JPO DETENTION COORDINATOR - 80002641

DESCRIPTION

The Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO) Detention Coordinator serves as a liaison between Detention Services and Probation and Community Intervention to facilitate cooperation between branches to improve and maintain outcomes for youth transitioning into and out of secure detention by providing supervision, advocacy, collaboration, and coordination. 

WORK LOCATION AND SCHEDULE

The JPO Detention Coordinator will be stationed at their assigned detention center and work a non-traditional 40-hour week, making themselves available to interact with and assist youth, families, and detention center staff during evenings and weekends.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This JPO position serves as the subject matter expert for youth transitioning into and out of secure detention and will maintain a specialized caseload inclusive of those youth detained at their assigned secure detention center. The JPO-specific caseload will require the following tasks:

UPON ADMISSION

Remove and deactivate or confirm the deactivation of electronic monitoring (EM) equipment if a youth is on EM at the time of admission to the detention center.

Obtain and review the screening instruments used by the Department and recommendations submitted to the court, including, but not limited to, the Detention Screening Risk Assessment (DRAI), Suicide Risk Screening Instrument (SRSI), and State Attorney Recommendation (SAR).

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

Initiate contact with the youth and family to explain court procedures and answer any questions. If a residential youth is placed in the detention center as a result of an unplanned interruption in residential services (e.g., a program closure), share appropriate information with the family.

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

Ensure that each youth has a valid Authority for Evaluation and Treatment (AET); if the youth does not have a valid AET, work with the family to obtain the necessary signatures.

Liaison with the local school transition specialist and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ) education liaison to ensure that the youth has been enrolled in the detention center’s school and that all appropriate education paperwork has been provided to the detention center.

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

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

Coordinate and maintain each youth’s visitation list by reviewing and updating the Family Member Maintenance module in the Juvenile Justice Information System (JJIS), in partnership with the youth’s assigned JPO, for the duration of the youth’s stay in detention.

Participate in at least one visitation session per week (including one weekend session per month) to answer any questions that parents/ guardians and youth may have, being present and available in the lobby area before and after visitation and on the secure floor during visitation.

Review Electronic Commitment Packet (ECP) for all youth pending placement and ensure, along with the assigned JPO, that it is completed in a timely manner.

Document all case management activities in JJIS, including, but not limited to, risk and needs assessments, contacts with the youth and family, collateral contacts, and other case management activities related to the youth and family for the duration of the youth’s stay in detention.

Organize and maintain hardcopy or electronic records to ensure inclusion of all required case management documentation in the JJIS Case Notebook module and Document Upload module.

Communicate with the JPO who will appear in court (or court liaison, if applicable) to ensure that all pertinent information about the youth and family is available during court hearings.

Participate in weekly detention review meetings.

Maintain contact with each youth for the duration of their stay in detention on behalf of the assigned JPO, including relaying information from the assigned JPO to the youth, if requested.

Work to identify early lockout youth and work in coordination with detention center staff, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the DJJ Crossover Champion, and the assigned JPO to handle potential lockout situations proactively in an expeditious manner.

PRIOR TO DISCHARGE

Assist the youth, family, and other parties (if applicable) with the planning and coordination of transportation for the youth and family upon the youth’s release from detention, as well as transportation for any court, school, after school programs/activities, and other community-based appointments scheduled while the youth is in detention.

Assist the youth and family with locating and accessing community resources and services to address the youth and family’s needs, including, but not limited to, mental health and substance abuse providers, educational services, and employment assistance.

Assist the youth and family with enrollment in school, after school program/activities, and pro-social weekend activities (e.g., educational, recreational, community service, etc.).

Liaison with the local school transition specialist and the FDJJ education liaison to ensure that the youth has been enrolled in a local school and that all appropriate education paperwork has been provided to the school.

Document all referrals for services in the JJIS Case Notebook module, regardless of youth’s legal status and the youth or parent’s/guardian’s acceptance or refusal of services.

Coordinate with other JPO Detention Coordinators when youth in detention are administratively moved between detention centers.

Install and activate EM equipment if a youth is placed on EM upon release from the detention center; create zones and schedules to accommodate the youth’s trip home, as well as all court, school, after school programs/activities, and other community-based appointments scheduled while the youth is in detention.

POST DISCHARGE

Conduct post release follow-up calls with the parent/guardian, school, and referred community resources and services to verify that the youth’s release was successful and to determine if there are any follow up action items to be addressed by the assigned JPO.

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university 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.

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.

Candidates must maintain a valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates who have one (1) or more years of experience working with delinquent youth and knowledge of the juvenile court system.

Preference will be given to candidates who have Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university at the time of submission of candidate profile.

Preference will be given to candidates who are currently or who have been previously a certified as a Juvenile Probation Officer 

Special Notes

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).

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 the Department direct care training policy and must obtain such certification within 180 days of employment.

In order to obtain certification, the candidate must attend and successfully complete a mandatory residential training academy located in Quincy, Florida.

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

Juvenile Probation Officers will be required to perform shift work, due to 24 hours facility operations depending on position location. Candidates must be agreeable to working a flex schedule including nights, weekends and holidays. Extended hours and on-call duties may also be required.

CPR & First Aid certifications are requirements that must be maintained throughout employment.

All responses provided to the qualifying questions for this vacancy advertisement must be verifiable on your Candidate Profile. Please provide an explanation of gaps in employment. Incomplete candidate profiles will NOT be considered.

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 applicant(s) after the interview phase will be required to take and pass Ergometric’ 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 applicant’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 applicants 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 nolo 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 pled nolo 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 subparagraphs 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 Department 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.