Youth Worker

Part-time (20 hours/week) position to supervise, monitor, and maintain security and safety of court ordered dependent, neglected or delinquent youth with Linn County Child and Youth Development – Peer Group. Work is performed under general supervision. Knows the County’s Customer-Centered Culture principles, the County’s Mission, Strategic Plan and Core Values and demonstrates a commitment to customer satisfaction for all customers on a regular basis.

Key Responsibilities:

• Checks and maintains security and safety of participants on a continual basis.
• Responds to emergency situations that may occur including escape and suicide attempts, drug overdose, intoxicated youth, etc.
• Physically restrains participants if necessary.
• Records behavior observations and keeps daily reports and participant’s personal records.
• Performs recordkeeping, statistics and other paperwork as required.
• Drives van or other designated vehicle to transport program participants.
• Supervises program activities as required.
• Performs light maintenance tasks as required.
• Enforces rules consistently and fairly.
• Promotes, encourages and supports appropriate behavior.
• Supervises small groups of children in 2nd through 12th grades during afterschool or out-of-school hours.
• Coordinates activities both on-site and within the community that promote improvement of social skills, friendships and self-esteem.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.
• Knows the products they personally produce and the customers of each product.
• Listens to the “Voice of the Customer” and closes gaps between customer expectations and experience whenever possible.

Qualifications:    

• Associate’s degree in Human Services, Recreation or related field required.
• Experience working with children or adolescent groups desired.
• Working knowledge of the care, counseling and management of youth.
• Working knowledge of the social sciences.
• Basic knowledge of drugs (legal and illegal) and their side effects.
• Ability to function as an effective member of the child care team.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive professional relationships with co-workers, other professionals, parents and youth.
• Ability to receive, process and communication information orally and in writing.
• Ability to understand and follow instructions.
• Ability to make effective use of individual and group counseling techniques.
• Ability to make sound independent judgments quickly.
• Ability to function with little direct supervision.
• Ability to enforce rules consistently and fairly.
• Ability to remain flexible and adapt to change.
• Good physical condition.
• Must meet requirements and licensing regulations including: good health evidenced by the ability to pass a County physical examination which includes a drug test after offer of higher; a person who has a record of a criminal conviction or founded child abuse report shall not be employed, unless an evaluation concludes that the crime or founded abuse does not merit prohibition of employment.
• Certifications required after hire are: Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting and CPR.
• Valid State of Iowa Driver’s License required.
• Chauffer’s license required after hire.
• Van driving experience required.
• Regular work attendance required.

Shift:    Summer:       10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.            Monday – Thursday 
             School Year:  2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.              Monday – Thursday 
Hourly Wage:

• New Hire: $21.42
• 90 days: $22.51
• 1 year: $23.78  
• 2 years: $25.06  
• 3 years: $26.42