Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker

This candidate will work directly to supervise court-placed youth, aged 12-20, who reside at OCFS secure, limited-secure, and/or non-secure residential facilities. The role involves ensuring that a facility is physically secure and emotionally safe for both youth and other staff. The candidate will help create a professional, healthy, and therapeutic environment.

• Two years full-time direct care experience in the care and programming of youth from ages 6-21; OR
• A Bachelor's degree; OR
• An Associate's degree AND six months experience; OR
• A high school graduation or equivalency diploma AND one year of experience; OR
• A satisfactory equivalent combination of the above education and experience requirements.

Direct care experience should be with youth involved in the juvenile justice system or in an institution, camp, school, community center, youth rehabilitation program, mental health or correctional institution, or residential center. Appropriate verifiable part-time experience will be accepted on a prorated basis. Resumes are not required but strongly recommended.

• Establish a relationship of professionalism, confidence, safety, and trust with youth and other staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Supervise and monitor youth, which may include 1-to-1 supervision depending on a youth's clinical needs.
• Actively participate as a member of a youth's support team to address emotional and behavioral needs and goals.
• Engage confidently with individuals under physical and/or emotional stress.
• Employ graduated harm reduction strategies while supervising youth, including intervention when necessary.
• Provide positive mentorship to youth and assist them in developing interpersonal skills and self-regulation strategies.
• Contribute to the well-being of the facility community by being collaborative and informed.
• Supervise and/or assist youth during recreation and education activities, and take on various as-needed assignments.
• Establish and maintain positive, professional relationships with youths' families and loved ones.
• Assist youth in achieving education, work readiness, and community transition goals.

• All prospective employees will undergo a Criminal Background Check (CBC), including State and federal Criminal History Record Checks.
• Prospective employees will be fingerprinted and may be required to pay necessary fees.
• All prospective employees will be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR).
• Prospective appointees will be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL).

Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you can satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include a fitness test, a medical standards evaluation, and a substance abuse screening.

Attend a 2-week Juvenile Justice Basic Training orientation, be proficient in OCFS-approved physical skills and youth restraint techniques, take NYS employee mandated annual trainings, and other annual training refreshers.

These positions require shift, weekend, holidays, and overtime assignments, including mandatory and voluntary overtime. 40 hours a week. Shift: Day, Evening, and Night.