Youth Care Specialist II-III

Recruitment #101221-MDDV02-370500

Introduction

The Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families' (The Delaware Children’s Department) primary responsibility is to provide and manage a range of services for children who have experienced abandonment, abuse, adjudication, mental illness, neglect, or substance abuse.  Our services include prevention, early intervention, assessment, treatment, permanency, and after care.

 

We offer desirable career opportunities, attracting and retaining proud and talented employees who are motivated to think of the child first in all that they do.  The Department is the perfect place to kick-start your career!

 

For more information, please visit https://kids.delaware.gov/.

Summary Statement

This is the intermediate level overseeing and providing custodial supervision, coaching, direction, guidance, and general care of youth.

Essential Functions

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

  • Oversees and assumes an active, participatory role in the daily activities of an assigned group of youth including recreation, education, rehabilitation and treatment activities, meals, personal hygiene, and maintaining living quarters. 
     
  • Observes youth's behavior and adjustment to programs and exchanges written and oral reports on those observations with other staff daily. 
     
  • Establishes and maintains interpersonal relationships with youth to encourage and assist with their social adjustment.
     
  • Interprets and teaches facility procedures, rules, and disciplinary policies to youths. 
     
  • Implements facility security procedures including performing regular unit, room, and grounds checks; conducting community/home visits; and ensuring frequent observations and monitoring of high-risk youths. 
     
  • Assists in the handling of serious disturbances and monitors incoming and outgoing visitors to the facility.
     
  • Escorts youths to activities and appointments inside or outside of the facility and is responsible for their supervision and conduct in all settings.  Operates motor vehicle when necessary to transport youths to activities and appointments. 
     
  • Prepares, maintains, and contributes to a variety of records and reports to document information relating to youth including, but not limited to, behavior management, treatment plans, progress notes, population reports, and inventories.

Job Requirement Series

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Youth Care Specialist II
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

  1. Possession of a High School Diploma or equivalent.
  2. At least 21 years of age. 
  3. Six months' experience in maintaining the security and safety of individuals and facilities.
  4. Six months' experience in behavior management such as understanding, explaining, describing and predicting behavior, studying the connection between behavior and its causes and identifying appropriate behavior modification strategies for individual situations.
  5. Six months' experience in supervising youth by overseeing daily activities such as recreation, treatment activities, meals, self-care, transportation or education.
  6. Six months' experience in narrative report writing.
  7. Possession of a valid Driver's License (not suspended, revoked or cancelled, or disqualified from driving).

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Youth Care Specialist III
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:  

 

  1. Possession of a High School Diploma or equivalent.
  2. At least 21 years of age.
  3. Two years’ experience in maintaining the security and safety of individuals and facilities.
  4. Two years’ experience in behavior management such as understanding, explaining, describing and predicting behavior, studying the connection between behavior and its causes and identifying appropriate behavior modification strategies for individual situations.
  5. Two years’ experience in supervising youth by overseeing daily activities such as recreation, treatment activities, meals, self-care, transportation or education.
  6. Two years’ experience in narrative report writing.
  7. One year of experience in child and adolescent development.
  8. Possession of a valid Driver's License (not suspended, revoked or cancelled, or disqualified from driving).

Additional Posting Information

As a condition of employment, all employees must certify that they are fully COVID-19 vaccinated by September 30, 2021; or be required to test for COVID-19 on a weekly basis starting on September 30, 2021; or request an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination(s) due to health or sincerely held religious beliefs or practices by September 30, 2021.  If hired after September 30, 2021, these certifications or requests must be completed during their initial week of employment. This will be in effect until further notice.  More information can be found here.

Conditions of Hire

Pre-employment Drug Testing:  Upon a conditional offer, you must undergo pre-employment drug testing as part of the hiring process.

Criminal background check: A satisfactory criminal background check is required as a condition of hire.  The recruiting agency may require the applicant to pay for the criminal background check as part of the conditional offer of hire.

This position is a classification organized under an exclusive bargaining representative (labor organization).  The candidate selected for this position shall be asked to join and pay dues to the labor organization or may, decline joining the labor organization and not pay dues or a fee.  The labor organization has been elected by employees as their representative for collective bargaining and other work related purposes.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The State of Delaware Executive Branch participates in the Federal E-Verify system where the State will provide the federal government with each new hires Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For more information refer to our job seeker resources.

Benefits

To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/

Selection Process

The application and supplemental questionnaire are evaluated based upon a rating of your education, training and experience as they relate to the job requirements of the position.  It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application and the supplemental questionnaire to include dates of employment, job title and job duties.  For education and training, list name of educational provider, training course titles and summary of course content.   Narrative information supplied in response to the questions must be supported by the information supplied on the application including your employment, education and training history as it relates to the job requirements.

Once you have submitted your application on-line, all future correspondence related to your application will be sent via email.  Please keep your contact information current.  You may also view all correspondence sent to you by the State of Delaware in the “My Applications” tab at Delaware State Jobs.

Accommodations

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process.  To request an auxiliary aid or service please call (302) 739-5458. TDD users should call the Delaware Relay Service Number 1-800-232-5460 for assistance. The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.