JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER - 80004353

State of Florida•South Highpoint, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position provides social services to assist in the rehabilitation of juvenile law offenders who are in custody, on probation, or on parole. The Juvenile Probation Officer gathers information, assesses youths’ risks and needs, develops case-management strategies, and recommends rehabilitation plans, treatment, conditional release, and education or employment stipulations. The role works with youth and their families, victims, law enforcement, service providers, and judicial partners to address individual needs and support community safety. The officer conducts assessments and screenings, makes referrals, prepares case plans and court-related reports, represents the Department of Juvenile Justice in court, and may testify at hearings. The role provides supervision, interventions, crisis support, and transition planning; monitors compliance with court-ordered conditions; and documents case-management activities and required records in the Juvenile Justice Information System. Work includes visits and face-to-face contacts in homes, schools, detention centers, workplaces, and community settings. Non-traditional hours, including evenings and weekends, may be required. The position is located in Clearwater, Pinellas County. Juvenile Probation Officers must maintain Protective Action Response (PAR), CPR, and First Aid certifications. A successful candidate must meet the department’s direct-care certification requirements, including completing a mandatory residential training academy in Quincy, Florida, within 180 days of employment if not already certified. A valid driver’s license is required.

Requirements

At least four years of experience working directly with adolescents in criminal justice, social services, or education.
A valid driver’s license; an out-of-state license held by a Florida resident must be replaced with a valid Florida driver’s license within 30 days of hire.
Maintain Protective Action Response (PAR), CPR, and First Aid certifications throughout employment.
Meet State of Florida Department of Juvenile Justice direct-care certification requirements or obtain certification within 180 days of employment, including successful completion of a mandatory residential training academy in Quincy, Florida.
For candidates not currently working as direct-care workers in the state system, passing Ergometric’s IMPACT Assessment and Training Test may be required after the interview phase.
Meet statutory eligibility requirements: be at least 19 years old; be a high school graduate or equivalent; meet specified criminal-history and discharge restrictions; comply with fingerprinting, background-investigation, and screening requirements; and submit the required affidavit.
Candidates must complete the application profile in full, with accurate and verifiable employment, non-employment, education, and other qualification information.
Candidates must pass applicable sex-offender, criminal-background, and pre-employment drug screening checks.

Nice To Haves

A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
An associate degree from an accredited college or university and two years of experience working directly with adolescents in criminal justice, social services, or education.
Certification as a State of Florida Juvenile Probation Officer.
Volunteer or intern experience with the Department of Juvenile Justice or social-service agency programs.
A concentration in social sciences or a discipline involving work with people, such as social work, sociology, or psychology.

Responsibilities

Initiate contact with youth, families, victims, and law enforcement when referrals are received; conduct home and school visits and gather collateral information from relevant agencies.
Conduct and document Department screening and assessment instruments to identify risks, needs, protective factors, and the need for further evaluation.
Develop case-management strategies and plans based on assessments and information gathered about youth and families.
Refer youth and families to appropriate services and follow up on actions taken.
Make supervision and treatment recommendations to the State Attorney and other judicial partners.
Complete required screening instruments, case plans, court reports, and other Department or court documents, including detention screenings, risk assessments, progress reports, commitment packets, and termination-of-supervision documents.
Represent the Department during court hearings, prepare and maintain social histories and court-related correspondence, testify when appropriate, prepare violation-of-probation affidavits or petitions, and request hearings when appropriate.
Conduct face-to-face supervision and contacts in homes, schools, detention centers, out-of-home placements, workplaces, community settings, and other relevant locations, including during evening and weekend hours as needed.
Assist youth in obtaining mental health and substance-use evaluations, specialized testing, treatment, school enrollment, and after-school enrollment; monitor school attendance, performance, and behavior.
Provide crisis intervention and connect youth and families with crisis services and resources.
Help youth establish personal goals and plans, support progress toward goals, and discuss expected timelines, supervision conditions, sanctions, and anticipated termination dates with youth and families.
Respond to concerns, needs, risks, and violations by staffing cases with the unit supervisor, determining recommended handling of law violations, applying appropriate interventions, and following up.
Conduct case staffing at relevant benchmarks, milestones, complex-case points, violations, and transition or exit-planning stages.
Participate in transition and exit planning and make referrals for post-residential mental health, substance-use, education, and workforce services.
Enter case-management, screening, assessment, and case-planning activities in the Juvenile Justice Information System and upload required documents accurately and promptly.
Maintain familiarity with community resources; provide input on service-delivery issues, program developments, and grant-related proposals when requested.
Attend and participate in professional development trainings and meetings, and follow departmental policies, procedures, and administrative rules.