Juvenile Correctional Specialist (Salaried)

Hiring range: $47,721

About the role

The Department of Juvenile Justice is currently recruiting full-time Juvenile Correctional Specialists (JCS) at the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center. As a JCS, you will provide direct care to residents in a secure environment and be assigned to designated security posts to ensure orderly facility operations and the safety of the youth, visitors, and staff. The roles and responsibilities of the JCS directly impact the resident’s quality of institutional life and foster rehabilitation.

Anticipated hire dates are the 10th and 25th of each month.

Why DJJ?

Do you have a passion for making a positive impact on the lives of youth? A DJJ career provides an opportunity to make a difference. The DJJ also offers competitive salaries, generous benefits, and excellent promotional and staff development opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Provide a safe and secure environment for the rehabilitation and custody of committed youth
• Supervise juvenile residents’ activities while maintaining control and order in the facility
• Oversee and monitor all activities of the juvenile residents in an assigned housing unit
• Ensure resident doors are locked for security
• Conduct and document regular security and safety checks
• Intervene during behavioral crisis of residents
• De-escalate residents during intense situations; including restraining residents to reassume control if necessary
• Provide mentorship to residents
• Utilize computer systems for typing, printing, or reviewing reports
• Document resident checks and various other forms in a logbook in a fully legible, comprehensive, timely, and accurate manner

Schedule

Juvenile Correctional Specialists will be assigned a regular 12-hour shift, with every other weekend off, and overtime available. JCSs are required to work other shifts, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays as required by staffing and operational needs. This role could also require mandatory overtime following your shift during staffing shortages, peak workload times, or in bona fide emergencies. Mandatory drafting beyond the assigned shift is a condition of employment.

Requirements

• Must have a high school diploma or GED
• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must have a valid driver’s license
• No felony convictions

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of conflict resolution and the use of verbal intervention techniques; of safety and security procedures and practices, and of crisis intervention in a residential or secure setting
• Demonstrated ability to quickly assess situations and provide the appropriate response; to effectively supervise and work with residents, serving as a positive role model
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; to maintain records and documentation and prepare reports
• Ability to perform physical intervention (restraint) techniques in accordance with procedure and training
• Working knowledge of adolescent development

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supervising and interacting with at-risk or adjudicated juveniles
• Working knowledge of facilitating and/or implementing treatment programs

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• VALORS Retirement Plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• VA Sickness and Disability Income Replacement and Leave Program
• Paid Vacation
• Work 14 days in a 28-day work cycle
• Employee Wellness and Discount Programs

New Hire Training

All new hires will be required to complete a mandatory five-week basic skills training located at the Virginia Public Safety Training Center in Hanover, Virginia. Training is typically held Monday-Friday, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. each day.

Background & Pre-employment Screenings

Selected applicants are subject to a background investigation and pre-employment drug screen. Investigations may include fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI); local agency checks; employment verification; verification of education (if required and relevant to employment); credit checks; and other checks based on the position. Pre-employment medical screenings are required of the selected applicants.