Adolescent Services Worker

La Crosse County Western Regional Adolescent Services is accepting applications to fill current and future full- or part-time openings in our facilities to provide support, supervision and engage with residents. This role works various shifts under strict rules and regulations in a facility that operates 24 hours per day/seven days per week. 

Employees are selected by the Superintendent or designee, and work under relatively strict guidelines as specified in State Statutes as related to:

• Supervising and monitoring the activities of youth detained in the Secure Facility, and in directly implementing the behavior modification program as outlined in the Operations Manual and in compliance with Dept. of Correction-Administrative Rule DOC 346.
• Supervising and monitoring the activities of youth placed in the Shelter Facility, and in directly implementing the program as outlined in the Operations Manual and in compliance with D.C.F. 59 and H.F.S. 34 WI State Statutes.

Associate Experience – What’s In It For You?
   Supportive, collaborative, inclusive, and diverse workforce.
   Career learning, development, and growth opportunities.
   Culture of respect and dignity, teamwork, honesty, and integrity.
   Serving your community in a purposeful and meaningful way.
   Flexibility with generous paid time-off benefits.

Starting pay $22.20 hr. on an 8-step progression to $27.30 hr.
 
Shift Differentials: Hours worked between 4pm and 12am will earn an additional $.40 per hour and hours worked between 12am and 8am will earn an additional $.55 per hour

Full-time schedules include every other weekend off. Part-time workers are offered first opportunity at full-time schedule when available.

In this role you will gain valuable skills in the following areas:

• Trauma Informed Care
• Motivational Interviewing
• Restorative Justice
• Group Dynamics
• Crisis De-escalation
• Critical Thinking

Demonstrates self-leadership, seeks out opportunities for personal growth and development, accepts feedback and demonstrates ability to learn and apply.

Shares ideas and demonstrates respect, humility, honesty, and open-minded thinking. 

Demonstrates flexibility, acceptance of change and emotional intelligence.

Takes initiative and demonstrates the ability to think critically and strategically.

Participates as a contributing member of the team and brings authentic self to discussions regarding all aspects of the work.

Demonstrates ability to build and maintain effective relationships.

Tasks assigned to this position involve potential and/or direct exposure to blood or body fluids:
Risk Exposure Categories:
1=Tasks may involve exposure to blood/body fluids.
2=Tasks do not involve contact with blood/body fluids but could result in performing Category 1 task. 
3=Tasks do not involve any risk of exposure to blood/body fluid.

• Completes intake admission procedures when youth is placed in the facility, conducting physical search, logging data, processing legal paperwork, inventorying personal items.[1]
• Provides emotional support and encouragement to youth when necessary.[1]
• Observes and records general attitude, behavioral patterns, problems and/or concerns regarding each youth, and monitors daily activities of youth.[1]
• Drives youth to and from appointments and recreational activities.[1]
• Assists with meal serving and cleanup.[2] 
• Assists with machine laundering of the youth’s clothing.[1]
• Supervises the youth cleaning of in the facility, such as dusting, vacuuming, picking up.[2]
• Supervises youth activities within the facility, such as using the computer, recreation, and classroom.[2] 
• Attends regular staff meetings and training sessions.[3] 
• Maintains and demonstrates patience with the youth.[2]
• Assists youth to learn self-regulation skills.[2]
• Uses computer daily to enter intake information, documentation/case management notes and send e- mails.[3]
• Physically restrains and/or uses self-defense techniques as necessary and appropriate.[1] 
• Maintains confidentiality of work-related information.[3]
• In emergency situations such as suicide attempts or evacuation, rescues youth, which includes supporting weight of resident by lifting and/or dragging and/or administering CPR from a kneeling position.[1]
• Passes annual state-mandated training.[3]
• In this public service position, employee is required to be courteous, cooperative, and respectful at all times, with the public and clients. Also establishes and maintains a courteous, cooperative, and respectful working relationship with other employees, supervisors, and public officials.[3]
• Employee is expected to report to work when scheduled, with minimum use of sick leave, to build up sick leave balance for income protection for unexpected illness.[3]

Physical Demands: Moves around the facility, walking and standing; sits at desk part of the time, getting up and down to take phone messages and check on youth; uses verbal communication with youth to give instructions, etc.; unloads dishes and food from serving cart, picks up dishes after mealtimes, washes and dries dishes either manually or mechanically. While working in the Secure facility, employees must be able to restrain unsafe residents per POSC (Principles of Subject Control) training. Employees must be able to locate and rescue youth in case of fire or disaster, including pulling dead weight (using two-person carrying method, carry 120 lb. dummy) in accordance with requirements of State Training and Standards Bureau. Employees must possess the physical agility to ward off personal attack or injury. Employees must possess near and far vision to check day room, room, and cell checks, watching TV monitors as needed. Employees must use hearing to monitor facility activities.

RELATED JOB FUNCTIONS
This job description is not intended to encompass every job duty or responsibility but is only illustrative. This position is required to perform other duties as may be assigned or required.[1]

• Considerable knowledge of, or ability to comprehend, the laws relating to youth in a similar secure facility. 
• Knowledge and practice rules of confidentiality in relation to work with youth and their caregivers.
• Basic understanding and knowledge of youth with mental health and developmental disabilities. 
• Ability to verbally provide support and encouragement to youth in a non-judgmental manner.
• Ability to relate to youth and their caregivers in an understanding manner with concerns for their circumstances and feelings.
• Ability to work in a team atmosphere utilizing a strength-based approach.
• Ability to work collaboratively and tactfully with a variety of community professionals, County personnel, law- enforcement and the caregivers of youth with special needs.
• Ability to learn, understand and conscientiously observe center rules, regulations, and policies pertinent to youth in the facility and their conduct.
• Requires alertness and good observation qualities.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions. Ability to work effectively with behavioral patterns of difficult youth.
• Ability to make sound decisions in crisis situations.
• Ability to maintain complete and legible records as directed and to communicate in writing the behavior of youth who are being stabilized.
• Ability to perform basic keyboarding on a computer and to move around efficiently in computer programs such as Word and Outlook e-mail.
• Ability to administer CPR from a kneeling position.
• Ability to communicate through email and follow up with assigned tasks.
• Ability to maintain a good working relationship with the public, other departments, and co-workers.
• Reliability in attendance.

• Graduation from high school or GED.
• Preference given for advanced education in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, or human services or related field.
• Preference for previous work experience with juvenile delinquents, youth in crisis, corrections, alternative care, children with special needs, foster care, human services, or similar facility.
• Requires verification of previous employment per Wisconsin Statutes.
• Must be available to work all shifts and remain on the unit for 8 to 16 hours without leaving. 
• Must successfully complete initial and annual Crisis Support training per H.F.S. 34.
• Must successfully complete 80 hours training, as well as 15 hours on-going yearly training, as defined by D.C.F. 59.
• Must successfully complete reference check and criminal background check as required by the Wisconsin Caregiver Law.
• Must obtain certification per Department of Justice Training and Standards requirements as Secure Detention Officer, which requires 160-hr. training program to be completed within the first year of employment. Must maintain Secure Detention Officer certification during employment which requires 24 hours of training annually. Persons not meeting certification cannot work in the facility.
• Successful completion of reference check, physical evaluation, and criminal background check acceptable to the State Training and Standards Bureau, which includes no felony convictions.
• Must have a valid driver's license and good driving record.
• Must successfully pass pre-employment drug screen suitable for certification by the Law Enforcement Standards Board.
• Per WI Department of Corrections Administrative Code (DOC 346.22 (2) (d)): An officer of the same gender as the juveniles being admitted or held in custody shall be on duty in the living area. Because of this bona fide occupational qualification, finalists may be limited to the gender needed in the facility at the time of the recruitment.

Lead Adolescent Worker Responsibilities (other assigned duty)
The Lead Adolescent Worker assumes the duties of an Adolescent Worker while also taking on additional responsibilities and providing leadership within the team. This role is designated to a team member in the absence of the Superintendent or Supervisor at the facility. While the Lead Adolescent Worker does not possess employment or disciplinary authority over co-workers, they are tasked with ensuring smooth operations during their shift and serving as the primary point of contact for the assigned On-Call Supervisor. Selection and removal of Lead Adolescent Workers are at the discretion of the Superintendent or Supervisor. Serves as the Superintendent’s designee as needed to meet statutory requirements outlined by the Department of Corrections and Department of Children and Family Services regulations

Lead Adolescent Worker Considerations 
Must have met all qualifications established for Adolescent Workers by the Department of Corrections and Department of Children and Family Services regulations.
Working knowledge of Department of Corrections and Department of Children and Family Services regulations.
Lead Adolescent Workers will be selected from the list of current Adolescent Workers who demonstrate competence in leadership and communication skills.

Salary : $22 - $55