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SUMMARY: Supervises and counsels with juveniles and their families when juveniles are on deferred prosecution or adjudicated probation or during the intake process according to departmental policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

In compliance with departmental philosophy, policies and procedures; screens cases referred to the Juvenile Department and makes independent judgments or judgments in consultation with supervisor as to appropriate action.

Adjusts cases without legal action, diverts or refers cases to other agencies, works out agreements wherever possible in family law cases and/or makes recommendations for prosecution to the Juvenile Prosecutor or to the court for other appropriate official action.

Researches and investigates the background of each case and interviews children, their families and others to assess the situation.

Prepares reports for the prosecution, other service agencies, the court, and/or the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), as well as any documentation for monetary or community restitution programs or other specialized services.

Maintains records and generates statistical and other reports as required, utilizing manual and automated reporting systems.

Provides various kinds of intervention strategies to parents and children as needed, including handling crisis intervention, and verbal direction and guidance following alleged violations of the law.

Maintains current knowledge of available community resources for making referrals; participates in in-service training and continuing education and researches and maintains current knowledge of juvenile law, counseling, treatment techniques and applicable county-wide, departmental and division policies and procedures.

Completes home, school and office visits as required by Juvenile Department policy and procedures.

Completes necessary intake and supervision assessments as mandated by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) and local policy and procedures.

Supervises and monitors juveniles on probation and/or deferred prosecution; assures clients' understanding of their obligations with respect to conditions of the court's order(s).

Remains on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Provides information to the public about the department's various services and may make presentations to groups and organizations.

Serves summons or other court papers, corresponds and/or otherwise communicates with litigating attorneys, psychologists, psychiatrists and other professionals; and/or appears and testifies in court.

Coordinates clients' transportation and other needs according to policy and procedures.

Receives incoming referrals and utilizes all available information and policies to determine if case warrants detaining the juvenile.

Prepares placement packets, supervises children in community placements and performs inter-county transfer for out-of-county children; performs Interstate Compact procedures for out-of-state children.

Maintains knowledge of community programs so as to utilize these services for Juvenile Department clients.

May be assigned specialized caseloads based upon departmental decisions to provide optimum services to clients and the community.

Develops child placement plans, including completing placement applications, purchasing clothing, obtaining medical and psychological reports and maintaining contact with children in placement.

Develops counseling and casework objectives and treatment programs and is responsible for case management.

Works with schools on educational programs for juveniles and develops vocational training and employment opportunities.

Required to collect fees and send notices for past due accounts.

Performs such other duties as may be assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Any employee who drives a vehicle on official business must have a driving record which meets standards set by the County and the County’s insurance carrier.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (preferably in criminology, corrections, counseling, law, social work, psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology, business management, public administration, or education); plus one year of experience in full-time casework, counseling, or community or group work in a social service, educational, community, corrections, or juvenile agency that deals with offenders or disadvantaged persons.

One year (24 semester hours) of graduate-level education (preferably in one of the fields mentioned above) may be substituted for the year of required work experience. Internship/volunteer work may be considered as experience, where the duties are those of a probation officer and the intern/volunteer is supervised by a probation officer.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, courts, law enforcement, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Certification (or ability to obtain certification within six months) as a Juvenile Probation Officer by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD).

Valid Texas Motor Vehicle Operator's License with appropriate automobile insurance. Must obtain Defensive Driving Certificate within 6 months of employment.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of modern principles of sociology, criminology, child and adolescent psychology, social casework techniques, methods and techniques of counseling and of laws and regulations relating to the function of the juvenile justice system and family law matters.

Ability to make investigations and report the results clearly, accurately and impartially.

Ability to gather, analyze and evaluate facts from which to develop individual program plans and appropriate case dispositions.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other county employees and officials, clients, representatives of other agencies and the general public.

Ability to deal effectively with mentally disturbed, hostile and aggressive individuals.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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