Juvenile Detention Officer 1/Residential Treatment Officer 1

Job Title

BCJPD - Juvenile Detention Officer I/Residential Treatment Officer I

Pay Rate Min to Mid Range

Time Type

Full time

Summary

Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department

Juvenile Detention Officer I/ Residential Treatment Officer I

$21.80              starting hourly rate.

$6,000.00         additional base pay from Texas Juvenile Justice Department total annual amount.

$1,212.00         certification pay upon certification total annual amount.

$200.00            uniform allowance paid semi-annually.

Mission Statement. Achieve positive change with children and their families by emphasizing individual responsibility and community safety.

Overview.  The Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department (BCJPD) is the juvenile justice agency for Bexar County, Texas.

Position Overview.  We are seeking positive, assertive, reliable and confident individuals for the role of Juvenile Detention Officer I to serve as role models and provide guidance and support to youth in a structured environment.

Our ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal skills and actively engage youth during various daily activities, including but not limited to facilitating individual skill development and group educational sessions; engaging youth in skill-building, recreational and educational activities; supervising the interactions between youth; and ensuring safety and security in the program.

Duties and Responsibilities (these represent a general summary and not intended to be all inclusive of the responsibilities of the position).

1. Serve as a role model to youth and assist them in developing social and life skills while providing guidance and support through daily interaction; promote positive outcomes for youth by providing opportunities, fostering positive relationships and furnishing the support needed to build on leadership strengths. 2. Collaborate as a part of a team to oversee and supervise youth in secure residential program.

3. Implement the facility’s behavior management plan, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, with fidelity.

4. Monitor and maintain a clean, safe, and secure environment free of contraband through supervision rounds, head counts, indoor and outdoor security checks and searches of youth and visitors.

5. Observe the conduct and behavior of youth and take appropriate action in accordance with Departmental policies to ensure the safety of staff and youth.

6. Provide crisis and behavior management in accordance with Departmental policies to youth as needed as a means to prevent and/or de-escalate crisis situations.

7. Provide physical intervention when necessary to prevent harm to person or property.

8. Provide one-to-one observations where appropriate to ensure the safety of youth including moderate and high-risk suicide, mental health and medical watches.

9. Interact and facilitate discussions with families and visitors to encourage family engagement and identify positive supports for the youth while in custody. 10. Complete required documentation including behavior notations, incident reports, electronic observation checks, etc.

11. Transports youth both inside and outside of the facility to include classrooms, cafeteria, medical appointments, and court hearing.

12. Perform related duties as required.

Position Requirements.  In order to be considered for the position, applicants must have the following.

• Be at least 21 years of age or older.

• Possess a high school diploma or equivalent that meets validation requirements under the Texas Administrative Code.

• Possess a current and valid motor vehicle driver's license.

Skills and Ability Preferred Qualifications.  Our ideal candidate will have knowledge of  adolescent behavior and human relations; the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing; the ability to give practical advice to youth; the ability to supervise challenging youth; the interest in participating with youth in daily  skill building, recreational and vocational activities; the ability to proactively, maintain order, discipline and safety; the ability to treat youth in a consistent and fair manner; and the ability to use good judgment during confrontational or high pressure situations.  

Additional Information

Hours to be Worked.  May be required to work more than 40 hours during a work week. May be required to work weekends and perform shift work.

Special Requirements.  Must secure and maintain certification as a Juvenile Supervision Officer by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD).  Must secure and maintain a favorable background investigation.  Must clear a pre-employment physical, pre-employment drug test, a psychological assessment, and a state approved examination to obtain required certification.  Must have valid driver’s license, and motor vehicle or alternate available means of transportation.  Must secure and maintain a certification in First Aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and authorized physical restraint technique within sixty (60) days of employment.

Supervisory Responsibility.  Employee receives general supervision when performing the essential job functions.  Well-defined procedures are used when completing work assignments.  Job has significant impact on work unit operations.  Employee is directly responsible for the safety of self and youth and indirectly responsible for the safety of co-workers.  No supervision of other employees is required.

Contacts.  Constant contact with detained juveniles, and co-workers and occasional contact with the general public and other County employees.  Communication is primarily in person and via telephone or two-way radio.

Judgment, Initiative and Decision-Making.  Independent judgment is required to diffuse and respond to potential and actual violent situations and behavior.  Initiative is frequently required to complete work assignments.  Conflicting or incomplete data is frequently encountered in decision-making. 

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 regularly required to sit, walk, run, twist, kneel, and climb.  The employee is required to utilize hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate duress alarms, two-way radios, handcuffs, and shackles.  The employee is required to reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear. The employee may be required to lift and/or move objects weighing up to 40 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions.  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. Working conditions are primarily inside either at a pre-adjudication or post-adjudication facility environment. Generally required to restrain physically violent youth.  While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee regularly is exposed to emergency situations in which there is the possibility of danger or physical injury. The employee has frequent contact with other employees both within and outside of the assigned division, law enforcement and juvenile justice system officials, and juveniles.  The employee must remain calm and professional in tense, emotionally charged, and stressful situations.  The employee frequently must work under time pressures to meet deadlines and must perform multiple tasks simultaneously. The employee must work closely with others as part of and/or a leader of a team.  The employee constantly must present a positive attitude as a role model for juveniles. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but may be noisy and distracting.

Working With Bexar County

Bexar County offers employees a competitive salary, retirement, and benefits. Many employee benefits are available to an employee’s spouse/plus one qualifying adult and dependent child(ren). Employee benefits are strategically designed to support an employee and family, work/life balance.

Employee Benefits | Bexar County, TX - Official Website

Bexar County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to Workplace Diversity.

We are committed to providing equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.