Juvenile Relief Worker - Alternative Programs - Temporary Pool

Marion County; Salem (OR); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Union

Job summary

Marion County is seeking part-time, temporary/on-call Juvenile Relief Workers to provide coverage for vacations, illnesses, school breaks, and vacancies across department programs. The role offers flexible scheduling and direct exposure to juvenile programs, with mandatory trainings and union representation.

Relief staff may work up to 1,040 hours per fiscal year and must meet minimum qualifications listed in the application materials.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of juvenile behavior and corrections techniques in working with juvenile offenders.
• Understanding of security procedures and first aid.
• Ability to communicate effectively with juveniles, coworkers and supervisors, in written and oral form.
• Willingness to drive a county vehicle and work flexible shifts.

Responsibilities

• Lead youth in work-related and community projects with agencies and recipients of the service work.
• Supervise and train youth in a variety of labor-oriented tasks and community-based vocational activities.
• Maintain safety and security of juveniles at work sites and manage daily operations.
• Attend mandatory trainings, meetings, and work rotating shifts including weekends.

Skills

Juvenile behavior

Security procedures

First aid

Communication with youth

Teamwork

Flexibility

Education

Two years college coursework

Two years' experience with youth

Two years trade-related experience

Equivalent combination of education/training/experience

Job description

This recruitment will remain open until a sufficient number of qualified applications are received. Applications will be reviewed periodically until a decision is made to close the recruitment.

Marion County Juvenile Department is recruiting for part-time, temporary/on-call relief workers to provide vacation, illness, school breaks, and vacancy coverage in several department programs.

Please Note: Juvenile Relief Workers selected to work in Alternative Programs are not eligible to also work in Detention and/or the Guaranteed Attendance Program. If you already work as a Juvenile Relief Worker in Detention or the Guaranteed Attendance Program, you are not eligible to work for Alternative Programs.

Only information provided in the employment application will be considered when determining whether an applicant meets the minimum qualifications for the recruitment.

Overview

• This assignment is an entry-level classification in the field of Juvenile Justice.
• This assignment allows for flexible schedule for those in college or working another job.
• This assignment provides direct experience with juveniles that are often required or preferred in positions in Juvenile Justice.
• This assignment allows college students to gain valuable insight, training, and networking opportunities within the field of Juvenile Justice.
• Relief staff work a variety of shifts and days to cover pre-scheduled vacations and holidays, as well as provide coverage for sick calls and additional staff needs. Relief staff are also required to attend mandatory annual trainings and scheduled meetings.
• There are no guaranteed hours, but relief can work up to 1,040 hours per fiscal year.
• This assignment is represented by a union.

ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS

A comprehensive opportunity for youth to give back to the community through community service, participate in work to pay restitution to crime victims, develop work habits, and learn higher level technical work skills for future employability. Staff run juvenile work crews in the community. The program has four components:

• Community Service
• Matrix
• Focused Utilization of Employment and Labor IV (FUEL)
• The Fresh Start Market and Coffee Shop

Community Service

Works with seniors and disabled providing firewood and basic landscaping. Recycling, gardening, litter pickup, and landscaping are the other most common projects.

Matrix

The Matrix program provides both a short-term consequence for youth who have violated conditions of supervision, and a long-term opportunity for youth who owe restitution and need a way to work to earn money to compensate crime victims.

Youth are graded on a five-point scale for the following six areas: 1) attendance, 2) attitude, 3) work effort 4) peer relations, 5) staff relations, and 6) safety. If a youth does not pass, they do not receive any credit and must repeat the day.

The Matrix work crews work on various jobs such as, 24J School District, Salem City Parks, and Marion County Parks. Matrix jobs generally involve hard physical labor in all kinds of weather. These include cutting firewood which includes running a chainsaw and splitting wood, delivering firewood, paint recycling, paint pick up, vegetation management, ditch clearing, landscaping and lawn maintenance. Other jobs include working in the Juvenile Department gardens and greenhouses, landscaping the Juvenile Department grounds, and litter patrols.

• Short term Matrix: Ordered for one to five days as a consequence for failure to comply with conditions of probation supervision. Labor is unpaid, but youth must earn appropriate point levels to complete the consequence.
• Long-term Matrix: The Juvenile Department holds a value that youth be held accountable to paying restitution to crime victims. Youth are generally given the opportunity to earn the money on their own, but many youth do not have the ability to get work, either because of skill or age, or may owe a substantial amount of restitution. Other youth do not show the initiative to take responsibility for getting restitution paid.

The program focus is on earning and paying restitution to crime victims. It also provides the opportunity for youth to learn basic pro-social skills, desirable work habits, and exposes them employment expectations. All money earned is applied toward a youth's restitution until it is completely paid.

Focused Utilization of Employment and Labor (FUEL)

This component is the vocational training program. Youth are generally older and looking at employment in the near future. Youth must demonstrate a higher level of self-management to get into the program. The focus is on increasing responsibility, higher level skills, and payment of restitution to crime victims.

FUEL work includes construction, mechanics, metal work and wood working. Each youth receives an extensive exposure to different trades and can select an area of interest to increase their skills which paves the way into the job market.

The Fresh Start Market

The purpose is to provide an opportunity for youth to pay back restitution to victims of crime while learning job skills. The youth learn skills related to customer service, food handling, cash handling, barista, merchandising, stocking and various other tasks oriented towards daily operational duties. Depending on program area, not all duties listed below will be required.

• Provides orientation for incoming youth and assists them in making the initial adjustment to the program; provides ongoing direction to youth; acts as a positive role model for youth; attends to daily needs of juveniles.
• Prepares paperwork required by policy for juvenile offenders; supervises and writes evaluations of individual juvenile's behavior and performance as observed by daily contact and supervision methods including daily grading/scoring; writes behavior/incident reports as required.
• May conduct pat and strip searches; assesses whether juvenile is in need of medical attention; secures juvenile's personal effects, and contraband and issues receipt; prepares necessary paperwork.
• Maintains order and respect for authority; observes and anticipates potentially hostile behavior of juvenile offenders and takes necessary preventative action.
• Responds to emergency situations and interacts to diffuse aggressive situations; handles difficult and specialized discipline problems by using corrections techniques and established disciplinary controls.
• Ensures safety, reports improperly functioning building apparatus and faulty equipment; cleans facilities, clothing, and equipment as needed; performs minor equipment and vehicle maintenance.
• Leads youth in work-related and community projects with agencies and recipients of the service work; performs physical labor necessary to accomplish projects.
• Works a variety of hours; may work different shifts or weekend hours on a variable schedule; remains alert and observant during shifts; is punctual in reporting for shifts.
• Transports or provides for transportation of juveniles as needed.
• Maintains the security of the facility including key and equipment control; conducts searches; follows department and program policies and procedures; supervises visitors.
• Provides information on individual youth to probation staff, caseworkers or medical personnel as requested; exhibits clear communication both verbally and in writing; maintains confidentiality.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with coworkers, clients, families, and the public; exhibits cooperative behavior.
• Responsible for safety and security of juveniles at work sites. Supervise and train youth in a variety of labor oriented, community based, or vocational tasks.
• Other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

1. Two (2) years of college course work; OR
2. Two (2) years' experience (paid or unpaid) working with youth; OR
3. Two (2) years trade-related experience directly related to the position, OR
4. Any satisfactory equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience relevant to the position.

ADDITIONAL NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess a current driver's license in the applicant's state of residence and an acceptable driving history. Marion County will obtain a copy of the driving record for all qualified applicants from Driver and Motor Vehicle Services and review the driving record according to the Marion County policy and procedure for Driving on County Business. The policy can be found at: http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/
• This is a safety sensitive/special needs position. Final candidates selected for this position will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen, including testing for marijuana. The Marion County Drug and Alcohol Use and Testing Policy can be found at: http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/policy.aspx?p=policy&pid=518
• The finalist for this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check; however, conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual for this position.
• Final candidates selected for this position may be required to pass a pre-employment psychological examination by a county-appointed practitioner.
• This is a part-time, temporary/on-call relief position, which is eligible for overtime.
• This position is represented by a union.
• 6-day work week operation, with rotating shift schedules and workstations. This includes working day and as late as 7:30 PM, weekends. Work schedule is determined based on the needs of the department.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITY

Knowledge of juvenile behavior and corrections techniques used in working with juvenile offenders; knowledge of security procedures and first aid; ability to implement techniques with juvenile offenders in a group setting; knowledge of wood cutting, landscaping, gardening, wood working ,carpentry, welding, metal fabrication, mechanics, barista, food handling, cash register or ability to learn the required skills; ability to communicate effectively with juveniles, co-workers and supervisory staff both in oral and written form; ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions; ability to keep records; ability to develop effective working relationships with other agencies, co-workers and the public; ability to use sound, practical and fair judgment in assessment and decision making; ability to drive a motor vehicle; ability to work on a flexible schedule.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Operates a motor vehicle and maintains an acceptable driving history; sees using depth perception; stands; sits; moves about the work area; bends forward; climbs 1 floor of stairs; reaches overhead; restrains out of control youth; drags, grasps, twists and turns; lifts up to 75 lbs.; pushes/pulls up to 125 lbs.; moves carts on wheels; carries up to 50 lbs. for up to 25 feet; operates a keyboard; speaks with a clear and audible voice; reads a 12 pt. font; hears a normal speech level; works in areas exposed to noise; climbs ladders and/or scaffolds; works with cleaning and office chemicals; high probability of exposure to blood/body fluids.