Youth Counselor (Statewide) - New Step Pay Plan

We are looking for candidates who have a passion for helping court-involved youth.

We are Working Together to Strengthen North Carolina's Youth and Families!

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week)

This job classification also qualifies for the employee Referral Bonus program.  

If you were referred to this job posting by a current DPS employee, and you are eventually hired, that employee could qualify for a referral bonus.

We offer great Benefits!

Various option packages will enhance your quality of life, health, wellness, and future. Some examples are Vacation, twelve Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave as well as Health Insurance, Disability (Short and Long Term) Insurance and Dental Insurance.  For a full list of Benefits, please click on this LINK.

NEW STEP PAY PLAN!

Youth Counselors enjoy annual salary increases with a step pay plan!  Your initial salary is based on your total months of related education and experience above the minimum requirements (related Bachelor's degree and 24 months or equivalent combination of education and experience).  As you gain related experience, not only will your pay continue to increase, but you may qualify for promotional opportunities as well.  There are many opportunities for promotional advancement within Juvenile Justice!

Step

Related Education & Experience Months Over Minimum

Youth Counselor

NC0800-11$40,348112-23$43,173224-35$45,764336-47$48,052448-59$49,974560-71$51,473672+$52,503

What are the duties of a Youth Counselor?

• Monitor and supervise juveniles while housed, at school and all daily activities;

• Safety and security duties include:

• Maintaining a secure environment;

• Routinely monitoring and observing juveniles;

• Maintaining compliance with cleanliness and sanitation standards;  

• Work is subject to close personal and physical contact with juveniles;

• Daily records are completed to include:

• Documenting safety violations and security breaches;

• Activity briefing for shift personnel, crisis intervention events, behavioral problems/issues, and youth progress updates;

• Provide feedback to the treatment team on juveniles;

• Providing counseling and therapeutic intervention;

• Serve as a member of a therapeutic treatment team;

• Utilize a range of counseling techniques and skills in crisis interventions;

• Implements individual and group treatment plans to effect behavioral changes;

• Administering scoring, interpreting a variety of assessment tools to evaluate treatment progress, and reviewing treatment strategies to achieve rehabilitation goals;

• Participate in the development of individual treatment, educational, vocational and community reintegration programs;

• Monitor recreational activities;

• Physical and Mechanical Restraints;

• Medication administration

Juvenile Justice has immediate openings for the following areas:

• Cabarrus County Youth Development Center/Detention Center (Concord)

• Chatham Youth Development Center (Siler City)

• Edgecombe County (Rocky Mount)

• Lenoir County (Kinston)

• Rockingham Youth Development Center (Reidsville)

Note to Current State Employees:

The salary grade for this position is NC08.  State employees are encouraged to apply for positions of interest even if the salary grade is the same as, or lower than, their current position. If education and experience, funding availability, and internal equity. Based upon these factors, a pay increase MAY result.

About the Division of Juvenile Justice:

The Mission of Juvenile Justice is to reduce and prevent juvenile delinquency by effectively intervening, educating and treating youth in order to strengthen families and increase public safety.

The Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is committed to the reduction and prevention of juvenile delinquency by effectively intervening, educating and treating youth in order to strengthen families and increase public safety.  If you have a passion for making a difference in the lives of North Carolina's youth, we would welcome you to be part of the team.  To learn more about Juvenile Justice, please go to this LINK.

About the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NC DPS):

The mission of DPS is to safeguard and preserve the lives and property of the people of North Carolina through prevention, protection, and preparation with integrity and honor. Included in this department are Alcohol Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, NC National Guard, State Capitol Police, State Highway Patrol and many others.  DPS is comprised of approximately 6,000 permanent positions and nearly 13,000 NC National Guard temporary positions.

The Knowledge, Skills and Abilities listed below, along with the Minimum Education and Experience requirements, are REQUIRED to qualify for this position.  We will not review resumes in lieu of Experience and Education listed on the application.  Click these links for additional information:

Introduction to the Job Application and Addressing Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.  

(Note: These links were created for applicants of Dept. of Public Safety jobs and may not reflect the policies or procedures of other State agencies.)

• Knowledge of the methods and procedures of discipline and rehabilitation of juveniles confined in a secure long-term facility which emphasizes the use of behavior management techniques.

• Knowledge of individual and group behavior, child and adolescent development, family systems, individual and group counseling techniques, and crisis intervention techniques.

• Knowledge of minority group cultures, techniques of communicating with adolescents, and behavioral and developmental challenges and their treatment.

• Demonstrated ability to assess clients to develop appropriate treatment plans, formulate clear goal oriented treatment plans, and document progress of juveniles.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate (verbal and written) with juveniles, families, and other treatment team members to explain the behavior and progress of the juvenile.

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an "equivalent combination of education and experience."  If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.

Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of experience working with the juvenile/family client population and/or related human services experience;

OR 

an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Applicants with unrelated degrees (i.e. Women & Gender studies, Divinity and Political Science) must attach a copy of his/her college transcript for evaluation.

Please list all work experience in order for you to receive maximum credit.  This will be directly related to a possible salary offer.

Necessary Special Qualification:

Applicants for positions designated as Juvenile Justice Officers are subject to and must meet the hiring and training standards established by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, as defined in Title 12, Chapter 9 of the NC Administrative Code, by the statutory authority of GS 17C.

Selected applicant must attend and successfully complete and pass the Juvenile Justice Officer Basic Training certification program. The certification requires four weeks to complete and is comprised of classroom and physically demanding training. This training is carried out at regional training centers and requires consecutive overnight stays. In addition the selected candidate must:

• Have or be able to obtain required documentation for certification as a Juvenile Justice Officer (i.e. a diploma).

• Pass a Criminal Background check

• Pass a Drug Screening test

• Pass a Psychological test

• Pass a Sexual Risk Screening test

• Pass a Physical (to include Vision and Hearing)

• Be a US citizen

• Be at least 20 years of age

• Have a valid driver's license

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws and Executive Orders.  We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job.

DPS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals.  Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive information.  Information should be provided in the appropriate areas to include the beginning and ending dates of jobs worked, education with the date graduated, all work experience, and certificates / licenses.  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.  Answers to Supplemental Questions must refer to education or work experience listed on this application to receive credit.   Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.

• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS) if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.        If a former member of the NC National Guard who served for at least 6 years and was discharged under honorable conditions, they must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.

• If applicants earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, they must attach an unofficial transcript to each application to receive credit for this education.

• If applying for a Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention position certified through the NC Dept. of Justice - Criminal Justice Standards Division, please click this link for specific certification requirements: Juvenile Justice Officer & Juvenile Court Counselor Certification.

• The NC Dept. of Public Safety must adhere to the US Dept. of Justice Final Rule on the "National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape."  Click this link for information on hiring and promotion prohibition requirements in the Division of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention: PREA Hiring and Promotion Prohibitions

• Per NC General Statute 143B-972.1, applicants hired into a position certified as a criminal justice officer or justice officer are required to electronically submit fingerprints to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a state and national criminal history record check and enrollment in the FBI's Next Generation Identification System: Criminal Justice Record of Arrest and Prosecution Background Service ("RAP Back").  This is in addition to submitting fingerprints during the application process.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account and click "Application Status."  If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by management.  If you are no longer under consideration, you will receive an email notification.

For technical issues with your application, please call the GovernmentJobs.com Applicant Support Help Line at 855-524-5627.  If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact Human Resources at JJHiring@ncdps.gov