JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER - 80002558

About the position

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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 screening(s) to identify the youth’s risk and needs, protective factors and/or the need for further evaluations.
• 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(s) and follow up actions needing to be taken.
• Make supervision and treatment recommendations to the State Attorney and other judicial partners.
• Complete the screening instruments and reports used by the Department and/or the courts.
• Act as the DJJ representative during court hearings to support the Department’s recommendation for the youth, family, and community.
• Prepare and maintain current social histories, court reports, referral letters, and related correspondence.
• Testify at hearings, when appropriate.
• Prepare affidavits/petition for Violation of Probation for any violation that results in the filing of a delinquency petition.
• Complete a risk and needs assessment using the appropriate Department approved instrument(s) for all youth screened/supervised by the department.
• Conduct face-to-face contacts in the home, school and varied community-based settings.
• Assist the youth with obtaining appropriate mental health, substance abuse evaluations based on administered assessments.
• Provide crisis intervention; assist the youth and family in accessing crisis intervention services/resources.
• Work with the youth to establish personal goals/plans and provide ongoing support.
• Respond to concerns, needs, and risks as presented by youth, family, and the community.
• Conduct staffing when benchmarks occur, case milestones are achieved by the youth and/or family.
• Participate in transition and exit planning to finalize plans for the youth pending release from residential programs.
• Enter into Juvenile Justice Information System (JJIS) all case management activities.
• Ensure familiarity with community resources and provide input to circuit management on provider community-based service delivery issues.

Requirements

• 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 relevant fields.
• 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 relevant fields.
• A valid driver’s license is required.
• Knowledge of case management practices; of 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; communicate effectively.
• Ability to determine work priorities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with community and judicial partners.
• Ability to make independent decisions based on individual analysis.

Nice-to-haves

• Preference may be given to candidates with a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education.
• Preference will be given to candidates who are certified State of Florida Juvenile Probation Officers.
• Experience as volunteers or interns with the Department of Juvenile Justice or social service agency programs.
• Concentration in the disciplines of social sciences and working with people such as social work, sociology, psychology and similar disciplines.

Benefits

• Salary: $1,730.40 Bi-Weekly Salary
• Support for veterans and their families.
• Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer.