Senior Probation Officer - Gang ISP

at  Bexar County

SUMMARY

Monitors a caseload of juvenile offenders, including conducting home, school, and office visits; preparing chronological reports to document progress for court proceedings and treatment purposes; conducts interviews; prepares social history investigations; develops individual supervision plans; counsels juveniles and families; represents the department at court and detention hearings; provides on-the-job training to new Probation Officers; and/or facilitates parent trainings and attends meetings and training sessions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree conferred by a college or university accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board plus two (2) years of social service experience. One (1) year of experience must include full-time casework, counseling, or community or group work in a social service, community, corrections, or juvenile agency that deals with juvenile age youth. One (1) year of graduate study in criminology, corrections, counseling, law, social work, psychology, sociology, or other related field may be substituted for the one (1) year of casework experience
• Must secure and maintain certification as a Juvenile Probation Officer by the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
• Must secure and maintain a favorable background investigation
• Must clear a psychological assessment, a pre-employment physical and a pre-employment drug screen test
• Must have a valid driver’s license, motor vehicle liability insurance, personal injury insurance and a personal vehicle or alternate available means of transportation
• Required to be on call 24 hours a day
• May be required to work more than 40 hours during the workweek
• Knowledge of case management practices; knowledge of basic individual and group counseling techniques; knowledge of support service programs and eligibility requirements; knowledge of mediation and behavior modification techniques; knowledge of issues affecting troubled adolescents; knowledge of social services delivery network; knowledge of TYC and residential placement facilities; knowledge of juvenile law, Texas Juvenile Justice Code, and Texas Family Code; knowledge of DSM-IV terminology and court procedures; and knowledge of word processing software and other computer applications utilized by the department
• Must have interpersonal skills to interact effectively with troubled juveniles, co-workers, and the general public; skills in dealing with juveniles and families in crisis; and skill in interpreting regulatory legislation regarding court orders and probation conditions
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; ability to communicate effectively with hostile, abusive or irrational individuals; ability to obtain and organize information; ability to operate personal computer and basic office equipment; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, County employees, outside organizations, attorneys and the general public; ability to work closely with court officials on cases; ability to manage time effectively; ability to interpret legal statutes; ability to analyze reports and create strategic and tactical plans
• Job has significant impact on division/program operations and public image. Responsible for explaining to juveniles and family members, the conditions of supervision and consequences of failure to comply. Employee receives direction when performing the essential functions. Employee selects appropriate procedures required to complete work assignments. No supervision of other employees is required.
• Independent judgment is required to explain detention/probation/court orders and conditions to juveniles and family members. Uses moderate discretion to complete work assignments. Initiative is constantly required to complete work assignments. Conflicting or incomplete data is constantly encountered in decision-making. Decisions are made regarding legislative interpretation, program planning and individual work priorities
• Constant contact with co-workers. Frequent contact with juveniles, other County employees, other government agencies, outside organizations, and the general public. Communication is primarily in person, via telephone and through written correspondence

• Assists on-the-job training to new Probation Officers
• Monitors a caseload of offenders, including conducting home, school, and office visits, and preparing chronological reports to document progress for court proceedings and treatment purposes
• Conducts interviews with offenders and/or their families to collect background information, including social history investigations
• Develops individual supervision plans for juveniles and counsels juveniles and families, including attending subsequent school, therapeutic, and other related meetings
• Prepares and files court papers such as requests for petitions, motions to modify dispositions, and affidavits requesting a directive to apprehend, and serves summonses
• Represents the department at court hearings and detention hearings
• Refers juveniles and families for outside services such as counseling
• Administers drug tests on juveniles
• Transports juveniles/families to appointments
• Attends training sessions
• Assists with unit caseload as necessary
• Facilitates and/or coordinates education/awareness groups to children and/or parents
• Provides community and school presentations about probation and may serve as group facilitator