Juvenile Detention Development Specialist

Under the supervision of the Youth Center Director, provides for the safety, security, and well-being for residents, visitors, and staff within the detention facility. Supervises, guides, and counsels high risk residents through daily activities within the framework of the residential and educational programs.

• Closely supervises residents of the Youth Center to ensure that adequate security measures are met including making security checks, taking resident counts, doing room checks, and monitoring security cameras. • Monitors residents for changes in behavior that may indicate potential medical, behavioral and/or mental health crises situations in accordance with facility guidelines and alerts other staff as appropriate. • Facilitates group and individualized therapeutic interventions utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Behavioral Therapy (RBT), psychoeducation, and social skills training. Facilitates mindfulness interventions which promote sensory processing and emotional and cognitive regulation. Operates out of a trauma-informed framework when developing and implementing strategies with residents. • Assesses behavioral and mental health crisis situations and intervenes when necessary in accordance with policy and procedure guidelines for physical and mechanical restraints, room confinements, or other appropriate action. Submits information to Shift Supervisor/Director on the more serious disciplinary actions. • Operates and monitors electronic security and communication equipment including control panel, intercom, computers, visual monitors, electronic doors, room sound detectors, alarms, and security fence. Monitors weather alert system. Provides back-up on the general telephone lines to the Youth Center. Distributes facility keys for each shift and ensures they are accounted for by end of shift. • May organize and direct participation in group recreational activities such as games, arts and crafts, gym events, outdoor activities and other activities. May develop and teach programs in weight lifting, music, and other recreation and program activities. • Documents resident behaviors and actions daily, using observation notes, incident reports, shift change notes, daily log, resident files, and related documentation. • Maintains and organizes Youth Center resident files to keep current. Checks to ensure that each file contains proper legal and medical/insurance information. Helps ensure compliance with the State Administrative Rules regarding such files. Collects and assembles data and information from various agencies, court staff, and other sources. • Assists teachers by serving as an aide in the classroom and dealing with disciplinary matters as necessary. Assists residents with their homework. • Arranges for church services and guest speakers from various agencies, monitors residents, and deals with disciplinary matters as necessary. • Instructs and supervises the residents in the performance of daily housekeeping chores and cleaning duties. Performs laundry duties and various other housekeeping duties in the absence of the custodian. • Performs room checks as required when residents are secured in rooms, searches for prohibited items on residents, in rooms, and throughout the facility, and performs regular counts of potentially dangerous items. Performs ongoing safety checks to make sure juvenile is not harming himself/herself while in individual rooms and documents same. • Assesses medical emergencies, administers first aid, dispenses authorized medications, complies with nutritional requirements and treatments as ordered by medical staff, sets-up after hours emergency medical care, assists medical staff with physicals when necessary, and adheres to universal precautions. Assists in transporting residents off-site for medical, dental, and psychiatric appointments. Provides 24 hour monitoring and supervision of acute residents admitted for hospitalization. • Acts as a positive role model and provides informal one-on-one counseling to assist residents in decision-making. Discusses various matters of concern with residents and serves as an empathetic listener on topics such as family problems, court hearings, homework and general interpersonal relationships. Refers residents to Youth Center Psychologist for consultation when appropriate. • Performs and assists with intakes of residents to gather information, search residents for contraband, and assess resident’s potential for suicide and health concerns, and provides orientation on Youth Center policies and procedures. • Escorts and monitors residents and visitors during visitation. Also escorts residents to and from hearings. Assists supervisors in facilitating resident phone calls and video conferences. • Monitors, assists and offers instructions to community volunteers. Assists in training new staff and substitute employees, and provides input to the training of cooks, custodian, and teachers, particularly in the area of safety and security. • Ensures good health and hygiene practices are followed by residents. • Distributes and supervises meals. May prepare, serve, and organize meals in the absence of the Cook. • Provides after-hours, weekend, and holiday contact for the Family Division of the Circuit Court.