Midlands Special Needs Coordinator

State of South Carolina; South Carolina; On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Health, dental & life insurance

Vacation leave (15 days)

Sick leave (15 days)

13 paid holidays

State retirement plans

Discount programs

Job summary

South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice seeks a dedicated professional to coordinate, facilitate, and monitor service and placement plans for Special Needs youth in the community. The role involves cross-agency collaboration, staff training, and ensuring continuity of care across treatment teams.

Under limited supervision, you will track progress, prepare staffing summaries, and engage with DJJ staff to improve treatment outcomes. Travel within-state is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in human services or social services.
• Knowledge of delinquency and rehabilitation theories and practices.
• Ability to communicate effectively and travel in-state.
• Ethical considerations in incarceration and rehabilitation of adolescents.

Responsibilities

• Responds to DJJ staff with questions about Special Needs youth; coordinates staffings and referrals.
• Provides follow-up with staff, attends Treatment Teams, and develops discharge plans.
• Completes staffing summaries within 15 business days and uploads to JJMS.
• Delivers regional training on Special Needs case management and continuity of care.
• Identifies system issues affecting continuity of care and makes recommendations to LSNC.
• Completes monthly reports and submits to LSNC by the 5th of each month.
• Attends trainings/conferences related to job duties.
• Acts as liaison with other child-serving agencies on Special Needs youth.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Communication skills

Case management

Interagency collaboration

Training & facilitation

Education

Bachelor's degree in human services/social services

Master's degree preferred

Job description

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and you have a passion for making a difference in the lives of South Carolina's youth, consider joining the dedicated people of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).

MISSION:

It is the mission of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to impact and transform young lives, strengthen families, and support safer communities through targeted prevention and rehabilitation.

JOB PURPOSE:

Under limited supervision, coordinates, facilitates, and monitors appropriate service and placement plans for DJJ special needs youth in the community in a selected region of the state; provides information across DJJ of such plans, tracks progress in treatment, coordinate staffings to address barriers to effective treatment and to develop comprehensive plans for special needs youth in the community.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responds to calls from DJJ staff with questions or concerns about Special Needs youth; as needed, provides consultation, scheduling and running of staffings, contacts staff from other agencies, and other processes designed to assist DJJ staff in diverting special needs offenders to treatment options other than commitment to DJJ.
• Provides follow-up contact to DJJ staff for Special Needs youth, including attendance at Treatment Teams, scheduling staffings to avoid placement or community disruptions, and developing discharge plans.
• Completes staffing summaries within 15 business days and upload into JJMS.
• Provides regional training for DJJ staff in Special Needs case management, including how and when to access the services of the Special Needs area/unit to include what classifies a youth as Special Needs. This training will include identifying systems issues that impact appropriate continuity of care for Special Needs youth in the community and makes recommendations to LSNC regarding these issues.
• Completes monthly report and submit to LSNC by the 5th of each month.
• Attends trainings/conferences related to job duties.
• Acts as a liaison with other child serving agencies in matters relating to Special Needs youth in the community.
• Identifies system issues that impact appropriate continuity of care for Special Needs youth in the community and make recommendations to LSNC regarding these issues.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

STATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A bachelor's degree and professional experience in human services or social services programs.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Working knowledge of theory and practice in the clinical field (in particular psychopathology and diagnosis, best practice standards of treatment).
• Knowledge of current theory and practice in the field of delinquency and rehabilitation.
• Knowledge of (or capacity to acquire knowledge of) DJJ mission and objectives; working knowledge of (or capacity to acquire knowledge of) current DJJ P&P.
• Awareness of ethical issues involved in incarceration and rehabilitation of adolescents.
• Knowledge of case management, placement, and treatment resources and current state standards for adolescent placements.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• This position will require in-state travel to child serving facilities.
• This position performs duties relating to the custody, control, transportation, or recapture of youth within the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the employee may have direct and indirect contact with youth within the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Training applicable to these duties will be provided.

PREFERRED AGENCY REQUIREMENTS:

A master's degree in a human services field (psychology, social work, rehabilitation services, or similar) and three years' experience.

The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice offers an exceptional benefits package for FTE positions that includes:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Health, dental, and life insurance
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days of sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• State retirement plans and deferred compensation programs
• Discount Programs such as TicketatWork and WeSave

Applications are incomplete if you fail to answer all supplemental questions, education, and work history. Incomplete applications are not referred to hiring managers. Applications are accepted until 5:00 p.m. on the stated closing date.

You will be asked to provide a certified transcript if selected for a position requiring a degree. A background investigation will be conducted that may include but is not limited to, criminal records, driver's license, and child abuse registry prior to an offer of employment. Additionally, a medical examination and drug testing may be required. Please provide an explanation for any gaps in employment. A resume may be attached to your application but not substituted for completing the work history section of the application.