Juvenile Custody Services Specialist AND Juvenile Custody Services Specialist Trainee

• Do you have a passion to help youth involved in the juvenile justice system?

• Do you want to make a difference in their 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 (JCSS) or Trainee!

The Department of Community Justice Juvenile Detention and Residential Services Team is seeking committed, enthusiastic and compassionate JCSS and JCSS Trainees to strengthen our detention facility. If selected for one of these positions, you will serve a critical, operational role within the Juvenile Detention Center.

We’re excited to announce that  this recruitment for JCSS also includes an inaugural recruitment for the new Juvenile Custody Services Trainee position!  The JCSS Trainee program is brand new and we’re looking forward to expanding services  to the youth in our care with this position.  The JCSS Trainees will assist with providing guidance, security, training, and general care to vulnerable youth populations with mental health and/or developmental issues within a detention setting or a Behavior Rehabilitation Services (BRS) program.  As a trainee, you will gain on-the-job training & skills to become a regular status Juvenile Custody Services Specialist within 24 months. The starting hourly pay rate is $27.23. 

As a JCSS with Multnomah County's Department of Community Justice, you'll help foster prosocial behavior with youth residing in our juvenile detention facility and our Behavioral Rehabilitation Services (BRS) residential program.

Working in a culturally diverse juvenile detention facility, you will be responsible for the guidance, security and general care of youth who present a variety of behavioral, cognitive, emotional and intellectual issues. 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 work activities.

As a regular JCSS, you will be responsible for:

• Supervising and documenting youth activities and behavior

• Admitting youth into the facility and with preliminary hearings.

• Providing guidance and group programming, including planning recreational programs and facilitating cognitive skill groups

• Maintaining safety, security and order in the living units

• Maintaining routine records; preparing oral and written reports using automated systems

As a JCSS Trainee, you will be responsible for: 

• Assisting with supervision and documentation of youth activities and behavior.

• Assisting  in admitting youth into the facility and with preliminary hearings.

• Assisting with providing guidance and group programming, including planning recreational programs and facilitating cognitive skill groups.

• Assisting with maintaining safety, security and order in the living units.

• Assisting with maintaining routine records and preparing oral and written reports using automated systems.

JCSS & JCSS Trainees work in a secure detention environment and in a Behavioral Rehabilitation Services (BRS) residential program. The detention facility has numerous two-level pods that house youth in detention. 

All Juvenile Custody Services Specialists must have the ability to use verbal skills to de-escalate volatile situations. You must also be able and willing 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.

Some positions are assigned to work in a secure residential Behavioral Rehabilitation Services treatment program for youth of all genders who require a staff secured, out of home placement for assessment/evaluation, stabilization and transition planning.

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 work on a continuous duty shift, meaning that you may not be relieved of duty during your work day.  This position is also designated as Operationally Essential.  

This recruitment will be used to fill any current and future positions, including Limited Duration, temporary and On-Call, while the eligible for hire list is active.

Workforce Equity:  

At Multnomah County we are committed to maintaining an effective, respectful and inclusive workplace. We value collaborative problem solving and strive for continuous improvement. We strongly believe in workforce equity, diversity and inclusion. Visit our Workforce Equity Strategies Plan (WESP) to see where Multnomah County is headed with these values.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY JUSTICE:

Vision ~ Community Safety through Positive Change 

The Department of Community Justice (DCJ) is recognized as a national leader in both adult and juvenile community justice. DCJ routinely consults and makes use of evidence-based practices in our program and policy development. The Department's commitment to data-informed decision-making has led DCJ to make smart investments of taxpayer dollars in supervision, sanctions, and services for the county's highest risk and highest need justice-involved individuals. DCJ makes long-term investments in its employees through the provision of education and training. 

More general information about the Department of Community Justice including our mission, vision, and strategies can be found at: www.multco.us/dcj.

The Department of Community Justice's Strategic Plan (Executive Summary and Full report) can be found at: https://multco.us/file/68223/download.

TO QUALIFY - *please note different criteria for JCSS and JCSS Trainee

Juvenile Custody Services Specialist position: We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant.  

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills*:

• Associate's degree or equivalent with major coursework in child psychology, sociology, or a related field; a Bachelor's degree may substitute for 1 year of the required experience.

• Two (2) years of responsible experience working with at-risk youth (12-18) in one of the following environments:

  • 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

Juvenile Custody Services Specialist Trainee position: We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant.  

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills*:

• Total of 2 years experience and/or education.  Any combination may be counted toward the 2 years.  This may include: 

  • College level education with major coursework in child psychology, sociology, or a related field counts toward the minimum requirement

  • Experience working with at-risk youth (12-18) in one of the following environments counts toward the minimum requirement:

    • 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

Employees in either position that are placed with the Assessment and Evaluation (A&E) unit must also meet BRS criteria for “Direct Care Staff” by possessing (and showing proof of):

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university;  OR

• The equivalent credit hours of a bachelor’s degree with coursework in psychology, social work, human behavioral studies, counseling, etc.;  OR

• An Associate’s Degree in a related field plus two years of experience OR four or more years of experience working in a secure residential or staff secure treatment environment for adolescents; AND

• Must pass/or have passed DHS background check.

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills for both positions*:

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.

• Group facilitation skills

• Experience working in an alcohol and drug treatment facility or program

• Experience working with justice involved youth (12-18)

• 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 and adolescent brain development

• Bilingual in Spanish and English

*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experiences that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION

The Application Packet:

*Please be sure to provide all of the required materials below in your application submission.

• Application:  A completed online application.

• Resume:  An uploaded resume covering relevant experience and education.  Please include the following for each employer: name of employer, location, dates of employment, your title, and a summary of your responsibilities and if applicable, the number of employees under your supervision.

* Internal candidates: After you have applied, you will receive the Oregon Veteran Preference Questionnaire in your Workday inbox. Your application as an internal candidate is not complete until you fill out and submit the Oregon Veteran Preference Questionnaire.

The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of minimum qualifications

• Phone screen, oral exam or written exam may be used to determine the most qualified candidates

• Consideration of top candidates/interviews

• Background, references, education checks and fingerprinting

• Psychological Evaluation

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Type of Position: This hourly position is eligible for overtime.

Type: Union represented, Essential Personnel

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Pay: Pay is not negotiable.

Schedule: 24/7 operation: variable schedules including weekends, swing, graveyard or relief schedules, or a mixture of these.

Location: Onsite at the Juvenile Justice Complex-Detention Center @ 1401 NE 68th Ave Portland, OR 97213

Multnomah County offers a comprehensive benefit package to all eligible employees. A few highlights include:

• 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

• Access to a free annual Tri-met bus pass

• Access to wellness resources

• Access to Employee Resource Groups

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

https://www.multco.us/dcj