The Youth Support Specialist (YSS) works directly to supervise court-placed youth, age 12-20, who reside at OCFS secure, limited-secure, and/or non-secure residential facilities. YSSs are part of a team that ensures that a facility is physically secure (e.g., responsible for youth movement, key and door control, and conflict resolution) and emotionally safe for both youth and other staff. YSSs help create a professional, healthy, and therapeutic environment. A YSS must:
Additional duties will be discussed in detail during the interview.
Training Requirements:
Some intrastate travel may be required (e.g., supervision at youth medical appointments, intramural games, extracurricular activities, or other events)
The YSS position is physically demanding. A candidate must be prepared to act to ensure the health and safety of youth and staff, which may include use of approved physical restraint techniques.
The YSS position requires shift, weekend, holidays, and overtime assignments, including mandatory and voluntary overtime.
Minimum Qualifications:
Additional Comments:
Please specify in your resume how you meet the minimum qualifications (as described above) when responding to this posting. For example, you should provide specific date ranges for qualifying experience, qualifying education or certifications, or the age range of individuals served. Non-specific submissions may be disqualified from further consideration if the information you provide does not meet the minimum qualifications. The salary range listed reflects the full range for this graded position, factoring in annual performance advances based on satisfactory annual performance reviews. Candidates with no current State service will begin at the hiring rate (starting rate of the salary range) listed. All youth who reside in OCFS facilities, regardless of age, are considered 'vulnerable persons' and protected by the NYS Justice Center. The Justice Center works to ensure that no youth is subject to abuse, neglect, or other mistreatment while residing in an OCFS facility. Civil Service Employees Association, Inc (CSEA) represents the YSS position. The position is subject to all attendant CSEA-OCFS agreements, rules, and opportunities. Physical/Medical Requirements: Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include a medical standards evaluation, and a substance abuse screening.
Background Investigation Requirements:
The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is an equal opportunity employer. OCFS does not discriminate based upon age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, military or veteran status, sex, disability (including pregnancy-related conditions), predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status, or status as a victim of domestic violence, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice and recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We are committed to the diversity of our staff and encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply. In furtherance of Executive Order 31 and OCFS's mission to have a diverse workforce, all people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment of inclusion that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned, and lived expertise, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our staff. Applicants of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.