Juvenile Custody Services Specialist

Multnomah County • Portland, OR

1d • $30 - $40 • Onsite

About The Position

Do you have a passion to help youth involved in the juvenile justice system? Do you want to make a difference in youths' lives and the lives of their families? Do you believe that all youth are capable of turning their lives around? Are you passionate about helping others? Do you thrive when working on a team? If you answered "yes" to these questions, we want you to join our team as a Juvenile Custody Services Specialist!
The Department of Community Justice Juvenile Detention is seeking committed, enthusiastic and compassionate Juvenile Custody Services Specialists (JCSS) to serve a critical, operational role within the Juvenile Detention Facility. Working with culturally diverse juveniles, you will be responsible for the guidance, supervision, security, safety and general care of youth who present a variety of behavioral, cognitive, emotional and intellectual challenges. This work includes group and recreational programming, facilitation of cognitive skill groups, and fostering pro-social behavior. Documentation, accurate record keeping, and report writing are critical to this role.
Detention Facility Using an interactive model of supervision, we place particular emphasis on skill development, engaging youth in prosocial development, cognitive restructuring programming, leisure time activities, personal hygiene, and enrichment activities.
The detention facility has two-level pods that house youth. All Juvenile Custody Services Specialists must have the ability to use verbal skills to de-escalate volatile situations. You must also be willing and able to respond to crisis situations, including physically intervening with youth who may be violently acting out; this may involve the use of restraints. All Juvenile Custody Services Specialists must have the ability to regularly go up and down stairs.
The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Applicants must be willing to work a variety of shifts, including overnight, swing, weekends and holidays. JCSS are Essential Personnel that are required to be at work regardless of inclement weather or building closures and work on a continuous duty shift, which means that you may not be relieved of duty during your work day.

Requirements

• Associate's degree or equivalent with major coursework in child psychology, sociology, or a related field, AND;
• Two (2) years of responsible experience working with at-risk youth (12-18) in one of the following environments (Bachelor's degree may substitute for 1 year of the required experience): Detention or youth correctional facility Youth residential setting Setting that provides programming for at-risk youth
• Successful completion of a battery of psychological tests / psychological evaluation.
• Physical ability to respond to crisis situations with the youth, including violent exchanges, and must regularly climb up and down stairs.
• Must pass a thorough background investigation which includes, but is not limited to, a review of applicant’s criminal, civil, driving, military, educational and employment history prior to employment.
• Valid driver's license

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
• Group facilitation skills
• Experience working with justice involved youth (12-18)
• Experience working in an alcohol and drug treatment facility or program
• Experience working in a mental health treatment facility or program
• Exceptional skill with Google calendar / documents and electronic record keeping
• Training or education in trauma informed care, restorative justice and adolescent brain development
• Bilingual in Spanish and English

Responsibilities

• Conduct behavior observations and assessments of individual youth detainees and groups of detained youth through active supervision, which is the intentional and focused monitoring of youth in custody utilizing the components of movement within the environment, situational awareness, and frequent pro-social youth interactions.
• Prepare detailed incident reports for incidents that occur, document daily individual behavior summaries of youth, and both verbal and electronically documented daily unit and shift reports, individual youth records, and for juvenile counselors/workers and/or court purposes.
• Assist with the intake process of juveniles into the facility. Staff may be expected to collect and secure youth’s personal belongings, supervise and manage juveniles prior to screening to determine if youth will be admitted into the detention facility.
• Support the youth with problem-solving conversations and restorative processes in partnership with our restorative justice coordinators.
• Ensure the safety and security of the detention facility at all times.
• Deliver prosocial role modeling and facilitate skill-building activities for individual youth and groups of detained youth through skill groups with an emphasis on developing pro-social behaviors and skills.
• Oversee volunteers and/or contractors while they facilitate skill-building activities for individual youth and groups of detained youth.
• May assist with orientation of newly admitted youth to the juvenile detention facility by explaining facility rules and the facility behavior level system. Staff are expected to introduce youth to the structure of daily routines, outlining the expectations for behavior and providing information to youth on available programs and services. Staff will also ensure youth understand the importance of their safety, rights, and responsibilities within the detention facility.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Health insurance (medical, dental, vision, Moda or Kaiser Permanente).
• Qualify for a defined benefit pension after five years of vesting; we pick up the employee's share of the retirement contribution (6% of subject wages).
• Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, parental, bereavement, military etc.)
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Optional deferred compensation and flexible spending accounts
• Free annual Tri-met bus pass
• Access to wellness resources
• Access to Employee Resource Groups
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree