Correctional Youth Security Officer I

Benefits:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan (www.copera.org) plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• Medical and dental health plans
• Partial tuition reimbursement after 1 year of state service
• $24.15 hourly +_ $3,250 sign-on bonus!_
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Paid life insurance

Minimum qualifications:

• Possess and maintain a valid State of Colorado driver's license
• High school diploma or General Education Diploma, (GED).
• Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience utilizing verbal de-escalation and motivational techniques.
• 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 working with adjudicated and/or detained youth within a secure residential facility and/or a behavioral health setting;
• College education in a behavioral health and or juvenile justice related field.

Job description:

Positions provide direct care security, supervision, and support of detained and/or committed youth in Division of Youth Services (DYS) State Operated Secure Residential Facilities within a trauma responsive environment. The position serves a complex adolescent population with various behavioral health disorders, trauma and criminal behaviors. Facilities are 24/7 and position shifts are dependent on openings.

• Maintain a safe environment through appropriate supervision and use of behavioral management skills and interventions in order to guide youth through daily living and leisure activities.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with youth to support them in their programming.
• Inspect common areas and youth center living units to maintain health, safety and sanitation standards.
• Use conflict management, non-escalation and de-escalation skills and, in emergencies, use approved physical response techniques when all other interventions have failed.
• Inspect and ensure the safety and security of doors, windows, and youth center grounds.
• Conduct searches of individuals and rooms for contraband items.
• Monitor secure perimeter and monitor and control access to restricted areas.
• Implement and document suicide precautions monitoring, safety plans and behavior agreements for those youth at high risk of hurting themselves or others or demonstrating other serious behavioral concerns.

Facility and department description:

Prairie Vista Youth Services Center

The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. The DYS is committed to hiring individuals who are professional and passionate about their desire to help youth. DYS values candidates who have demonstrated perseverance as a special attribute that can help the youth in our care. DYS encourages qualified candidates with "lived experience" to apply.

Lived experience comes from the personal knowledge and understanding that many possess by virtue of first-hand experience with mental health, substance abuse, systems involvement and traumatic events. Lived experience brings unique knowledge, insights and perspectives that are invaluable for organizational growth, increased sensitivity to the youth and families we serve, and new ideas and inspiration for improving service delivery.

We invite you to explore the DYS website and learn about the services provided to youth, families, and local communities in the State of Colorado at: https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs/dys

​​​​​​Join the Colorado Department of Human Services and our mission to provide meaningful support services to Coloradans. Build a career with various opportunities for growth—where we value a diverse culture and perspectives, respect work life balance, and offer exceptional benefits and a retirement plan to support you and your family. You care for Coloradans and we care for you.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $24.15 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Referral program
• Paid time off
• Health savings account
• Dental insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Retirement plan
• 401(k)
• Professional development assistance
• Life insurance

Experience level:

• No experience needed

Schedule:

• Weekend availability
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: One location