Youth Specialist (Juvenile Correctional Officer)

JOIN OUR TEAM!

NOW HIRING!

Starting pay is over $50,000 per year. By working just two (2) overtime assignments per week, new staff can add an additional $30,000 salary per year. New Youth Specialists receive their first pay increase after six (6) months of employment. We are currently hiring for our February 26, 2024, start date!

We are transforming and saving lives at DYS!

A safer Ohio: one youth, one family and one community at a time.

About Us…

The Ohio Department of Youth Services strives to save and transform the lives of youth throughout the state of Ohio. Our employees work together to support youth and empower families and communities. In addition to our three juvenile corrections facilities, we support more than 600 community programs reaching more than 90,000 youth across the state.

Our Guiding Principles…

• Demonstrate staff are our greatest resource
• Treat everyone with respect
• Cultivate a trauma responsive environment for staff and youth to thrive
• Provide the best support and services for youth and families
• Advance our culture of inclusion through understanding and appreciating staff and youth differences
• Commit to and encourage collaboration and continuous improvement to produce better outcomes for those we serve
• Celebrate collective successes and support one another through opportunities to improve

To learn more about DYS, please visit our website by clicking here.

What You'll Do:

DYS is seeking a Youth Specialist [Juvenile Correctional Officer] to join our diverse team! This person will oversee facility functions while providing valuable mentorship, experience, and knowledge to the youth in our care. The ideal candidate will be a strong leader with a solid background and a passion to habilitate youth.

Specifically, the Youth Specialist [Juvenile Correctional Officer] will:

• Provide safety, security, custodial care, & surveillance of assigned youth
• Utilize provided training to observe, intervene, and de-escalation youth behavior and conflicts
• Manage and maintain security and a positive interaction during and after family visits
• Complete all required documents (reports, logs, evaluations etc.)
• Oversee movement on facility grounds and outside trips
• Monitor and instruct youth on general housekeeping duties
• Maintain awareness of unusual behavior and crisis situations
• Collaborate and provide information to division leadership

What’s in it for you:

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits are offered beginning the first of the month after hire
• Dental, vision and basic life insurance premiums are free after one year of continuous service
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth/Adoption leave
• Caregiver leave
• Education benefits up to a total of $6,250 per fiscal year
• 10% employee contribution and 14% employer contribution to the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS)
• Option to participate in the Ohio Deferred Compensation 457(b) program

High school diploma or G.E.D.; valid driver's license if assigned to transportation/perimeter post; must successfully complete Juvenile Correctional Officer assessment. Must be 21 years of age at time of application.

Skills: Juvenile Corrections, Security, Criminology/Criminal Justice, Conflict Management, Reasoning, Observation, Attention to Detail, Situational Awareness

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.

All new candidates hired to the Department of Youth Services must partake in paid, mandatory 4 weeks of training. Week 1 is held at IRJCF, weeks 2 through 4 are held in Orient, Ohio, 10-hour training days, Monday through Thursday. The state of Ohio covers transportation, meals and lodging. We are hiring for the following classes: April 22, 2024 and May 20, 2024.

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check as well as other investigative reviews. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant’s prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.