Youth Services Unit Administrator

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We are transforming and saving lives at DYS!

A safer Ohio: one youth, one family and one community at a time.

About Us…

Our mission at the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) is to improve Ohio's future by habilitating youth and empowering families and communities. We believe that all youth will be given an opportunity to live up to their greatest potential and staff are our greatest resource. 

DYS is the juvenile corrections system for the state of Ohio. DYS is statutorily mandated to confine felony offenders, ages 10-21, who have been adjudicated and committed by one of Ohio's 88 county juvenile courts. During their stay with DYS, youth are engaged in programming that is designed to address their criminological and behavioral needs. DYS reaches thousands of youth in facilities and those on parole.

Our Guiding Principles…

• Demonstrate staff are our greatest resource
• Treat everyone with respect
• Cultivate a trauma responsive environment for staff and youth to thrive
• Provide the best support and services for youth and families
• Advance our culture of inclusion through understanding and appreciating staff and youth differences
• Commit to and encourage collaboration and continuous improvement to produce better outcomes for those we serve
• Celebrate collective successes and support one another through opportunities to improve

To learn more about DYS, please visit our website by clicking here.

DYS is seeking a Unit Administrator to oversee facility operations. The ideal candidate will be a strong leader with a solid background and a passion to habilitate youth.

Specifically, the Unit Administrator will:       

• Works under administrative direction of Unit Management Administrator in order to serve as unit administrator for assigned residential living unit(s); ensures and accepts responsibility to protect youth from harm; implements, administers and ensures compliance with DYS policies and procedures, American Correctional Association (ACA) Standards, Ohio Revised Code, Senate Bill 5, and Ohio Administrative Code to provide uniform direction and administration of proper custodial care, health, safety and treatment phases for youth; plans and coordinates direct and/or indirect services of residential living unit(s) (e.g., health, safety, security, structured programming, hygiene, treatment, risk management, security classification plan); supervises staff assigned to residential living unit(s) (e.g., Juvenile Correctional Officers, Correctional Program Specialists); ensures compliance with Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards and guidelines; oversees and coordinates unit schedules and ensures schedule maximizes out of room time through structured, meaningful activities; ensures schedules are followed and the appropriate staff are present to lead the activities; completes residential living unit plan with high priority on safety and security of youth and staff (e.g., directs unit activities, provides guidance and direction to youth and staff, recognizes and reports unethical staff behavior and/or group dynamics); maintains awareness of Security Threat Group (STG) activities/incidents, non-compliant youth, de-escalates hostile situations among youth and/or staff when needed; executes the delivery of unit plan and communicates unit plan to youth and staff; assists in youth residential program direction by formulating and implementing youth program policies and procedures (e.g., crisis intervention, Core B, Anger Management, Thinking for a Change, Victim Awareness, Motivational Interviewing).

 

• Manages business functions for unit (e.g., prepares and monitors the budget for program area, orders supplies and equipment for youth and unit); writes reports (e.g., monthly, incident, ACA compliance); completes employee performance reviews; completes and submits required unit plan & monitors the maintenance and organization of the unit file (e.g., completes living unit inspection forms and logging Youth Behavior Incident Report (YBIR)); provides information to DYS divisions (e.g., Parole, Release Authority); investigates and responds to employee and youth grievances; responds to youth, letters and interdepartmental correspondence and processes required unit documentation (e.g., youth discipline, Intervention Hearings); investigates and reports on issues as assigned by Facility Superintendent; performs other related duties as assigned.

 

• Implements new and/or existing policy, methods and/or procedures related to residential living unit; participates and/or leads groups and meaningful activities when appropriate; coordinates behavioral health services, recreation, housekeeping, hygiene, maintenance, investigations, and training; ensures Correctional Program Specialists assigned to unit conduct groups according to the schedule and also ensures Youth Specialists engage the youth in structured activities which must be led by staff in an effort to reduce youth idleness; responds to Critical Incident Management (CIM) situations and serves as Incident Commander; monitors Juvenile Justice Case Management System (JJCMS) incidents as it relates to youth assigned to residential living unit(s); monitors use of force and Separation including Response to Acts of Violence (AOV) Separation Incidents; provides Safe to Release Assessment; provides Quality Assurance for residential living unit plan and programming; ensures compliance with QA indicators at both the local and Central Office levels; monitors and provides information related to QA results and ensures corrective action following QA report conducted by supervisor or Central Office; plans, executes and documents treatment plans; responds to programmatic issues; ensures youth compliance with youth behavior management system (i.e., Positive Response Incentive Driven Environment); makes recommendations to supervisor regarding residential living unit policy and procedures to develop methods and/or new programs to improve efficiency within the unit to achieve facility Performance based Standards, Ohio Standards and ACA goals and compliance.

   

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

42 mos. trg. or 42 mos. exp. in youth programming services in secured environment &/or treatment facility for counseling & motivating troubled youth &/or behaviorally challenged clientele.

-Or completion of undergraduate core program in behavioral science (e.g., psychology, sociology, social work, rehabilitation, criminal justice, juvenile justice); 18 mos. exp. in secured environment &/or treatment facility related to youth programming services &/or behaviorally challenged clientele.

-Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above.

Job Skills: Corrections

BACKGROUND CHECK NOTICE: The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check and pre-employment drug screening. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

PRE-SERVICE TRAINING: All final candidates are required to attend 3 weeks of mandatory, paid training at the Correctional Training Academy in Orient, Ohio.  This training is fully paid for and will cover lodging, transportation (if needed) and meals.  Training takes place for 3 weeks, Monday through Thursday, 7AM to 5PM with Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays off.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.