Secure Detention Counselor - Floor (4330)
Listed compensation
Salary Range: $23.87 /hr
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, benefits and time off.
Job Description
- Job Location: Valhalla, NY 10595
- Position Type: Full-Time
- Education Level: High School
- Salary Range: $23.87 - $23.87 Hourly
- Travel Percentage: Negligible
- Job Shift: Any
- Job Category: Social Services
Secure Detention Counselor is responsible for creating a safe, therapeutic and caring environment for youth in a secure detention setting. The goal of the position is to ensure basic needs are met with a primary emphasis on proper supervision and interaction with all aspects of the program.
This includes teaching and modeling social skills while supporting facility, recreational, and educational activities. Description(2) years of experience working with at-risk-youth in an educational or residential setting is REQUIRED. Job
Responsibilities
Direct Supervision and Safety: Direct supervision of youth: maintaining visual observation of youth, monitoring well-being and conduct to prevent critical incidents from occurring and ensuring safety for youth and staff members.
Maintain a therapeutic culture that encourages positive, respectful, and supportive interactions between residents and staff, residents and their peers.
Supervises overall safety and security procedures; responds to critical incidents utilizing a range of de-escalation interventions or actions before using physical restraint and permit only the least restrictive measures to prevent physical harm to the resident or others.
Completes necessary follow-up reports following critical incidents and emergency situations. Follows follow mandated report requirements for reporting of potential child abuse and neglect. May be assigned to provide supervision during family and other approved visitation. Monitors resident phone calls as needed.
When a resident is admitted to area hospital, may be assigned to provide supervision of resident while in the hospital. Program Facilitation Supervises, counsels, and instructs facility residents in daily living, recreational, and/or educational activities as needed. Provides informal guidance and counsel to youth.
Manage challenging behaviors through de-escalation techniques, facilitating positive behavior supports. Ensures adherence to facility policies and procedures while acting as a positive role model for the youth in their care. Documentation and Reporting Maintains narrative log records of shift activities.
Collaboration and Support All staff share responsibility as needed for maintaining a clean and sanitary environment. When working overnight shift is responsible for rotating chore list. Coordinates with other professionals like educators and Case Managers and Clinicians.
May participate along with other professionals and paraprofessional staff as a team member in implementing appropriate treatment strategies for facility residents. May co-facilitate group counseling sessions with Case Manager or Clinician. Other related activities may be performed although not listed. Job
Requirements
Minimum of a High School Diploma or GED; Associate degree preferred. At least 2 years of employment experience in the child welfare, juvenile justice or youth residential treatment facility. Valid Driver’s License, with acceptable driving history to the Agency
Equal Opportunity Employer
Together for Youth is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability, marital status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment where diversity is valued and recognized as a source of strength and enrichment. We seek to attract talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures.
As a federal contractor, Together for Youth will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.
However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c) #WSDTFY
Key Responsibilities
Responsible for maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment for youth in a secure detention facility through direct supervision and behavioral support. Duties include managing challenging behaviors using de-escalation techniques and coordinating with clinicians and educators to implement treatment strategies.
Requirements
Requires a minimum of a High School Diploma or GED and at least two years of experience working with at-risk youth in residential or juvenile justice settings. A valid driver's license and an associate degree are also preferred.
Qualifications
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Social Work — Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 30% are remote, 30% have no call, 56% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for New York is 107.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | not listed | Social Work median $61k (middle half $48k–$89k)38 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost of living | New York index 107.9 | US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Social Work listings in New York | 12 active | 321 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 30% remote · 30% no call · 56% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Social Work pay trend | +4.4% vs prior quarter | —through Sep 2026 |
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