Youth Support Assistant

NYS Office of Children and Family Services; Brooktondale (NY); On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

The NYS Office of Children and Family Services seeks Youth Support Assistants to help maintain security, supervise youth, and ensure safe daily operations across secure, limited secure, and residential programs statewide.

The role requires basic care experience with youth (ages 6–21), a high school diploma, and completion of mandatory training including restraint techniques; applicants should be prepared for shift work, weekends, and overtime. Background checks and ongoing training are mandatory.

Qualifications

• One year of full-time experience in the care and programming of youth ages 6–21.
• High school or equivalency diploma required.
• Direct-care experience with youth involved in juvenile justice, youth rehabilitation, or residential settings is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain facility security.
• Key control.
• Perimeter inspections.
• Vehicle and visitor checks for contraband.
• Camera surveillance of facility.
• Monitor movement throughout the facility.
• Attend training in approved OCFS restraint techniques twice a year (four hours each).
• Additional duties discussed during interview.

Skills

Youth care experience

Direct-care experience with youth

Education

High school diploma or equivalency

Job description

Duties Description

Maintain facility security.

Key control.

Perimeter inspections.

Vehicle and visitor checks for contraband.

Camera surveillance of facility.

Monitor movement throughout the facility.

Youth Support Assistants are required to attend training in approved Office of Children and Family Services restraint techniques two times a year (four hours each).

Additional duties will be discussed in detail during the interview.

These positions exist in secure, limited secure and residential programs operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Anticipated vacancies are located throughout the state.

The nature of this position requires shift, weekend, holidays, and overtime assignment, including mandatory overtime.

Minimum Qualifications

One year of full-time experience in the care and programming of youth* from ages 6-21; OR

Possession of a high school or equivalency diploma

• Direct –care experience with youth involved in the juvenile justice system or in an institution, camp, school, community center, youth rehabilitation program, mental health or correctional institution or residential center.

Satisfactory completion of the probation period must include successful completion of the Basic Academy Training’s two-week training course, possession of a valid New York State motor vehicle operator’s license, ability to legally operate a motor vehicle in New York State and participation in ongoing restraint training and other training, as required.

Additional Comments

Please specify in your cover letter and/or resume how you meet the minimum qualifications (as described above) when responding to this posting. For example, you should provide specific date ranges for qualifying experience, qualifying education or certifications, or the age range of individuals served. Non-specific submissions may be disqualified from further consideration if the information you provide does not meet the minimum qualifications.

Appropriate verifiable part-time experience will be accepted on a prorated basis.

These positions exist in secure, limited secure and residential programs operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Anticipated vacancies are located throughout the state. The nature of this position requires shift, weekend, holidays, and overtime assignment, including mandatory overtime.

Background Investigation Requirements

All prospective employees will be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC), which includes State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. All convictions must be reported; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, or any falsified or omitted information on the prospective appointee’s employment application, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information and may be required to pay any necessary fees.

All prospective employees will be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees will be required to pay any necessary fees.

For Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) prospective appointees will be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable.

The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is an equal opportunity employer. OCFS does not discriminate based upon age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, military or veteran status, sex, disability (including pregnancy-related conditions), predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status or status as a victim of domestic violence, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice and recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We are committed to the diversity of our staff, and encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply. In furtherance of Executive Order 31 and OCFS’s mission to have a diverse workforce, all people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment of inclusion that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned and lived expertise, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our staff. Applicants of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.