What are the responsibilities and job description for the Youth Specialist position at County of Kent?
Job Responsibilities
*Referral bonus eligible*
Would you like the opportunity to grow in the field of Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, or another Social Science? Would you like to continue your education, kick-off your career path, and gain tuition reimbursement?
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 to work on a full-time basis, 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.
We are currently hiring for 2nd shift, working the hours of 2:45pm – 10:45pm with a requirement to work every other weekend. Some employees on 2nd shift work in weekend-only positions, working every weekend with a double shift on either Friday or Monday. 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.
- Facilitate daily Learning Groups based on the Cognitive Behavior Training model, to include, effectively managing small and medium group dynamics.
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.
- Employees in this position may be tasked with mandated overtime if necessitated by low staff-levels on a given day. Typically for a 2nd shift employee, this would require working the 3rd shift after completing your 2nd shift hours.
*Please note - the pay rate listed is reflective of our 2026 pay scale*
Minimum Qualifications
Requires a minimum of thirty semester credit hours 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.
Additional Information
*Notices will come via email so please be sure to monitor the email address indicated on your application*
Don't take our word for it that Kent County is a great place to work and thrive.
Don't take our word for it that Kent County is a great place to work and thrive.