Youth Corrections Officer - Extra-Help

About the role

This recruitment is for temporary, non-benefited, extra-help work ONLY. Do not apply if you are not willing to accept temporary, extra-help work. Departments may hire extra-help employees for a limited period. Extra-help is temporary employment generally not to exceed six (6) months unless seasonal, intermittent, or on-call. Extra-help employment may last up to one (1) year when hired to work on a specific project. Extra-help employees are paid only for the hours worked and are not entitled to benefits, property rights (seniority), or promotional preference. As an extra-help employee, there is no guarantee of regularly scheduled hours or continued employment.

Responsibilities

• Book youth into facility following prescribed procedures;
• assign rooms for youth;
• orient new arrivals;
• issue supplies to youth;
• process inmate discharges or transfers;
• determine if youth is at risk of suicide or self-harm requiring evaluation by professional.
• Monitor behavior of youth when going to and from school, cafeteria, while in living unit, during showers, during visits, and during outside recreation.
• Refer youth in crisis situations to appropriate specialist.
• Explain, monitor, and reinforce facility rules, policies, and procedures.
• Receive, maintain, and account for the personal property of youth; return or send personal property to youth upon discharge; maintain appropriate written records.
• Visually and physically search youth for prohibited possessions, contraband, weapons, or narcotics; inspect quarters of youth for contraband; inspect and direct cleaning activities of youth for maintenance of sanitation, orderliness, and safety.
• Promote acceptable attitude and behavior of youth to assist them in adjusting to confinement; confer with assigned supervisors or officers regarding behavioral or other inmate problems; hold youth accountable for their behavior.
• Communicate with Probation Officers, attorneys, and/or other law enforcement and social service agencies on youth cases.
• Write incident and crime reports as required and write special reports for Probation Officers and courts as requested.
• Counsel youth and/or their families on problems; develop treatment plans detailing behavioral goals.
• Conduct group sessions to resolve problems between youth and to structure shift activities.
• Dispense medically cleared prescription medications and over-the-counter medications.
• Transport youth to and from medical appointments, court, or other locations; transfer youth to other facilities.
• Perform laundry duties as required.
• Anticipate and avert potential problems; assist in suppressing and controlling problems that occur; report incidents in the prescribed manner.
• Enter and retrieve a variety of information from a computer; maintain daily logs and records on school attendance, medical treatment, unusual incidents, and the number and location of youth; write reports concerning juvenile activities and behavior.
• Answer inquiries from the criminal justice stakeholders, program providers and family members.
• Attend staff or other meetings.
• Assume responsibility for operation and security of unit when regular supervisor is unavailable.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma GED or equivalent.
• A minimum of six (6) months of progressively responsible related experience is preferred but not required.
• Valid Driver's License.
• State Corrections Authority STC Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course (within first year of job assignment).

Preferred but not required licenses and certifications

• Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Standards and Training for Corrections (STC) - Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course, or applicable substitution as defined by BSCC.
• Penal Code 832.
• First Aid/CPR Certificate.

Special Requirements

• Must be able to meet physical and psychological standards and pass a detailed background investigation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Methods and techniques of dealing with individuals in custody, including behavioral counseling techniques.
• First aid methods and techniques.
• Applicable state, federal, and local ordinances, laws, rules and regulations.
• Arrest, search, and seizure procedures.
• County Court system and procedures.
• All computer applications and hardware related to performance of the essential functions of the job.
• Record keeping, report preparation, filing methods, and records management techniques.
• Prepared clear and concise reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
• Using tact, discretion, initiative, and independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up on assignments with a minimum of direction.
• Applying logical thinking to solve problems or accomplish tasks; to understand, interpret, and communicate complicated policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Communicating clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.

Mental And Physical Abilities

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.
• Maintain orderly conduct among youth.
• Make quick, effective, and reasonable decisions in emergency situations, and to take appropriate action to include physically restraining violent youth.
• Write reports and correspondence.
• Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, run, and sit; reach with hands and arms; use manual dexterity to operate machinery/tools; handle, seize, hold, or otherwise work with hands; climb, jump, and/or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; speak and hear; use shape, sound, odor, and color perception and discrimination.
• While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move over 50 pounds and detain and/or physically restrain youth.