Youth Services Specialist - Creek YSC - Colorado Springs

Description of Job

You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times. Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.

• Safety/Security: Provide direct care, safety, security, and supervision of adjudicated and/or pre‑adjudicated youth in a secure setting. Supervise individual youth and youth groups, manage daily activities, intervene in crisis situations, de‑escalate, use physical response/restraint in emergency situations, debrief incidents, and conduct searches.
• Youth Center Programming: Implement the Youth Center’s behavioral management program, teach, coach, and redirect youth. Support DYS initiatives and strategies related to youth programming and crisis intervention.
• Documentation/Recording and Reporting: Document observations of youth behavior, responses to program(s), and all unit activities in appropriate logs, records systems, and database systems.
• Organizational Accountability: Demonstrate and contribute to a healthy, positive, and respectful cultural climate in the Youth Center. Adhere to CDHS Code of Conduct, DYS Compliance Review Standards, and CDHS and DYS policies.
• Training: Complete DYS Pre‑Service training academy, Youth Center training, and orientation process. Complete all assigned online training and support the Division’s prevailing behavior management and intervention strategies.
• Other duties as assigned.

• High school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED).

• 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 psycho educational 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.

• Skilled in conflict management.
• Strong work ethic, integrity and dependability.
• Sound judgment and decision‑making skills.
• Self control, composure and ability to manage stressful situations.
• Ability to verbally communicate clearly and respectfully.
• Ability to identify and act on changes, inappropriate activity, hazards or potential security breaches and communicate pertinent information.
• Ability to study information and recount events in a written, factual, concise, and legible method.

• Shift work: includes evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Shift length may vary between eight (8), ten (10), or twelve (12) hours. Mandatory overtime may be required.
• Full background check required (CBI name check, fingerprint check, court database checks, Medicare fraud database, reference checks, professional license verification, drug screen, PREA, Trails, CAPS).
• Must be minimum 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence.
• May be required to travel for training or alternate work sites.
• State of Colorado residency required at time of application and throughout employment.
• Must possess a valid, non‑restricted Colorado Driver’s License. Motor Vehicle Record check required.
• Continued employment contingent upon successful completion of DYS Pre‑Service Training Academy, Field Training Program, and mandatory annual training.
• Reduction of sexual risk screening tool (Diana Screen) administered to all applicants.
• Former state employees disciplined or terminated must disclose information and explain why prior termination should not disqualify them.

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA defined benefit or contribution plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans.
• Medical and dental health plans.
• Employer‑supplemented Health Savings Account.
• Paid life insurance.
• Short- and long‑term disability coverage.
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave.
• State of Colorado Employee Benefit Hub Resource Center.
• Employee Wellness program.
• Excellent work‑life programs, such as flexible schedules and training.
• Remote work arrangements…