On-Call Youth Specialist bei Kent County, MI

About the Department

Are you pulled to make an impact in a young person's life? Have you been to school for Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, or another Social Science but not sure what your career path will look like? This position might be the one for you.

A unique opportunity exists for individuals to work with at-risk youth. Kent County Juvenile Detention is a 98-bed locked and secured facility where juveniles are held pending some form of court action. We are seeking candidates for On-Call Youth Specialist, performing guidance, counseling, behavioral observation, and custodial care for residents of the facility. The successful candidate will have the aptitude to effectively interact with at-risk children in a positive, patient, and caring manner, while maintaining appropriate discipline and structure.

On-Call Youth Specialist is a non-benefited, flexible position that allows for an employee to be scheduled for up to three shifts per week (please note, 80 hours of training must be completed prior to being eligible for on-call work and a minimum number of hours are not guaranteed).

*For the supplemental question regarding availability, please indicate the hours you will be available to work for each day of the week. Weekend availability is preferred, and shifts may be scheduled in advance, based on the hours of availability you provide. We can accommodate staff who are available for all three shifts, with the greatest need on 2nd shift (2:45pm – 10:45pm).

The following are typical daily tasks for a Youth Specialist:

• Provides individual and group orientations and guidance, ensuring that youth in detention participate in educational, counseling, treatment, and other programs.

• Inspects living and sleeping quarters to ensure that conditions are safe, sanitary, and appropriate.
• Organizes, supervises, and participates to a limited extent in recreational and other group activities, including work programs.
• Maintains logs of observed behaviors and participation in programs for review.
• Supervises residents in the care and maintenance of grounds and common areas and in other non-technical work incidental to the institution's operation.
• Responds to crisis situations with appropriate intervention techniques and restrains/secures individual residents as necessary to maintain the safety and security of all facility residents.
• May transport and/or escort residents to and from various activities.
• Facilitates daily Learning Groups based on the Cognitive Behavior Training model, to include, effectively managing small and medium group dynamics.

Position Duties

Important additional information:

• Candidates selected for hire are required to satisfactorily pass a pre-hire physical and a background investigation including criminal history, driving record, MDHHS central registry clearance and fingerprint background check.

• Detention is a 24/7 operation and staff are considered essential workers.

Minimum Qualifications

Requires a minimum of thirty semester credit hours (transcripts required upon hire) or equivalent in Sociology, Psychology, Child Development, Criminal Justice or related field, or a High School Diploma/GED combined with a minimum of 2 years demonstrably successful work experience in a child/youth care facility.

Must be able to gain the respect and cooperation of youth and to interact in a positive, patient and caring manner. Must be able to respond to and reestablish order in crisis situations, which may include physically restraining youth.  Requires knowledge of recreation leadership and a variety of games, sports and crafts.

Requires valid, unrestricted driver's license.

Other Qualifications

Don't take our word for it that Kent County is a great place to work and thrive. Watch this video of why our staff have made us their employer of choice.