Probation Counselor I

The position is located at the Shelter Care Program. It provides oversight in a temporary care, community based residential group home for males and female court clients between the ages of 11-17. The primary goal is to ensure the health and physical well-being of residents by providing constant supervision and structured activities.

The awake Overnight Counselor provides direct sight and sound supervision to residents in the building. Ensures facility operation and building safety, maintenance, and security on evening, overnight, and weekend shifts. Ensures the health care and physical well-being of residents through appropriate disbursement of medication and administration of first aid. Provides quality assurance to county, court and Department of Juvenile Justice standards and policy. Manages and dispenses prescription and non-prescription medication according to state regulatory requirements. Conducts room inspections, launders residents' uniforms and linens. Completes data entry in RSIS program. Responsible for transporting residents to court on an as-needed basis. Proficient in Microsoft applications: Word, Excel, Outlook. Ability to operate a 15-passenger van.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

Counseling and Treatment Services

• Formulates treatment or rehabilitation plans and presents written or oral recommendations for adjustment of behavior;

• Facilitates placement, supervises and monitors community service requirements, schedules payments, collects court costs and restitution, monitors urine tests;
• Supervises child visitations and exchanges involving estranged parents according to court orders or other relevant agreements;
• Conducts intake interviews and supervises offenders/defendants through office and home visits to verify compliance with court orders;
  Interviews juvenile or adult offenders, their families and related persons to determine the nature of the adjustment difficulty (e.g., whether it is environmental, school, and/or social);

• Conducts field investigations;

• Refers offenders/defendants to other agencies or facilities as needed and maintains liaison with service providers to coordinate evaluations;
  Testifies in court and provides required written reports on adjustment and compliance to courts;
  Assesses short term goals, counsels offenders and provides opportunities for positive change;
• Provides crisis intervention services;

• Documents and composes case records, petitions and correspondence and periodically compiles related statistics;

• Aids clients in obtaining employment;

• Cooperates with representatives from State and local social service and law enforcement agencies in cases of mutual interest;

• Positions located in a residential facility supervise and direct house routines and therapeutic programs;

• Ensures that residents maintain behavioral norms;

• Maintains communication with a resident's probation counselor, school representative, employer, family, and significant others;

• Coordinates and implements a residential program area (e.g., recreational, educational, or employment activities);

• Coordinates and transports detainees between the courts, the residential detention facility or other various facilities;

• Provides course instruction using Commission on Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP) education curriculum Conduct intake assessments on new clients and make appropriate referrals.

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of the principles of psychology and sociology;

• Knowledge of current social and economic conditions;

• Ability to use technology to enter and retrieve information;

• Ability to interpret laws, rules, and regulations related to probation work;

• Ability to interview and counsel clients;

• Ability to prepare complete case records and reports;

• Ability to develop effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in social/behavioral sciences, law enforcement, or education.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid driver's license
• Handle With Care (Required within 6 months)
• Medication Management (Required within 6 months)
• CPR (Required within 30 days)
• First Aid (Required within 30 days)

• Criminal background investigation
• Child Protective Services Registry check
• Driving record check

• Experience working with court involved adolescents in a residential setting.
• Experience working with complex behavioral problems and respond to crisis situations.
• Possess a bachelor's degree in a related field.

• Primarily a sedentary position requiring sufficient visual acuity to read data on a computer monitor and operate keyboard-driven equipment.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in English in person, in writing, and by telephone.
• Must be able to move throughout the facility to conduct frequent resident checks and ensure safety and security.
• Must be physically capable of safely restraining youth ages 14-18, when necessary.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds.
• Must possess the ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations