Youth Development Officer

About the role

The Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD) provides supervision and services to youth between the ages of 10 and 17, who are under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court. HCJPD is the largest juvenile probation department in Texas with approximately 1,100 employees and over 3,500 youth referred to the department annually. HCJPD programs and services operate under the direction of the Harris County Juvenile Board. The Administration building is located in Downtown Houston, Texas, with several field offices throughout the County and three secure residential facilities.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the care, safety, security, reporting, observation, supervision and guidance of youth in a secured residential facility while adhering to all departmental policies & procedures, Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) standards, federal, state, and local statutes always.
• Direct supervision of youth, establishing supportive relationships with youth, actively encouraging participation in assigned activities and developing activities for youth on the units.
• Safe redirection of negative and aggressive behavior, which includes the use of verbal and physical de-escalation.
• Aids and instructs youth with daily living skills, including personal hygiene and maintenance of living areas in the entire facility, especially in the units, dorms, rooms, classrooms, recreation areas and hallways, etc.
• Completes reports, daily logs at random intervals not to exceed the allotted time when documenting youth behavior and progress.
• Maintains a safe environment conducive to healing while at the same time intervening and deescalating crisis situations.
• Communicates noteworthy information to unit and shift supervisors, treatment plan members and the administration.
• Escorts youth within the facility and externally as directed.
• Operates or provides supervision in departmental vehicles.

Requirements

• Education: High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent from an accredited educational institution.
• Additional Requirements: All applicants are required to present evidence of a tuberculosis (TB) skin test. In the event of a positive test, the applicant will be required to provide additional documentation.
• Every employee is subject to random testing for drug and alcohol or if there is a reasonable suspicion to believe that the employee is under the influence of a substance prohibited by this policy while in the course and scope of employment.
• Upon receiving a conditional job offer, every applicant undergoes a criminal background check, drug screening, and psychological examination.
• Certified copies of transcripts of educational credentials and/or college credits will be required during hiring process.
• Must be 21 years old.
• This position is considered essential staff and required to report to work during emergencies; if a public emergency is declared by the State or County, staff must report to work and could be assigned to other duties and/or facilities and/or under the supervision of another county department.
• Certified copies of transcripts of educational credentials and/or college credits will be required during hiring process.
• Must be able to stand/walk throughout most of the shift.
• Must be able to exert (i.e., lifting, pushing, pulling) 20 to 50 lbs. of force occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) and 10 to 25 lbs. of force frequently (from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to move objects.
• Intervenes in crisis situations that may require physical restraints, in accordance with policy and procedure guidelines.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills, to include Microsoft Office, word processing, and the Internet.
• Possess a high tolerance for working in an emotionally demanding/stressful work environment.
• Ability to send and receive transmissions with two-way radio.

Physical Requirements

• The Department of Labor classifies this job as needing a medium amount of strength.
• The physical demands of this job include physically redirecting and restraining youth but are not continuous.
• Must be able to stand/walk throughout most of the shift.
• Must be able to exert (i.e., lifting, pushing, pulling) 20 to 50 lbs. of force occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) and 10 to 25 lbs. of force frequently (from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to move objects.
• Intervenes in crisis situations that may require physical restraints, in accordance with policy and procedure guidelines.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, Social Work & Behavioral Sciences.
• Residential experience working with children.
• Mental Health and/or Behavioral Health Technician Certification.

Preferences

• BA/BS degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, Social Work & Behavioral Sciences.
• Residential experience working with children.
• Mental Health and/or Behavioral Health Technician Certification.

General Information

• Position Type and Typical Hours of Work: Regular Full-time | This is considered an essential staff position8, 10, or 12-hour shifts, must be able to work nights, weekends and holidays.
• Must be able to work scheduled hours according to assigned shift.
• Must be able to comply with the departments Mandatory Stay Over (MSO) policy when administration determines that the safety and security of the juveniles necessitates for staff members to work additional hours.
• Location: Harris County Leadership Academy (HCLA) - 9120 Katy Hockley Rd., Katy, TX 7749Harris County Youth Village (HCYV) - 210 J W Mills Dr., Seabrook, TX 77586Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) - 1200 Congress St., Houston, TX 77002.
• Salary: Commensurate with Appropriate Experience $46,238.40 (HS Diploma/GED) – Starting salary $48,089.60 (BA, BS, Masters) – Starting salary An annual stipend of $3,000 will be added to the salary. Additional hourly salary credit will be provided for comparable experience.

Transforming Cultures of Care - Harris County Juvenile Probation Department

Harris County Juvenile Probation Department is committed to transforming cultures of care. For more information, visit Equal Employment Opportunity Plan.

Disqualifying Criminal History

An individual with the following criminal history is not eligible for certification or for employment in a position requiring certification: deferred adjudication or conviction for a felony listed in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42A.054 (formerly known as “3(g) offenses” under former Article 42.12) or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD), regardless of the date of disposition; or deferred adjudication or conviction for a sexually violent offense as defined in Article 62.001, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD), regardless of the date of disposition.

Other Criminal History

An individual with the following criminal history is not eligible for certification, employment, or otherwise providing service in a position requiring certification without prior review and approval by TJJD as provided in344.420 of this chapter: deferred adjudication or conviction for a felony other than those referenced in344.400(a) of this chapter or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD) if the date of deferred adjudication or conviction was less than 10 years prior to the date the review is requested; or deferred adjudication or conviction for any Class A or B misdemeanor in Texas or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD) if the date of deferred adjudication or conviction was less than five years prior to the date the review is requested.