Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING

Position Number:  00111510

Description Activated On:  9/4/2025 2:41:11 PM


Position Purpose:
Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. 

An employee in this position is responsible for nonprofessional supervisory work in the care, custody, supervision and training of court committed adjudicated delinquent residents in the youth development center/youth forestry camp (YDC/YFC) system. Provides on-the-job supervision to subordinate Juvenile Justice Specialists in order to maintain a safe, clean, comfortable environment in accordance with Department of Human Services, Office of Children, Youth and Families, Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services, and agency policies. The incumbent in this position reports directly to the designated Youth Development Counselor Supervisor or Youth Development Counselor Manager.

Description of Duties:
Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor.

Provide security by maintaining constant vigilance through the supervision of residents and employees in order to provide a safe living environment, which includes the prevention of harmful behaviors by residents towards self or others.

Ensure the safety and security of employees, residents and the community by preventing residents from absconding and training employees on daily activity policies and procedures.

Search residents and any and all areas for contraband.

Supervise, instruct and guide residents in their daily activities such as personal hygiene, eating, recreating and performing work assignments and in their treatment and programmed activities in order to effectively meet their physical and emotional needs.

Assist in the implementation of the Master Case Planning System (MCPS) by attending staff meetings, facilitating and documenting resident behavior and participating in programming and daily activities in order to aid the residents in meeting their treatment goals.

Communicate the status of both the residents and their physical environment through verbal and written notification according to established procedures in order to provide consistency of care.

Maintain order and discipline by intervening with residents through active supervision, responding to emergencies and employing the least restrictive intervention technique in order to prevent escapes, control inappropriate behavior and maintain a safe and secure environment.

Provide instruction and guidance to residents in developing (1) proper and acceptable behavior and (2) competencies in their daily activities to include housekeeping duties, work training programs and study habits.

Provide guidance in social and emotional growth by role modeling pro-social values and ideals in order to provide insight into more responsible behaviors to elicit a genuine desire to change.

Escort and supervise residents to and from various activities, clinics, appointments and visits on and off-grounds.

Train, develop and assist subordinate employees in the agency's principles and practices of (1) effective care and custody and (2) intervention with overactive, emotionally disturbed and/or suicidal youth in order to improve the quality of care and programming for residents, through the following:

1. Conduct regularly scheduled supervisory conferences.
2. Observe subordinates during the performance of their job duties.
3. Review subordinates’ performance with them both orally and in writing.
4. Complete the Employee Performance Review process for all subordinates according to DHS policy.

Maintain awareness of and ensure compliance with applicable collective bargaining agreements, including local agreements, as they relate to the supervision of subordinate employees.

Receive grievances and complaints, conduct initial investigation into causes and conditions, discuss with employee or resident, and resolve any complaints or recommend solutions.

Report employee infractions, follow-up on disciplinary problems and incident investigations, conduct pre-disciplinary conferences, recommend appropriate action and impose any discipline, as directed by the Human Resources Office.

Assign and direct employees in facilitating the scheduled recreational and therapeutic activities in order to provide residents with consistency of care.

Document, complete and/or approve/disapprove employee-related paperwork including but not limited to requests for leave and overtime, work-related injury reports and required policy sign-off sheets in accordance with policy.

Manage and control overtime by scheduling employees in a manner that effectively utilizes the workforce by moving employees to fill shift vacancies and scheduling employees in order to maintain a fiscally sound program.

Ensure subordinate employees receive mandated training, both courses and hours, to include the New Employee Academy, annual refreshers and the Employee Position Manual.

Adhere to all federal, state and agency regulations, policies and procedures governing confidentiality.

Apply the principles of Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) and consider these principles during work situations as required.

Attend and participate in staff meetings, supervisory conferences and employee training programs, including but not limited to Transition to Supervision, Crisis Intervention/Suicide Prevention, Safe Crisis Management, CPR/First Aid and Cultural Diversity in order to develop and maintain position skills.

Coordinate and facilitate emergency drills with residents and staff - fire drills, active shooter drills, AWOL drills.

Work overtime as required by operational necessities and emergencies. Must be able to work mandatory overtime in compliance with overtime provisions of the collective bargaining agreement, with little or no advance notice, whether on or off duty at the time of notification.

Perform related duties as required, including staff training programs, conducting fire drills and filing.

Decision Making:
Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature.

Determine the need for overtime and fill shift vacancies as necessary.

Determine the performance ratings on employee performance reviews.

Determine when it is appropriate to alter the scheduled program activities.

Determine the appropriate consequences based on the resident’s actions and behaviors.

Determine the need for and level of intervention in emergencies or crisis situations, not to exceed manual techniques.

In response to emergency situations, determine appropriate action.

Responsible for running individual shifts by meeting with staff, identify shift plan, assign staff work details, and oversee the shift.

Based on the resident group dynamics, determine when it is appropriate to alter the scheduled program activity.

Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License

Experience:



Licenses, registrations, or certifications:

1. 
  N/A
 
2.  
N/A
 
3.  
N/A
 
4.  
N/A
 
5.  
N/A
 
6.  
N/A

Essential Functions
: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
 
 1. Observe/supervise resident behavior and activities
 2. Effectively communicate both orally and in writing
 3. Respond to verbal radio transmissions
 4. Apply physical interventions when needed.
 5. Apply mechanical devices when approved
 6. Transport residents as required
 7. Search residents/physical plant areas for contraband
 8. Maintain standards of attendance.
 9. Pass training and re-certification courses as required
 10. Travel and work overtime as assigned.