes verbal, written, and computerized reports; maintains logs and enters data.
• Performs laundry and light housekeeping; reports maintenance needs.
• May assist with admissions/discharge paperwork, interviews, and related procedures.
• Provides back up for Youth Services Workers and may transport youth; escorts visitors.
• Participates in monthly staff meetings and may transport youth outside the facility.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Utilizes office equipment for data entry and communications.

Skills

Basic care knowledge

Laundry procedures

Electronic monitoring systems

Computer skills

Interviewing/observation

Written communication

Interpersonal with youth

Rule enforcement

Restraint techniques

Stress management

Data entry/office equipment

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Six months experience with youth/institution

Equivalent combination of training/experience

Job description

Under immediate supervision, performs routine duties related to the care, security, welfare, and custody of youth at the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center; performs laundry and housekeeping duties; provides back-up support for Youth Services Workers as required. Youth Services Aides have minimal direct contact with youth.

1. Assists in ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of youth; assists in maintaining security by conducting and recording regular bedroom checks, ensuring doors and windows are locked and secure, observing and reporting youth behavior or suspicious activities, and detecting and confiscating contraband/or weapons; may perform personal and room searches; may be required to physically restrain youth under certain situations; observes for potential escapes; notifies management and control center of emergency situations.
2. Performs minor medical duties, including dispensing medication and inspecting youth for health problems.
3. Maintains professional interaction with youth while maintaining daily care; enforces facility rules and regulations; disciplines youth for infractions as necessary; responds to youth concerns.
4. Makes verbal, written, and computerized reports of all activities occurring on shift; maintains daily logs and completes records and forms; maintains continuous internal communications with facility staff; utilizes intercom system, telephone system, and wireless communication systems; inputs/retrieves information via database.
5. Performs laundry and light housekeeping duties including cleaning of community rooms to ensure the general upkeep and cleanliness of the facility; reports required maintenance.
6. May perform or assist with admissions and discharge proceduresincluding completing paperwork, showering, issuing and collecting clothes and linens, and conducting personal searches; may interview clients, juvenile court officers, legal guardians, and law enforcement personnel to obtain family and personal history, educational background, social skills, and medical conditions.
7. Provides back up support for Youth Services Workers, intake, and control center staff; may transport youth as needed; escorts visitors and residents.
8. Participates in monthly staff meetings.
9. May transport youth outside of the facility as needed.
10. Performs other duties as assigned.

• Basic knowledge of effective methods and techniques utilized in the care of youth.
• Knowledge of laundry procedures and products.
• Familiarity with electronic monitoring systems.
• Skill in the use of computers.
• Skill in interviewing, listening, and visual observation.
• Ability to read and comprehend written instructions and procedures.
• Ability to secure and maintain the confidence of and maintain a sympathetic/understanding attitude toward youth.
• Ability to interact effectively with youth and families from diverse cultures and/or socio-economic status.
• Ability to enforce rules and regulations with firmness, tact, and impartiality.
• Ability to effectively deal with volatile or distraught youth.
• Ability to participate in physical restraint of hostile, aggressive, and combative youth.
• Ability to remain mentally alert to visually observe for suspicious activity, breaches in security, and safety issues.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks concurrently and work in a stressful environment.
• Ability to keep accurate routine records and make verbal and written reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to recognize problems as they arise and take immediate and appropriate steps to intervene.
• Ability to maintain composure and exercise sound judgment under stressful circumstances.
• Ability to perform routine laundry, housekeeping, and kitchen duties.
• Ability to lift, push, pull, and carry up to 75 lbs.
• Ability to participate in the physical restraint of hostile, aggressive, and combative youth.
• Ability to utilize office equipment to perform data entry and operate telephones, duress buttons, and intercoms.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with parents/legal guardians of youth, other staff, law enforcement personnel and other professionals involved with youth.
• Ability to foster a collaborative and professional work environment.
• Ability to visually identify objects in obscured light.

• Graduation from high school or equivalent, and
• Six months relevant experience in an institutional setting providing for the welfare/detention of youth, or
• Any equivalent combination of training and experience that will have provided the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Special Requirements

• Candidate is required to obtain Safe Crisis Management certification, or equivalent, within six months of hire and maintain annually.
• Candidate is required to obtain CPR/AED and First Aid and Medication Manager certification within six months of hire and maintain annually.
• Candidate must pass a post-employment offer physical examination and physical capacity testing to ensure candidate meets the essential physical requirements of the position.
• Candidate must pass a physical examination every three years.
• Candidate must pass a tuberculosis test annually.
• Candidate must pass a Criminal History Record Check through the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation and a Child/Adult Record Check through the Iowa Department of Human Services as defined in the State of Iowa licensing and accreditation standards (IAC 441, Chapter 105). Annual checks are required.
• A drug screen is required prior to final offer of employment.
• A valid State of Iowa driver's license is required. Candidate must obtain a Class D Chauffeur’s license within six months of hire and maintain annually.
• Ability to work evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime outside of normal work hours with minimal advance notice as required.

Polk County is committed to providing a work environment that is representative, at all levels, of the citizens we serve. Equal opportunities are available to all applicants and current employees regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship status, mental or physical disability, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.