Youth Services Specialist I - Spring Creek YSC - Colorado Springs

Youth Services Specialist I - Spring Creek YSC - Colorado Springs

Salary: $2,212.00 Biweekly

Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: IKA 01510

Department: Colorado Department of Human Services

Division: OCYF - Spring Creek Youth Services Center

Opening Date: 11/06/2025

Closing Date: 11/16/2025 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA: Determined by Position

Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Primary Physical Work Address: 3190 East Las Vegas St. Colorado Springs CO 80906

Hiring Pay Rate: Shift Differential: 2nd shift = 7.5%, 3rd shift = 14%, Weekend = 20%

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information: Isaac.Phelps@state.co.us

How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Description of Job:

We want to hire you if:

You have a passion for youth and a desire to improve your community

You love learning new skills and teaching them to others

You desire a job that teaches you what safe supervision is all about - physical, social, psychological, and moral

You thrive on developing healthy relationships, professionalism, and teamwork

About the position. This position is a direct care/essential role that provides direct and engaging supervision of Youth in DYS State Operated Secure Facilities. Specific duties and expectations are: Safety/Security, Youth Center Programming, Documentation/Recording and Reporting, Training, and Organizational Accountability. Positions may be required to work overtime on a rotating basis, based on business needs.

Duties Include but are not limited to the following:

Safety/Security . Work involves providing direct care, safety, security, and supervision of adjudicated and/or pre-adjudicated youth in a secure setting. Monitor, participate, support, and enforce behavioral management plans for individual youth as directed (e.g. Behavioral Contracts, Individual Growth and Change Plans). Duties include supervision of youth or group of youth, supervision of daily activities, youth orientation, intervention in crisis situations, non-escalation, de-escalation, use of physical response/restraint in emergency situations, debriefing of all incidents, and conducting searches.

Youth Center Programming . Actively and with positive engagement, implement and follow the Youth Center's behavioral management program, teach, coach, and redirect youth within the program. Support DYS initiatives and strategies as they relate to youth programming and crisis intervention.

Documentation/Recording and Reporting . Document observations of youth behavior and response to program(s) and document all unit activities and required information in appropriate logs and records systems. Document all youth group activities in appropriate database systems.

Organizational Accountability. Through all communications and behaviors demonstrate, support, and contribute to a healthy, positive, and respectful cultural climate throughout the Youth Center by adhering to our organizational values of Nonviolence, Open Communication, Social Responsibility, Growth and Change, Social Learning, Democracy, and Emotional Intelligence. Requirement to adhere to the CDHS Code of Conduct, DYS Compliance Review Standards, and CDHS and DYS policies. Success will come through the development of healthy, positive relationships supported by creating a trauma responsive environment.

Training. Complete DYS Pre-Service training academy, Youth Center training, and orientation process as a new employee. Some travel may be required. Complete all assigned online training, and maintain and support the Division's prevailing behavior management and intervention strategies. Training will help you learn problem-solving, the development of relationships with youth grounded in solid boundaries, how to teach skills to youth to decrease further risk and need, and a better understanding of trauma, behavioral health, and high-risk behavior.

Other Duties as Assigned

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

• Please read the entire job announcement and follow all of the instructions prior to completing the application. You must provide documentation to be given credit for it. There will be no exceptions on timelines to provide documentation. All documentation must be uploaded- this is the first evaluation in the selection process*
• Note:
• Applications will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualification for the position. If it is determined that you meet the minimum qualifications, your application will also be used as part of the examination process. You should ensure that your application specifically addresses the requirements as listed in the minimum and preferred qualifications, as well as the job duties and the highly desired competencies. Take the time to adequately address your specialized experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position.
• MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Education and Experience:
• High school diploma or General Education Diploma, (GED).
• Substitutions:
• None
• These positions are not sedentary positions. Employees are typically on their feet during the entire shift. Youth living quarters are located on multiple levels and employees must frequently climb stairs in the performance of job duties. Please take into account your physical ability in relation to the essential job duties when applying for job.
• Employees must also be willing and able to physically intervene with assaultive youth.
• Preferred Qualifications:
• College education in a behavioral health and or juvenile justice related field.
• Experience working with adjudicated and/or detained youth within a secure residential facility and/or a behavioral health setting;
• Experience facilitating psychoeducational groups; Education/experience working with adolescents who have trauma;
• Experience working with youth in positive leadership roles, such as mentoring and coaching.
• Experience utilizing verbal de-escalation and motivational techniques.
• Relevant years of state service experience.
• Highly Desirable Competencies
• Skilled in conflict management.
• Strong work ethic, integrity and dependability.
• Sound judgment and decision making skills.
• Self control, composure and the ability to manage stressful situations.
• Ability to verbally communicate clearly and willingness to do so respectfully
• Ability to identify and act on changes, inappropriate activity, hazards or potential security breaches and verbally communicate pertinent information.
• Ability to study information and recount events in a written, factual, concise, and legible method.
• Work Environment:
• Employees are required to work shift hours. This includes evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Shifts may vary between agencies and may include eight (8) hours, ten (10) hours, or twelve (12) hours in duration. Mandatory overtime may be required. Day shift work is not usually available. As a Correctional Youth Security Officer, your position is considered essential and you may be required to report to work during inclement weather.
• Conditions of Employment:
• Full Background - CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons): CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults - Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers).
• Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. Driver's License.
• Shift Work - Subject to assigned shifts
• Travel - Transportation of youth in state vehicles, Travel to assigned trainings and/or alternate work sites.
• Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.
• Flu and other state-mandatory vaccinations are required.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must (1)