JDS II (for current employees only)

Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center•Covington, LA

16h

About The Position

Under the direction of the Supervisor, work in this class includes assisting with the direction of the activities of detained youth in all areas of programming.

Requirements

Be knowledgeable of the Louisiana Children's Code, Policy and Procedures Manual, Orientation and Living Manual, Operations Manual, licensing guidelines, and standards set forth by the Office of Juvenile Justice and the Center for Improving Youth Justice (formerly PbS).
The ability to interact comfortably with youth of adolescent age.
Have knowledge of proper telephone answering procedure.
Enough intellectual curiosity about youth to want to learn about his/her behavior.
Imagination and resourcefulness.
The ability to neither be afraid of the youth nor be naïve concerning them.
Emotional maturity, enough to take the distrust, antagonism, and behavior of the youth without fear and without the need to retaliate or to inflict punishment or injury upon the youth.
Ability to work harmoniously with all staff.
An extensive knowledge of FPJDC Policy and Procedures and Operations Manuals.
A genuinely cheerful nature.
Ability to work long and unusual hours and ability to fulfill any task which is necessary in maintaining the efficient, safe and secure operation of the Center. All employees in this class will be required to work on a rotating basis, holidays, weekends, and all shift hours. Employees are expected to understand that, from time to time, in order to ensure stability of facility operations, changes in shift assignment or work hours may be necessary.
Objectivity about himself/herself and the job, about the youth and his/her fellow staff members.
Good communication skills and able to train staff on a variety of topics.
Must be accessible by personal telephone.
Must possess a valid Driver's License
Completion of JDS II test scoring 70 percent or higher.
The employee is regularly required to run, walk and reach with hand and arms; use fine and complex hand manipulation. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move over 50 pounds and upwards of the body weight of another individual; Again, the employee must be able to intervene and/or assist in the intervention of physical crisis situations; which may include subduing hostile, combative, and/or unruly juvenile detainees; The employee must be able to demonstrate proficiency in various defensive tactics techniques, via prescribed training curriculums and daily situational use.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Successful completion of new hire probationary period.

Responsibilities

Maintains a safe, secure detention atmosphere.
Monitors group dynamics to prevent fighting and escape attempts.
Mediates disagreements between youth.
Supervises youth during classroom activities, clean up, mealtime, showers, recreation, sleeping hours and quiet time.
Strip searches and frisks detainees, as required.
Conducts detention center searches/shakedowns.
Monitors youth every 15 minutes during sleeping hours and appropriately record these room checks in the Log Book.
Restrains out of control youth.
Screens visitors.
Receives youth from law enforcement personnel.
Conducts informal individual and group crisis counseling to detained youth.
Assists youth in studying for and passing any required test.
Maintains on going communication link with youth in the classroom by tutoring, working with and providing positive reinforcement.
Maintains a proper suicide watch on youth that exhibit self-destructive tendencies and are classified as having suicidal tendencies. Communicates with the Assistant Shift Supervisor or the Shift Supervisor regarding any youth health needs.
Performs necessary housekeeping tasks as directed by the Shift Supervisor.
Maintains clean conditions of the Center in an orderly manner.
Performs other duties as assigned by the Shift Supervisor or Assistant Shift Supervisor.
Filling in for Supervisors during absences.
Training new and current staff on a regular basis; completes FTO packets for new staff.
Assisting teams with emergency transports, staff shortages, and during natural disasters.
Assisting supervisors by taking inspections and ensuring that the facility is clean, neat, and safe.
Other duties as assigned