Juvenile Justice Specialist

THE POSITION

Do you take pride in connecting with others and helping them to improve their lives? The Department of Human Services (DHS), Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services (BJJS), North Central Secure Treatment Unit is seeking individuals who are outgoing, motivated, and up for a challenge mentally, emotionally, and physically. We are seeking individuals who can develop effective relationships with court-adjudicated youth to help address personal problems and provide positive reinforcement to instill proper attitudes and responsible behaviors. This position involves a willingness to work with a diverse population along with a driving desire to make a difference in the lives of youth. Join our team and know that you will have a positive impact on the youth entrusted to your care every day

Watch this video to see how you can make a difference

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

As a Juvenile Justice Specialist, you will actively engage with court-adjudicated youth communicate with them about their thought processes, actions, and personal problems to provide insight into responsible behaviors and attitudes. Your work will assist professional staff in implementing treatment plans and reporting youths‘ progress in attaining goals within a secure or restricted setting.

You will also assist youth in providing for their physical care, custody, and supervision and their daily activities including recreation, housekeeping, personal hygiene, work assignments, and program requirements. Other responsibilities include maintaining order by verbally and physically intervening with disruptive, emotionally improper, and suicidal youth as well as using appropriate physical restraint techniques to prevent escapes, control aggressiveness, and maintain a safe, secure, or restricted environment. Training will be provided.

The guidance you will provide for social and emotional growth by role modeling values and ideals will endeavor to elicit a genuine desire in court-adjudicated youth to change their behaviors. If you would like an opportunity to join our teams efforts to help the youth in our care become more responsible, contributing citizens in their communities, we encourage you to join our team and apply today

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours include shift work in a 24/7/365 operation, including holidays and weekends. 8-hour shifts with no duty-free lunch.
  • 1st shift: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
  • 2nd shift: 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM
  • 3rd shift: 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM

Travel and overtime as needed. Overtime may be voluntary and possible mandatory.May change based on operational needs.Multiple positions may be filled from this posting.You must be willing to accept employment at North Central Secure Treatment Unit and commute to this location in Danville, Montour County.FREE PARKINGThe Department of Human Services provides excellent benefits, pay increases, paid leave and holidays, as well as opportunities for career advancement.Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $55,394 (before taxes). You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Successful completion of the Juvenile Justice Specialist Trainee program (commonwealth title); or
• Two years of experience in the care, custody, activities, or personal guidance of adolescents or adults in a human services or social services program, law enforcement or correctional program, or an educational, community, or military organization; or
• An associate‘s degree in social sciences, counseling, restorative justice, juvenile justice, child development, behavioral sciences, human services, criminal justice, education, or a closely related field; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Special Requirements:

• You must be at least 21 years old at the time of application.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• A conditional offer of employment will require a satisfactory completion of a medical examination and a drug screening test.
• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  1. Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans‘ Preference tab or contact us at .

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  1. your score may be lower than deserved.
  2. you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.

---