Senior Juvenile Probation Officer

Senior Juvenile Probation Officer -

Location:

Bartow, Lakeland Polk County

Contact Person:
Paul Sheffer, Chief Probation Officer

Starting Salary: $1,848.85 Bi-Weekly

Duties and Responsibilities:

Case Management, Referrals, Recommendations and Assessment

Initiate contact with the youth, family, victims, and law enforcement when referrals are received by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ). Conduct home and school visits as an integral part of the information collection/family involvement model. Initiate contact with the victim when a referral is received by the FDJJ to obtain the victim's opinion regarding case handling and disposition. Use Motivational Interviewing to engage the youth and family to determine the youth's social, developmental, emotional, financial and other needs.

Obtain and review collateral information such as abuse and neglect history, educational, mental health, substance use, gang related activity and other pertinent information from other agencies involved with the youth and family. Conduct and document FDJJ screening(s) and assessments to identify the youth's risk and needs, protective factors and/or the need for further evaluations, including but not limited to detention and intake screening, Suicide Risk Screening Instrument, and any Department approved risk/needs screening and/or assessment instrument(s).

Facilitate the completion of comprehensive assessments, and if results indicate needed services refer the youth and family for services regardless of youth's legal status (e.g., intake status youth that may include diversion and civil citation). Document all referrals for services regardless of youth's legal status and the youth or parent's acceptance or refusal of services. Formulate case management strategies based on assessments and/or information gathered to address the specific needs of the youth and family.

Make service referrals to the appropriate provider(s) and follow up actions needing to be taken. Make supervision and treatment recommendations to the State Attorney and other judicial partners that allow the Department to provide the most appropriate services in the least intrusive manner. Discuss with the youth and family a safety plan that focuses on averting exposure to situations of risk, harm or injury to prevent victimization.

Complete the screening instruments and reports used by the Department and/or the courts that include but are not limited to the following:
Detention Screening Risk Assessment (DRAI), Suicide Risk Screening Instrument (SRSI), Department approved risk/needs screening/assessment instrument(s) and case plan, Pre-Post Disposition Report, Adult Sentencing Summary Report, Progress (Status) Report, Electronic Commitment Packet, and Termination of Supervision.

Court Process

Act as the DJJ representative during court hearings in support of the Department's recommendation for the youth, family, and community. Confer and advocate with attorneys (e.g., State Attorney, Public Defender, Youth's Private Counsel, DJJ General Counsel) on the Department's recommendations based on information gathered during the screening, assessment, intake and supervision process, which represents a balanced and restorative justice approach taking into consideration youth competency development, accountability to the victimized community and promoting public safety.

Prepare and maintain current social histories, court reports, referral letters, and related correspondence. Explain court procedures to youth and their families. Provide current information to the staff responsible for detention screening, detention reviews, and related court hearings. Testify at hearings, when appropriate. Prepare affidavits/petition for Violation of Probation for any violation that result in the filing of a delinquency petition.

Request hearings when appropriate. Communicate and distribute the outcome of court proceedings to all affected parties (i.e., youth, family, supervisor, detention, residential, providers, schools, victims, etc.). Notify circuit management on referrals to the Office of the General Counsel for resolution of problem court orders or proceedings.

Case Management, Interventions & Supervision

Complete a risk and needs assessment using the appropriate Department approved instrument(s) for all youth screened/supervised by the department. Prior to the development of or revisions to the case plan staff should negotiate, implement, and modify the plan based on input from the youth and…