POSITION SUMMARY

This supervisory and administrative position is responsible for directing the program of the York County Youth Development Center. An employee in this class is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the care of residents and assisting in the direction and operation of the Youth Development Center. Supervision is exercised over a staff of lower-level youth counselors.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree and one year of experience working with children or a minimum of an Associate’s Degree or 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university and three year of experience working with children is required.
• Must have FBI, Childline, and State Police Criminal Clearances in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services licensing requirements.
• Must have an understanding of accepted principles and practices of adolescent development and the ability to apply such techniques and theories in practice.
• Must be able to provide Safe Crisis Management (SCM) techniques.
• Must possess the ability and willingness to handle difficult situations that may require physical intervention/control of youths who are violent and aggressive.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Must be able to effectively read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plans, organizes and directs the care and program and assist the Assistant Director and Director in the operation of the Youth Development Center.
• Supervises the administration of individual and group counseling, constructive, disciplinary, security, recreational, educational, residential care, psychological services, instruction, training and related activities for the facility’s youth.
• Prepares and supervises lower-level counselors in making recommendations or reports for the courts concerning the youth in care.
• Directs and assist in the direction and research for the improvement and advancement of all programs and activities.
• Administer first level disciplinary measures and assist in follow-up on all disciplinary actions and investigations.
• Manage staffing to meet regulatory requirements while minimizing excessive costs associated with overtime.
• Participates in an on-call rotation during which time this individual must be able to respond to the facility in times of crisis or must cover supervisory shifts for the facility.
• Ensure youth counselors operate within compliance of the collective bargaining agreement.
• Respond to crisis behaviors as manifested by emotionally challenged youth and models individualized approach to children as needed.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with youth, staff workers, and general public in a professional manner.
• Develop new staff toward positive parental relationships with youth, maintaining appropriate boundaries as defined by facility policy.
• Administer medications as needed in the absence of the facility nurse and applies health, safety, first aid, and personal hygiene practices as needed.
• Other reasonable duties as assigned by Assistant Director and/or Director.