JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER - 80082504

Requisition No: 841706 

Agency: Juvenile Justice

Working Title: JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER - 80082504

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 80082504 

Salary:  $1,730.40 Bi-weekly 

Posting Closing Date: 11/27/2024 

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The Department of Juvenile Justice salutes our heroes.

We are honored to have the opportunity to support our nation’s veterans and their families.

We value the service given to our country and support the hiring of service members and military spouses.

THIS IS A POOL ADVERTISEMENT 

MULTIPLE POSITIONS WILL BE FILLED

LOCATION, CONTACT AND SALARY INFORMATION

Location: New Port Richey, Pinellas County, Florida

Contact Person: Jennifer Harrington, Juvenile Probation Officer Supervisor (727) 735-7019

Starting Salary: $1,730.40 Bi-Weekly. (In accordance with current spending restriction, an internal promotion into the position will be filled at the minimum of the pay grade or up to 5 percent of the employee’s current rate, whichever is higher).

DESCRIPTION

This is work providing social services to assist in rehabilitation of juvenile law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Incumbents make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Case Management, Referrals, Recommendations and Assessment

Initiate contact with the youth, family, victims, and law enforcement when referrals are received by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ).

Conduct home and school visits as an integral part of the information gathering process and family involvement model.

Initiate contact with the victim when a referral is received by the FDJJ to obtain the victim’s opinion regarding case handling and disposition.

Use Motivational Interviewing to engage the youth and family to determine the youth’s social, developmental, emotional, financial and/or other needs.

Obtain and review collateral information such as abuse and neglect history, educational, mental health, substance use, gang related activity and other pertinent information from other agencies involved with the youth and or family.

Conduct and document FDJJ screenings, to identify the youth’s risk and needs, protective factors and/or the need for further evaluations, including but not limited to detention screening, intake screening, Suicide Risk Screening Instrument, and any Department approved risk/needs screening and or assessment instruments.

Facilitate the completion of comprehensive assessments, and if results indicate needed services refer the youth and family for services regardless of youth’s legal status e.g., intake status youth that may include diversion and civil citation.

Document all referrals for services regardless of youth’s legal status and the youth or parent’s acceptance or refusal of services.

Formulate case management strategies based on assessments and/or information gathered to address the specific needs of the youth and family.

Make service referrals to the appropriate provider and follow up actions needing to be taken.

Make supervision and treatment recommendations to the State Attorney and other judicial partners that allow the Department to provide the most appropriate services in the least intrusive manner.

Discuss with the youth and family a safety plan that focuses on averting exposure to situations of risk, harm or injury to prevent victimization.

Complete the screening instruments and reports used by the Department and/or the courts that include but are not limited to the following

Detention Screening Risk Assessment DRAI, Suicide Risk Screening Instrument SRSI, Department approved risk/needs screening/assessment instrument and case plan,

Pre-Post Disposition Report, Adult Sentencing Summary Report, Progress (Status) Report, Electronic Commitment Packet, and Termination of Supervision.

Court Process

Acts as the DJJ representative during court hearings to support the Department’s recommendation for the youth, family, and community.

Confer and advocate with the attorneys e.g., State Attorney, Public Defender, Youth’s Private Counsel, DJJ General Counsel on the Department’s recommendations based on information gathered during the screening, assessment, intake and supervision process, which represents a balanced and restorative justice approach taking into consideration youth competency development, accountability to the victimized community and promoting public safety.

Prepare and maintain current social histories, court reports, referral letters, and related correspondence.

Explain court procedures to youth and their families.

Provide current information to the staff responsible for detention screening, detention reviews, and related court hearings.

Testify at hearings, when appropriate.

Prepare affidavits/petition for Violation of Probation for any violation that result in the filing of a delinquency petition.

Request hearings when appropriate.

Communicate and distribute the outcome of court proceedings to all affected parties i.e. youth, family, supervisor, detention, residential, providers, schools, victims, etc.

Notify circuit management on referrals to the Office of the General Counsel for resolution of problem court orders or proceedings.

Case Management, Interventions & Supervision

Complete a risk and needs assessment using the appropriate Department approved instrument for all youth screened/supervised by the department. Prior to the development of or revisions to the case plan staff should negotiate, implement, and modify the plan based on input from the youth and family, and the risk and needs identified by the PACT instrument in accordance with departmental rule/policy.

Conduct face-to-face contacts in the home, school and varied community-based settings by interacting with the youth, family and community during non-traditional hours weekends and evening hours in addition to business hours.

Initiate a face-to-face contact with the youth and family following court to conduct a preliminary review of the court order and to provide contact information for the JPO and/or program information to the youth and parent.

Maintain communication based on departmental requirements for all stages of youth and family involvement; gain firsthand knowledge of where the youth resides, the family, the youth’s immediate and extended environment by meeting in different locations, including the detention centers, schools, homes, out-of-home placements, place of employment, community sites, other agencies, treatment providers and offices.

Assist the youth with obtaining appropriate mental health, substance abuse evaluations based on administered assessments, and arrange for specialized testing and treatment, as needed.

Follow up with service provider to ensure that assessments, evaluations and progress reports, written or verbal, are received on a regular basis, and follow-up with the youth and parent guardian on any actions taken or issues communicated by the service provider.

Assist the youth and family with accessing community resources and services at an appropriate agency or placement resources, including intra-agency services, education and employment resources that will address youth and family needs: Review written or verbal reports from collateral sources, such as educational institutions, employers, counselors, electronic databases, etc.

Confer with mental health practitioners, school personnel, public health specialists, law enforcement, adult corrections, child welfare and others to identify appropriate services and for the development of a youth specific supervision plan.

Obtain identification documents needed for employability skills training Workforce Development and employment, education, recreational activities, or child in care application.

Assist youth and family with school and after school enrollment; maintain school contact, verifying school attendance, academic performance, and behavior.

Assist youth and family with enrollment in after school and weekend pro-social recreational activities.

Arrange for life skills groups, counseling, etc., as needed.

Provide crisis intervention; assist the youth and family in accessing crisis intervention services resources by making necessary referrals and follow-up on actions taken.

Work with the youth to establish personal goals/plans and provide ongoing support to help youth achieve their goals and maintain skills.

Assist youth, family and/or facilities with the planning and coordination of transportation of youth and family to and from detention centers, court, school, after school programs/activities, residential programs, homes and other community-based appointments.

Discuss with youth and family projected timeframes for completion of goals, sanctions/conditions of supervision and anticipated date for termination of supervision based on progress and as ordered by the court.

Monitor a specialized client caseload as assigned and refer for services, provide direct services and/or supervision; participate in all case related staffing, document all case work in JJIS, prepare reports for the other agencies involved agencies and/or the court, as required.

Respond to concerns, needs, and risks as presented by youth, family, and the community by staffing cases, plans or violations with the unit supervisor in accordance with existing departmental policies, procedures, administrative rules, and FL statutes.  Enlist concerned parties in a team conferencing approach to provide input on interventions and revisions to supervision plans.

Determine recommended handling of law violations and provide appropriate interventions when a youth violates the conditions of supervision based on the Effective Response Matrix and follow up on actions taken in response to a violation.

Conduct staffing when benchmarks occur, case milestones are achieved by the youth and or family or case is complex and in need of additional considerations  i.e. when youth is still securely detained a certain number of days pre-adjudication or post disposition,  or beyond a timeframe identified in statute, when youth have completed all court ordered requirements and conditions of supervision, or violated supervision, and when transition and exit conferences are scheduled for a set number of days prior to the youth’s release from residential commitment, complex cases.

Prepare case transfer or progress summaries within required timeframes as defined by administrative rule.

Participate in transition and exit planning to finalize plans for the youth pending release from residential programs, which includes referrals for post-residential services to for mental health, substance abuse, education and workforce services.

Provide the youth and family with needed support to ensure best outcomes are achieved prior to Department’s involvement being terminated.

Records Management

Enter Juvenile Justice Information System JJIS all case management activities, including risk/needs screening, assessment and case planning activities related to the youth and family during youth’s involvement in the juvenile justice continuum.

Upload required forms/ documents into the Juvenile Justice Information System JJIS case file to ensure accurate and timely entries, in accordance with administrative and JJIS business rules.

Organize and maintain hard copy or electronic JJIS Case Notebook Module records to ensure inclusion of all required case file document.

Review referral history and other JJIS data for accuracy and conduct data collection for statistical purposes within established rules.

Obtain and maintain in JJIS the youth’s photograph with updated images.

Community Collaboration

Provide contact information for community-based service providers in response to inquiries from non-involved youth and families that may address the family’s issues.

Ensure familiarity with community resources and provide input to circuit management on provider community-based service delivery issues and program developments, and provide input on grant related proposals, if requested.

Cultivate restorative justice community service work sites, schedule work crews, and supervise youth participating in group work projects, as needed.

Special Assignments and Training

Attend and participate in professional development trainings and meetings.

Participate in informal and formal supervision case audit reviews and annual performance reviews.

Participate in committees and workgroups to develop policies and procedure or other task as assigned.

Speak to community groups or external parties and explain DJJ functions, as directed and approved.

Participate on committees and workgroups in community organizations and agencies, as directed and approved.

Train and or oversee interns, volunteers and/or students, as directed and approved.

Participate in special projects, as directed.

Provides assistance to other staff when language interpretation is needed.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required at the time of submission of the candidate profile or

Four years of experience working directly with adolescents in one or more of the following fields: criminal justice (e.g., law enforcement, courts, correction/rehabilitation facilities, or probation/parole), social services (e.g., child protective services, crisis intervention, foster care/group homes, adoption, or mental health/substance abuse treatment), or education or

An associate degree from an accredited college or university at the time of submission of the candidate profile and two years’ experience working directly with adolescents in one or more of the following fields: criminal justice (e.g., law enforcement, courts, correction/rehabilitation facilities, or probation/parole), social services (e.g., child protective services, crisis intervention, foster care/group homes, adoption, or mental health/substance abuse treatment), or education.

A valid driver’s license is required.

Juvenile Probation Officers are required to maintain CPR and First Aid Certifications throughout employment.

This position requires non-traditional hours, including weekend and evening hours when needed.

Knowledge of case management practices, interviewing and counseling techniques.

Knowledge of computer programs.

Ability to make recommendations concerning the processing and handling of delinquent youth.

Ability to develop case plans and communicate effectively.

Ability to determine work priorities.

Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with community and judicial partners for the purpose of information sharing and collaboration to address community concerns and promote safe and nurturing communities.

Ability to make independent decisions based on individual analysis, have strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to conduct and document interviews.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to candidates who have experience as volunteers or interns with the Department of Juvenile Justice or other social service agency programs with a concentration in the disciplines of social sciences and working with people such as social work, sociology, psychology, and similar disciplines.

SPECIAL NOTES

Your Candidate Profile must account for all employment every calendar month following high school graduation until current. Please provide an explanation of gaps in employment. Please provide current and previous employer contact information including address supervisor name and contact phone number on your candidate profile. Any incomplete Candidate Profiles will not be considered. Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported by your completed Candidate Profile and any omission, falsification, or misrepresentation in the answering of the qualifying questions will be cause for immediate elimination from the selection process.

Candidates applying must ensure that required military documents, DD-214 Member 4 copy and current U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs VA statement of disability letter, are submitted prior to closure of the requisition.

All prospective candidates will be subject to a sex offender check, criminal background checks, (state, local and national) and pre-employment drug screening for direct care positions.

DJJ participates in E-Verify (Employment Eligibility).

When identified on a position description, a valid driver’s license is required. If initially hired with an out-of-state license, the Florida resident must obtain a valid Florida state driver’s license within 30 days of hire. Licenses suspended or revoked for any reason, work permits (Business purpose/Employment/education only licenses) and some types of restricted licenses are not acceptable.  Licenses that have Corrective Lenses Restriction are acceptable, provided the driver wears corrective lenses while operating the vehicle.

Positions that include the transportation of youth while performing any work or work-related functions on behalf of DJJ, require: (1) a valid driver’s license; and (2) a three-year acceptable driving record as defined in FDJJ Policy 1920.

Successful candidate must be certified in accordance with State of Florida Department of Juvenile Justice direct care training policy or obtain such certification within 180 days of employment.

For those candidates who are not currently in the state system as a direct care worker for DJJ at the time of application, the top-ranking candidate after the interview phase will be required to take and pass Ergo metric's IMPACT Assessment and Training Test in order to be considered for this direct-care employment opportunity.  This test will be used to measure the candidate's overall suitability for working with Juvenile Justice involved youth.  Test results will be used for a period of six months after initial testing for candidates who reapply during that period for another position for which testing is required.

985.66 Florida Statute Requirement

Be at least 19 years of age.

Be a high school graduate or its equivalent as determined by the department.

Not have been convicted of any felony or a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement or have received a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States.  Any person, who after September 30, 1999, pleads guilty or no lo contendere to or is found guilty of any felony or a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement is not eligible for employment, notwithstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of adjudication.  Notwithstanding this subparagraph, any person who plead no lo contendere to a misdemeanor involving a false statement before October 1, 1999, and who has had such record of that plea sealed or expunged is not ineligible for employment for that reason.

Abide by all provisions of s. 985.644 1, regarding fingerprinting and background investigations and other screening requirements for personnel.

Execute and submit to the department an affidavit-of-application form, adopted by the department, attesting to his or her compliance with sub paragraphs 1-4.  The affidavit must be executed under oath and constitutes an official statement under s. 837.06.  The affidavit must include conspicuous language that the intentional false execution of the affidavit constitutes a misdemeanor of the second degree.  The employing agency shall retain the affidavit.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.