Youth Counselor-Chatham

This posting is for multiple vacancies. These positions are located at Chatham Youth Development Center, in Siler City NC. 

Shift work is required for these positions. Weekend and holiday shifts are required. 

Candidates for these positions are eligible to receive a shift premium (10%) when assigned to either 2nd or 3rd shift. 

This job classification also qualifies for the employee Referral Bonus Program. If you were referred to this job posting by a current DPS employee, and you are hired, that employee could qualify for a referral bonus.

The job duties of a Youth Counselor include but are not limited to: 

• Monitor and supervise juveniles while housed, at school and all daily activities.
• Safety and security duties include:
  • Maintaining a secure environment
  • Routinely monitoring and observing juveniles
• Daily records are completed to include:
  • Documenting safety violations and security breaches
  • Activity briefing for shift personnel, crisis intervention events, behavioral problems/issues, and youth progress updates.
  • Provide feedback to the treatment team on juveniles
  • Communicating information regarding treatment plans to clients
  • Provide counseling and therapeutic intervention
  • Serve as a member of a therapeutic treatment team
  • Utilize a range of counseling techniques and skills in crisis interventions
  • Implements individual and group treatment plans to effect behavioral changes
  • Administering scoring, interpreting a variety of assessment tools to evaluate treatment progress, and reviewing treatment strategies to achieve rehabilitation goals
  • Participate in the development of individual treatment, educational, vocational and community reintegration programs.
• Physical and Mechanical Restraints
• Medication administration.

NEW STEP PAY PLAN!

Youth Counselor's enjoy annual salary increases with a step pay plan!  Your initial salary is based on your total months of related education and experience above the minimum requirements (Bachelor's degree and 24 months of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience (6 years)).Please list all work experience in order for you to receive maximum credit. This will help determine the correct salary and step for potential candidates. Candidates will only receive credit for experience documented on the state application. Once hired, your pay will continue to increase as you gain more related experience up to step 6 and you may also qualify for other promotional opportunities. 

Related Education & Experience Months Over Minimum

Benefits & Work Schedule

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with State Benefits.  These positions are required to work shift work and will vary depending on the need of the facilities. Must be able to work weekends, holidays and evenings.  

About Juvenile Justice:

The Juvenile Justice Section is committed to the reduction and prevention of juvenile delinquency by effectively intervening, educating and treating youth in order to strengthen families and increase public safety.  Click here to learn more about the North Carolina Department of Public Safety's Juvenile Justice Overview.  If you have a passion for making a difference in the lives of North Carolina's youth, we welcome you to be part of the team.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

DPS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. 

The Minimum Education and Experience (E&E) are REQUIRED to qualify for this position.  All work history and education (including accurate dates of employment/attendance) must be documented on the application. Supplemental Questions are also a required part of the application: answers must reference education or work experience listed on the application. A complete, all-inclusive application maximizes an applicant’s 

potential to qualify for the position, as well as the highest possible salary. Salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position. 

Management Preferences- (These skills are not required but managers may choose to interview/select applicants who demonstrate Management Preferences.)

• Demonstrated knowledge of adolescent development
• Demonstrated experience with counseling skills
• Demonstrated experience with crisis intervention techniques
• Demonstrated experience working with minority groups
• Demonstrated experience working with a multidisciplinary service team
  
   

Please note: You must be physically capable of applying the proper methods and procedures to physically restrain juveniles and defend self after being properly training by the department. The physical demands for this position will be discussed during the interview.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.”  If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.

Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of experience working with the juvenile/family client population and/or related human services experience; 
OR 
an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Necessary Special Qualifications Applicants for positions designated as Juvenile Justice Officers are subject to and must meet the hiring and training standards established by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, as defined in Title 12, Chapter 9 of the NC Administrative Code, by the statutory authority of GS 17C.

Please list all work experience in order for you to receive maximum credit.  This will be directly related to a possible salary offer.

Necessary Special Qualification: Applicants for positions designated as Juvenile Justice Officers are subject to and must meet the hiring and training standards established by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, as defined in Title 12, Chapter 9 of the NC Administrative Code, by the statutory authority of GS 17C.

Selected applicant must attend and successfully complete and pass the Juvenile Justice Officer Basic Training certification program. The certification requires four weeks to complete and is comprised of classroom and physically demanding training. This training is carried out at regional training centers and requires consecutive overnight stays. In addition, the selected candidate must:

 Have or be able to obtain required documentation for certification as a Juvenile Justice Officer (i.e. a diploma).

·Pass a Criminal Background check

·Pass a Drug Screening test

·Pass a Psychological test

·Pass a Sexual Risk Screening test

·Pass a Physical (to include Vision and Hearing)

·Be a US citizen

·Be at least 20 years of age

·Have a valid driver's license