Juvenile Justice Specialist - Loysville Youth Development Center, Perry County

About the role

Juvenile Justice Specialist at the Department of Human Services is a role where you can make a real difference every day. This position offers a chance to guide young residents toward healthier choices while building your own professional skills. You will work in an environment that values teamwork, safety and personal growth. Join our agency and help shape positive futures.

Watch this video to see how you can make a difference!

This position focuses on providing daily supervision, support and structure for residents at the Loysville Youth Development Center. The work ensures a safe environment while helping youth build positive behaviors needed for future success.

As a Juvenile Justice Specialist, you will perform the following duties

• Security Oversight: Maintain constant awareness of residents to uphold safety and prevent harmful behaviors
• Safety Enforcement: Prevent absconding and protect staff, residents and the community
• Contraband Searches: Conduct searches of individuals and areas to ensure a secure environment
• Daily Guidance: Supervise and instruct residents in hygiene, meals, recreation, work tasks and treatment activities
• Case Support: Assist in carrying out the Master Case Planning System through documentation, meeting attendance and participation in programming
• Behavioral Intervention: Maintain order by using active supervision and least restrictive intervention techniques

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information

• Full-time employment.
• Shift work in a 24/7/365 operation, including evenings, holidays and weekends. 8-hour shifts with no duty-free lunch
• 5-day work week with 2 days off.
• 1st shift: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
• 2nd shift: 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM
• 3rd shift: 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM
• Evenings, weekends, holidays, voluntary and possible mandatory overtime.
• May change based on operational needs.
• The Department of Human Services provides excellent benefits, pay increases, paid leave and holidays, as well as opportunities for career advancement.
• Must be willing to accept employment at Loysville Youth Development Center and commute to this location in Loysville, Perry County.
• FREE PARKING!
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $57,772.00 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Please check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements

• Two years of experience in the care, custody, activities, or personal guidance of adolescents or adults in a human services or social services program, law enforcement or correctional program, or an educational, community, or military organization; or
• Successful completion of the Juvenile Justice Specialist Trainee program (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• An associate’s degree in social sciences, counseling, restorative justice, juvenile justice, child development, behavioral sciences, human services, criminal justice, education, or a closely related field; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree

Special Requirement

• You must be at least 21 years old at the time of application.

Other Requirements

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements

• A conditional offer of employment will require a medical examination and drug screening.
• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
• Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

How to Apply

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

Additional information

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
• your score may be lower than deserved.
• you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.