Juvenile Rehabilitation Ombuds

State of Washington; Tukwila (WA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Diversity & inclusion

Health benefits

Paid time off

State retirement

Job summary

The Washington State Office of the Family and Children's Ombuds (OFCO) seeks an Ombuds Investigator to safeguard youth within DCYF/JR facilities, investigate complaints, monitor compliance, and identify systemic improvements. You will engage communities, respond to inquiries from lawmakers and the public, and contribute to statewide investigations.

The role requires extensive knowledge of child welfare/juvenile systems, investigative skills, and a commitment to equity.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation and/or juvenile legal systems.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse families and children in crisis.
• Experience handling confidential information and confidentiality requirements.
• Ability to translate laws/policies into strategic decisions for navigating complex casework.
• Knowledge of interview and investigation techniques.
• Experience in conflict management and working with individuals under stress or trauma.
• Ability to gather and analyze data impartially.
• Ability to manage multiple activities with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to promote accountability and collaborative work.
• Understanding of inequities impacting BIPOC youth and families in DCYF/JR.
• Experience writing reports with clear analysis.
• Proficiency in using external databases for investigation/research.
• Understanding of challenges facing incarcerated youth and ombuds work.

Responsibilities

• Promote public awareness about navigating the juvenile rehabilitation system and rights/responsibilities of youth.
• Represent OFCO at multidisciplinary meetings with diverse groups.
• Investigate complaints about DCYF/JR actions and potential harm to youth.
• Monitor practices in DCYF/JR to ensure safe facilities and appropriate services.
• Identify systemic issues and develop recommendations to improve services and outcomes.
• Provide information to the public through reports, presentations, and speaking engagements.

Skills

Child welfare knowledge

Crisis work experience

Confidential info handling

Legal/regulatory translation

Interview techniques

Investigation skills

Conflict management

Data analysis

Prioritization

Collaboration

Equity awareness

Report writing

Research skills

Education

Social work degree

Public administration degree

Public policy degree

Job description

Please note: The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidate’s qualifications within the budgeted salary range of $75,000 - $95,000 annually. However, there is the potential for longevity, growth, and salary progression for the individual once employed.

Hybrid: Our physical office is in Tukwila, WA. We offer flexible work schedules and locations. This is a hybrid position where most of the work allows for telework. However, you will need to travel to in-person activities, meetings, and events according to business needs.

Why work for the Office of the Governor?

The Washington State Office of the Family and Children's Ombuds (OFCO) provides information for navigating the child welfare and juvenile rehabilitation systems. Additionally, OFCO investigates complaints about agency actions or conduct and intervenes to correct a violation of law or policy. Through different areas of OFCO’s work, the agency also identifies system-wide issues and recommends changes to improve outcomes for children and strengthen families. OFCO is committed to anti-racism, anti-ableism, and addressing all forms of marginalization in both how we work together and approach our work. We strive to create a workplace where people are treated with dignity and respect. If you share a commitment to examining how systemic inequities shape the issues we work on, including decisions we make, and value ongoing learning, this role may be for you.

The Job Opportunity:

This position helps ensure the safety and well-being of youth in the Department of Children, Youth, and Families Juvenile Rehabilitation (DCYF/JR) facilities by investigating individual complaints and monitoring compliance with laws and policies. You will also work with the OFCO team on systemwide investigations, identify trends, and recommend improvements through research and analysis.

You will engage directly with communities impacted by the juvenile rehabilitation system and respond to inquiries from the public, lawmakers, and the media. This role includes public speaking, statewide travel, and offers a dynamic opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

What you’ll work on:

The primary/ essential functions of this position include:

• Promote public awareness and information for navigating the juvenile rehabilitation system, including the rights and responsibilities of youth and young adults involved;
• Represent the OFCO at multidisciplinary meetings with various groups;
• Investigate complaints about the actions or conduct of the DCYF/JR and potential harm to youth or young adults;
• Monitor practices and procedures implemented by the DCYF/JR to provide services and manage safe, secure facilities that meet the needs of all youth and young adults;
• Identify systemic issues that have an adverse impact on youth and young adults in DCYF/JR facilities and develop recommendations to improve juvenile rehabilitation services and outcomes;
• Provide information to the public through reports and other publications, presentations, and speaking engagements with diverse audiences.

What we need you to bring:

Required education, experience, and competencies

• Extensive knowledge of the child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation and/or juvenile legal systems.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse families and children in crisis.
• Experience working with confidential information and confidentiality requirements.
• Ability to identify and understand applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures, and translate them into strategic decision-making for navigating complex casework.
• Knowledge of interview and investigation techniques.
• Experience in conflict management and working with individuals experiencing stress or trauma.
• Ability to gather and analyze data in an impartial and fair manner.
• Ability to manage multiple activities, establish priorities, work independently, and proceed with objectives with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to promote accountability and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Understanding of the disparate impacts of child welfare and juvenile rehabilitation system involvement on BIPOC children, youth and families, including the systemic and institutional factors that contribute to inequitable outcomes.
• Experience writing reports summarizing information and analysis in a clear and concise manner.
• Proficiency in navigating and utilizing external databases for investigation and research.
• Understanding of the unique challenges facing incarcerated youth and young adults.
• Understanding of the independent, impartial, and neutral role of an ombuds and the principles and practices that support effective ombuds work.

Desired Qualifications:

• Prior demonstrated experience in social work, public administration, public policy, or a related field.
• Understanding of the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) structure, divisions, and duties.
• Experience conducting administrative investigations involving document review.
• Experience working in an ombuds role addressing complex and sensitive constituent concerns.
• Multilingual.

At OFCO, we foster a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We value both learned and lived experiences, believing that diversity makes us stronger. To support your health and well-being, we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.
Please visit our Recruitment site for a full list of employee benefits. Here’s a glance at some of the unique benefits that ORIA offers:

• A culture that values and strives to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year
• State retirement programs

The Washington State Office of the Family and Children's Ombuds (OFCO) is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.

This position is exempt from civil service rules.

For more information, please see WAC 357-19-195.