Youth Services Officer

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Bargaining Unit: Probation Officers

Class Code: 3566

KERN COUNTY
Revision Date: May 27, 2022
SALARY RANGE
$21.14– $25.26 Hourly
$1,691.03– $2,020.94 Biweekly
$3,663.90– $4,378.70 Monthly

DESCRIPTION:

Under direction, to be responsible for the supervision, health and welfare of youth in a controlled group setting under the jurisdiction of the Probation Department; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the entry level within the Juvenile Corrections Officer (JCO) I/II flexible classification. Incumbents are given on-the-job training in the security, custody, care and counseling of children. Additionally, incumbents are trained in the department’s youth facility treatment model including trauma informed care, crisis intervention, evidence-based and best practice models, and the recognition of youth disabilities and mental health issues. Work is performed in accordance with established rules and procedures and is reviewed by a superior through personal observation. After one year of experience as a Juvenile Corrections Officer I, an individual is eligible to be considered for promotion to the level of Juvenile Corrections Officer II. Promotions are considered on a merit basis subject to recommendation of the Chief Probation Officer and approval of the Chief Human Resource Officer.

This job classification requires the applicant to be willing to work any shift of a 24-hour period, 80 hours in a two-week pay period, and work in outlying County areas.

DUTIES:

Counsels youth regarding individual and family, personal, social or other behavioral issues or concerns.
Recognizes youth disabilities, reports observations, and seeks and implements appropriate services.
Provides orientation to explain the purpose, rules and program elements of the facility.
Supervises the health and personal hygiene needs and the youth’s conduct in group living situations.
Plans, organizes and oversees group activities and work assignments in custodial and noncustodial settings.
Interviews youth to obtain information.
Promotes, models, and oversees pro-social behaviors and programs.
Facilitates evidence-based and best practice programs, assessments, and interventions.
Maintains a trauma informed approach to youth interactions.
Transports youth to various facilities, to and from court and other locations outside the facilities as instructed.
De-escalates volatile situations with youth.
May physically intervene in altercations among youth when reasonable and necessary and responds to other situations within the facilities.
Restrains individuals for the purpose of arrest and/or detention.
Maintains the security of assigned areas; operates security doors and gates.
Insures only authorized visitors are allowed to visit detained youth; searches all packages brought to detained youth.
Collects, records, inventories, maintains and releases all private property of detained youth.
Performs and supervises youth in the maintenance of institution and facility grounds and gardens.
Coordinates work details; assigns and collects tools and equipment.
Communicates professionally both orally and in writing with probation youth, their families, community groups, courts and others.
Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with courts, law enforcement agencies, community groups and others, and with probation youth and their families from a variety of ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Writes reports concerning youth’s attitudes, behavior and adjustment.
Obtains urine samples from like gender youth.
Attends staff conferences and training sessions.
Interacts with parents of detained youth and the public.

May maintain a caseload of facility youth including assessing their individual needs and providing appropriate evidence based or best practice services.

In addition to the above, dependent upon job location assignment, incumbents may perform the following essential functions:

Operates tractors, backhoe, and dump trucks
Works in a collaborative school setting with youth not in custody.
Provides security for Juvenile Court Proceedings.
Performs and supervises youth in the performance of livestock operations including the medication, feeding, slaughter and butchering of farm animals.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:

Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of college coursework, preferably courses in the behavioral sciences, or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Qualifying experience must be comparable to an entry level youth corrections officer classification in a California Probation Department operated youth facility. The experience may be substituted for education on a ratio of one and one-half years experience to one year of college.

Knowledge of: individual and group behavior; principles and techniques of counseling and de-escalation, interviewing, basic report writing; treatment modalities; evidence based practices and programs including best practice program models; youth disabilities; trauma informed approaches; standard English usage for grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Ability to: communicate orally in English; to appropriately de-escalate volatile situations; and to develop effective working relationships with employees, and individuals representing other public or social service agencies.

Applicants must be citizens of the United States or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship. Applicants must have a reputation of honesty and trustworthiness. A felony conviction will be disqualifying and convictions for misdemeanors and traffic offenses will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Appointees will be fingerprinted and will be required to pass an extensive background investigation. A valid California Class C driver’s license is required at time of appointment. Specialized licenses may be required depending upon assignment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have the ability to run a distance of 200 yards within 50 seconds, drag a weight of 100 pounds 22 yards within 20 seconds and push a 75 pound sled continuously for 30 seconds.

Medical Examination: A thorough physical and psychological evaluation is required. Applicant’s state of health must be consistent with the ability to perform the duties of the position as demonstrated by meeting the Corrections Standards Authority guidelines for vision, hearing and medical screening. Applicants must be free from conditions which would prevent them from performing work required of a Juvenile Corrections Officer.

SUPPLEMENTAL:

All Kern County employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers” through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec. 3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2-Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services). As Disaster Service Workers, all County employees are expected to remain at work, or to report for work as soon as practicable, following a significant emergency or disaster.