Job Responsibilities
Would you like the opportunity to grow in the field of Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, or another Social Science? Would you like to continue your education, kick-off your career path, and gain tuition reimbursement?
A unique opportunity exists for individuals to work with at-risk youth. Kent County Juvenile Detention is a 98-bed locked and secured facility where juveniles are held pending some form of court action. We are seeking candidates to work on a full-time basis, performing guidance, counseling, behavioral observation, and custodial care for residents of the facility. The successful candidate will have the aptitude to effectively interact with at-risk children in a positive, patient, and caring manner, while maintaining appropriate discipline and structure.
We are currently hiring for 2nd shift, working the hours of 2:45pm – 10:45pm with a requirement to work every other weekend. Some employees on 2nd shift work in weekend-only positions, working every weekend with a double shift on either Friday or Monday. The following are typical daily tasks for a Youth Specialist:
- Provides individual and group orientations and guidance, ensuring that youth in detention participate in educational, counseling, treatment, and other programs.
- Inspects living and sleeping quarters to ensure that conditions are safe, sanitary, and appropriate.
- Organizes, supervises, and participates to a limited extent in recreational and other group activities, including work programs.
- Maintains logs of observed behaviors and participation in programs for review.
- Supervises residents in the care and maintenance of grounds and common areas and in other non-technical work incidental to the institution's operation.
- Responds to crisis situations with appropriate intervention techniques and restrains/secures individual residents as necessary to maintain the safety and security of all facility residents.
- Facilitate daily Learning Groups based on the Cognitive Behavior Training model, to include, effectively managing small and medium group dynamics.
Important additional information:
- Candidates selected for hire are required to satisfactorily pass a pre-hire physical and a background investigation including criminal history, driving record, MDHHS central registry clearance and fingerprint background check.
- Detention is a 24/7 operation and staff are considered essential workers.
- Employees in this position may be tasked with mandated overtime if necessitated by low staff-levels on a given day. Typically for a 2nd shift employee, this would require working the 3rd shift after completing your 2nd shift hours.
Minimum Qualifications
Must be able to gain the respect and cooperation of youth and to interact in a positive, patient and caring manner. Must be able to respond to and reestablish order in crisis situations, which may include physically restraining youth. Requires knowledge of recreation leadership and a variety of games, sports and crafts.
Requires valid, unrestricted driver's license.
Additional Information
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Benefit Summary
TPOAM
Full-Time
Effective January 1, 2023
Medical and Prescription Plans/Health Care Premium
Health Care Providers – BCBS Wellness PPO or Blue Care Network HMO
Prescription Provider – Optum Rx
20% of total healthcare premium per month – pretax
Eligible for non-smoking and wellness exam incentives
Medical benefits effective first day of the month after hire.
BENEFIT ELECTION FORM MUST BE RETURNED TO
HUMAN RESOURCES WITHIN 4 DAYS OF HIRE.
Dental Plan - Varipro
Class I – 100% of incurred charges (2 cleanings and 1 x-ray per person, per year)
All other Services – 50% of reasonable costs (including Orthodontics)
Up to $2,500 annually per family
Vision Plan - VSP
No charge for WellVision Exam; $20 materials co-pay with participating doctors
Life Insurance
$50,000 Term Life Insurance
Supplemental Life Insurance
Self-pay in increments of $5,000; Minimum-$15,000/Maximum-$150,000
Flexible Spending - Varipro
Pre-tax contributions for Health and Dependent Care
Vacation Leave
Accrual begins at hire
8 hours each month - 1st pay period each month.
96 hours per year.
See union contract for further details
Sickness & Accident Plan
1st day of accident or 8th day of illness
67% of gross wages; 26 week benefit
Eligible after 6 months of service credit
Eligible for one-time S&A Supplement Bank of 48 hours
Long-Term Disability
60% of wages to age 65; waiting period 180 days
Holidays
11 Scheduled Holidays
(8 Hours pay at regular straight time rate)
Paid Time Off
40 hours (employees on the payroll at the start of the year with at least 6 months of service credit)
Pro-rated based on remaining months in the year for employees completing 6 months of service during the year.
May accumulate up to 120 hours.
Unused paid time off in excess of 120 hours will be added to the employee's retirement bank bonus.
Probation Period
First 6 months of employment
Shift Differential
$0.50 per hour for regularly scheduled shifts beginning at 2:00 PM or later
Weekend Differential
$0.50 per hour for regularly scheduled shifts beginning at 11:00 PM Friday and ending at 7:00 AM Monday
Overtime
1 1/2 times regular straight-time rate for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week
Call Back Pay
Guaranteed 2 hours paid at time and a half
Merit Increases
See contract for merit levels
Tuition Reimbursement
$315 per credit hour; maximum of 9 credit hours per year (see policy for eligibility)
Mileage
Published IRS Rate
Deferred Compensation
Enrollment first of each month with a minimum investment of $25 per pay period
Retirement/Defined Pension
Mandatory participation in a Contributory Defined Benefit Pension Plan.
Employee contribution is 9.23% of pre-tax earnings
Retirement Bonus Bank
Employees who retire under the Kent County Retirement Plan (other than a deferred retirement) will receive pension service credit for all hours in their Retirement Bonus Bank at the time of retirement.
Supplement to Medical Benefits Premium
Based on years of service, employees may be eligible for a medical benefits premium supplement
Kent County Human Resources
Benefit Summary
TPOAM
Part-Time
Effective January 1, 2023
Medical and Prescription Plans/Health Care Premium
Eligible to purchase at a group rate, less $35.00 per pay period contribution paid by the County. Eligible for non-smoking and wellness exam incentives.
Dental Plan
Not eligible
Vision Plan
Not eligible
Life Insurance
Not eligible
Supplemental Life Insurance
Not eligible
Flexible Spending - Varipro
Pre-tax contributions for Health and Dependent Care
Vacation Leave
Accrual based on weekly hours.
See union contract for further details
Sickness & Accident Plan
1st day of accident or 8th day of illness
67% of gross wages; 26 week benefit
Eligible after 6 months of service credit
Long Term Disability
60% of wages; waiting period 180 days
Holidays
4 Hours pay at regular straight time rate for each recognized holiday
Paid Time Off
20 hours (employees on the payroll at the start of the year with at least 6 months of service credit.)
Pro-rated based upon remaining months in the year for employees completing 6 months of service during the year.
Probation Period
First 9 months of employment
Shift Differential
$0.50 per hour for regularly scheduled shifts beginning at 2:00 PM or later
Weekend Differential
$0.50 per hour for regularly scheduled shifts beginning at 11:00 PM Friday and ending at 7:00 AM Monday
Overtime
1 1/2 times regular straight-time rate for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week
Call Back Pay
Not Eligible
Merit Increases
See contract for merit levels
Tuition Reimbursement
Not eligible
Mileage
Published IRS Rate
Deferred Compensation
Enrollment first of each month with a minimum investment of $25 per pay period
Retirement/Defined Pension
Mandatory participation in a Contributory Defined Benefit Pension Plan.
Employee contribution is 9.23% of pre-tax earnings
Retirement Bonus Bank
Employees who retire under the Kent County Retirement Plan (other than a deferred retirement) will receive pension service credit for all hours in their Retirement Bonus Bank at the time of retirement
Supplement to Medical Benefits Premium
Based on years of service, employees may be eligible for a medical benefits premium supplement
- The above is a summary of benefits. For specific benefits information consult the collective bargaining agreement and the summary plan descriptions.