Secure Detention Counselor

Secure Detention Counselor is responsible for creating a safe, therapeutic and caring environment for youth in a secure detention setting. The goal of the position is to ensure basic needs are met with a primary emphasis on proper supervision and interaction with all aspects of the program. This includes teaching and modeling social skills while supporting facility, recreational, and educational activities.

Job Responsibilities

Direct Supervision and Safety:

• Direct supervision of youth: maintaining visual observation of youth, monitoring well-being and conduct to prevent critical incidents from occurring and ensuring safety for youth and staff members.
• Maintain a therapeutic culture that encourages positive, respectful, and supportive interactions between residents and staff, residents and their peers.
• Supervises overall safety and security procedures; responds to critical incidents utilizing a range of de-escalation interventions or actions before using physical restraint and permit only the least restrictive measures to prevent physical harm to the resident or others.
• Completes necessary follow-up reports following critical incidents and emergency situations.
• Follows follow mandated report requirements for reporting of potential child abuse and neglect.
• May be assigned to provide supervision during family and other approved visitation.
• Monitors resident phone calls as needed.
• When a resident is admitted to area hospital, may be assigned to provide supervision of resident while in the hospital.

Program Facilitation

• Supervises,counsels, and instructs facility residents in daily living, recreational, and/or educational activities as needed.
• Provides informal guidance and counsel to youth.
• Manage challenging behaviors through de-escalation techniques,facilitating positive behavior supports.
• Ensures adherence to facility policies and procedures while acting as a positive role model for the youth in their care.

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintains narrative log records of shift activities.

Collaboration and Support

• All staff share responsibility as needed for maintaining a clean and sanitary environment. When working overnight shift is responsible for rotating chore list.
• Coordinates with other professionals like educators and Case Managers and Clinicians.
• May participate along with other professionals and paraprofessional staff as a team member in implementing appropriate treatment strategies for facility residents.
• May co-facilitate group counseling sessions with Case Manager or Clinician.
• Other related activities may be performed although not listed.

Job Requirements

• Minimum of a High School Diploma or GED; Associate degree preferred.
• At least 2 years of employment experience in the child welfare, juvenile justice or youth residential treatment facility.
• Valid Driver's License, with acceptable driving history to the Agency

Equal Opportunity Employer

Together for Youth is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability, marital status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment where diversity is valued and recognized as a source of strength and enrichment. We seek to attract talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures.

As a federal contractor, Together for Youth will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)