Youth Support Specialist

NYS Office of Children and Family Services; Hauppauge (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telecommuting option

Job summary

The Youth Support Specialist (YSS) at NYS Office of Children and Family Services provides direct assistance to youths in OCFS custody, engaging them in residential settings and supporting family involvement. The role includes transportation, monitoring attendance at community and school programs, and assisting CMSO offices to maintain efficient operations.

Shifts may include weekends and overtime; mandatory training in restraint techniques is required.

Qualifications

• Two years full-time direct care experience in youth care or related field.
• Experience with youth in juvenile justice or residential settings is preferred.
• Ability to transport youth and coordinate with community programs may be required.

Responsibilities

• Engage youth and families in residential settings and provide support and transportation.
• Monitor youth attendance in community programs, school, and other academic activities; conduct curfew checks.
• Be flexible and take on varied tasks to support CMSO operations and youth services.

Skills

Direct care experience

Youth engagement

Transportation support

Flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree

Associate's degree + 6 months experience

High school diploma + 1 year experience

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Job description

Duties Description

The Youth Support Specialist (YSS) reports directly to the Youth Support Coordinator 2 (YSC2) or Community Multiservice Office (CMSO) Supervisor. The YSS provides assistance to the Youth Support Coordinator I as they manage youth who are in the custody of OCFS.

The YSS will engage youth and families in residential settings and provide support and transportation as needed.

The YSS is charged with providing assistance in efforts to engage youth in community programs, the monitoring of youth attendance in community programs, school and other academic programs, as well as curfew checks.

In addition, the CMSO YSS is required to be flexible in this role as they will be required to take on a variety of tasks that assist the efficient functioning of each CMSO office.

Additional duties will be discussed in detail during the interview.

Please note: These positions exist in 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.

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

Training Requirements

Attend a 2-week Juvenile Justice Basic Training orientation, be proficient in OCFS-approved physical skills and youth restraint techniques (given two times a year for eight hours total), take NYS employee mandated annual trainings, and other annual training refreshers.

• Some intrastate travel may be required (e.g., supervision at youth medical appointments, intramural games, extracurricular activities, or other events)
• The YSS position is physically demanding. A candidate must be prepared to act to ensure the health and safety of youth and staff, which may include use of approved physical restraint techniques.

Minimum Qualifications

Two years full-time direct care experience* in the care and programming of youth from ages 6-21; OR a Bachelor's degree; OR an Associate's degree AND six months experience; OR a high school graduation or equivalency diploma AND one year of experience* OR a satisfactory equivalent combination of the above education and experience requirements;

• 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.

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

Satisfactory completion of the probation period must include possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license and the ability to operate a motor vehicle legally in New York State.

Additional Comments

Telecommuting is available for this position; however, it is at the sole discretion of the assigned supervisor and the Office of Community Partnerships when a candidate may be considered. Telecommuting applications will be reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the OCFS Telecommuting Pilot Program Policy.

All youth who reside in OCFS facilities, regardless of age, are considered 'vulnerable persons' and protected by the NYS Justice Center. The Justice Center works to ensure that no youth is subject to abuse, neglect, or other mistreatment while residing in an OCFS facility.

Civil Service Employees Association, Inc (CSEA) represents that YSS position. The position is subject to all attendant CSEA-OCFS agreements, rules, and opportunities.

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.

Physical/Medical Requirements

Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include a fitness test, a medical standards evaluation, and a substance abuse screening.

Equal Opportunity

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.