SENIOR YOUTH WORKER

 DEFINITION:

 Under the direction of a Youth Work Supervisor, or other supervisor in
 a Children's Residential Treatment Center, Detention Facility or Group
 Home plans and implements therapeutic programs relating to the
 everyday living activities of problem children, provides for the
 emotional, social, and educational advancement of the individual
 child, and ensures the safety and welfare of residents; does other
 related work.

 NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative
 purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform
 all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties
 performed on the job may not be listed.

 EXAMPLES OF WORK:

 Utilizes appropriate individual counseling techniques; assists
 residents to identify and resolve areas of social, psychological,
 emotional, and/or behavioral dysfunction.

 Provides firm, consistent, and appropriate responses to behavior
 manifested by residents during daily living activities.

 Utilizes appropriate crisis intervention and behavioral management
 techniques, which may include the physical restraint and confinement
 of residents in response to episodes of extreme acting-out behavior

 Attends treatment planning conferences; assists in the diagnosis of
 resident dysfunctions and the development of treatment plans designed
 to remediate those dysfunctions.

 Plans, organizes, and carries out programs of leisure time activities,
 on both an individual and group basis, as indicated by the therapeutic
 needs of each resident.

 Attends training meetings on subjects designed to improve skills,
 attitudes, and knowledge needed for maximum performance.

 Oversees resident group meetings to achieve prescribed objectives
 regarding interpersonal interaction, education, and personal
 adjustment.

 Teaches proper methods of personal care, grooming, and basic 
 household activities to ensure suitable standards are followed for 
 order, cleanliness, safety and care of furnishings and equipment.

 Maintains a system of records and files which includes entries in a
 daily log, that reflects individuals' needs, problems and progress;
 prepares clear and concise reports on critical incidents.

 Coordinates and develops uniform practices and direction with
 inter-institutional activities.

 Provides emergency first-aid, and arranges for immediate 
 follow-up care in the absence of trained medical personnel

 Assigns resident work activities; provides instruction, develops
 attitudes and imparts knowledge required to carry out these
 activities.

 Interprets, explains, and applies the rules, regulations, and
 procedures of the center.

 Compiles and maintains records and files.

 Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic 
 and/or manual recording and information systems used by the 
 agency, office, or related units.

 REQUIREMENTS:

 EXPERIENCE:

 Two (2) years of experience in the direct care and/or training of 
 children with social, emotional, psychological and/or behavioral 
 problems in a residential or community centered program.

 NOTE:  Thirty (30) semester credit hours from an accredited
 college, which shall have included at least twelve (12) semester
 credit hours in the behavioral sciences may be substituted for 
 one (1) year of experience.

 NOTE:  Applicants who possess the twelve (12) semester credit
 hours in the behavioral sciences may substitute additional experience
 for the remaining education.

 LICENSE:

 Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in 
 New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee 
 mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

 NOTE:  Appointee will be required to possess a valid Commercial 
 Driver's License (CDL) and applicable endorsements for the
 class and type of vehicle being operated only if it is necessary to
 perform the essential duties of the position.

      NOTE: The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the
 required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type
 of vehicles they operate, rests with the Appointing Authority.

 KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

 Knowledge of basic theory and practice of human behavior and problems
 of group living.

 Knowledge of the nature of common psychopathologies of childhood and
 adolescence, and the appropriate responses to the behavioral
 manifestations.

 Knowledge of programmatic approaches to behavioral management,
 including the principles of behavior modification.

 Knowledge of individual and group counseling techniques.

 Knowledge of basic first-aid and emergency medical care.

 Knowledge of the therapeutic applications of popular games, sports and
 other leisure activities.

 Ability to interpret and apply information regarding new approaches
 and methods of dealing with children's problems.

 Ability to keep current with new ideas, attitudes, and skills relevant
 to working with problem children.

 Ability to appropriately handle emergency or potentially dangerous
 situations.

 Ability to understand complex concepts of learning and behavior
 modification, and their application to the client population served.

 Ability to participate in recreational activities.

 Ability to prepare records and reports.

 Ability to maintain records and files.

 Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual
 recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or
 related units.

 Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English
 sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign
 Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of
 communication.

 Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as
 they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable
 accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation
 cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship,
 such persons may not be eligible.

 This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
Job
Spec
Code
Variant
State,
Local or
Common
Class of
Service
Work
Week
State
Class
Code
Local
Class
Code
Salary
Range
Note
66000
C
C
40
13
05
H14
-

This job specification is for state and local government use.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.

 12/05/2002