Training & Quality Improvement Specialist

Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 61,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

OPERS retirement

Deferred compensation

Job summary

Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court is seeking a Training/Quality Improvement Specialist (Detention) to develop and oversee internal QA practices in a 24/7 detention environment. You will design curricula, coordinate both in-house and external trainings, and produce reports from audits and surveys to guide improvements.

The role requires a Bachelor's in a related field and five years in youth justice or similar settings, with proficiency in MS Word, Excel and the court case management system.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in behavioral science, social work, criminology or related field.
• Minimum five years of work experience in youth justice or related social services.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel and capable with the Court’s Case Management System.
• Ability to develop, implement and monitor quality assurance programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and monitor internal quality assurance practices within the Detention Center.
• Coordinate training curricula and logistics for court employees.
• Create training manuals and maintain training calendars.
• Conduct audits via walkthroughs and resident surveys for improvement.
• Lead quality assurance meetings with Administration and partnerships with community programs.
• Collect data for QA benchmarks and prepare reports for housing units.

Skills

Training design

Quality assurance

Data reporting

Communication

Staff collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Behavioral Science, Social Work, Criminology or related fields

Five (5) years of youth justice or related experience

Tools

MS Word

Excel

Case Management System

Job description

Job Title: Training/Quality Improvement Specialist (Detention) Salary Grade: 17 Salary: $60,800.00 - $68,400.00 commensurate with experience

Reports To: Director of Training and Quality Improvement Date Posted: 10/16/26

FLSA Status: Exempt Last Revised: 10/14/26

Benefits of Employment

Insurance: Comprehensive Health, Dental, Vision, Life and an Employee Assistance Program. Supplemental Life may be purchased at group rates.

Paid Time Off: Twelve (12) holidays, vacation time (after 6 months) of three (3) weeks per year for the first eight (8) years of service, and sick time.

Retirement: Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) with 14% annual employer contribution and Deferred Compensation Plans.

Job Summary

Responsible for utilizing Ohio Administrative Codes to develop, implement, coordinate, and monitor internal quality assurance practices and identify areas for improvement within the Detention Center. Responsible for developing summary reports and evaluations after conducting regular audits of facility practices via facility walkthroughs, resident surveys, and camera reviews. Collaborate with Detention Administration to develop and implement employee training curricula in alignment with Youth Justice best practices standards.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty listed below. Reasonable accommodations will be made for disabled persons covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, in accordance with its requirements.

Training:

In collaboration with the Training Managers, monitors compliance with OAC mandated curricula, along with identifying additional training curricula aligned with best practices such as Conditions of Confinement Standards.

Designs and develops training programs for Court employees. Completes all logistical arrangements for in-house and external training events. Assists in the assessment and determination of training needs utilizing appropriate training assessment methods and techniques.

Designs, develops and writes training manuals for employee training events. Coordinates with the Detention Center Training Managers and other Court Trainers to maintain calendar of upcoming training events both at the Court as well as County-wide and throughout the state for distribution to employees.

Researches literature to present and prepare training activities and events. Coordinates educational resources and maintains electronic library of educational and training materials.

Quality Assurance of Detention Services:

Responsible for developing, implementing, coordinating, and monitoring quality assurance and improvement programs throughout the Detention Center according to Ohio Administrative Code while incorporating PREA and JDAI standards.

Responsible for developing, implementing, coordinating, and monitoring all quality assurance and improvement programs including, but not limited to, unit observation, conditions of confinement, staff and youth interviews, training programs, compliance with training mandates, and monitoring benchmarks of conditions and confinement best practice standards, and any additional special projects.

Conducts Quality Assurance meetings with Administration to identify areas of need, opportunities for growth, and provide information regarding best practices in YouthJustice. Responsible for monitoring quality assurance with all alternatives to detention programs in the community.

Additional Duties:

Maintains communication between Court Administration, Detention Center Administration, and other departments to assist with development of policies and practices.

Reviews dashboards of training hours, grievances, and incident data base to identify improvements or concerns.

Identifies and responds to all service needs and information needs of the Court, contract agencies and the community.

Provides reports to Detention Center and Court Administration to identify quality assurance, programmatic, and training needs for staff. Also provides quality assurance reports to each Housing Unit Manager.

Assists in the development of unit benchmarks and goals.

Collects and reports data for internal quality assurance benchmarks, critical incident documentation,

Monitors and aids in the quality assurance monitoring of the Behavior Management System.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Has no direct management responsibility for staff members. May be required to use supervisory abilities when in the training environment.

Equipment Operated

Standard office equipment and office technology such as copy machines, personal computers and telephones.

Confidential Data

Includes all court-related information regarding hearings, etc. the employee may come in contact with while working in the facility.

Working Conditions

Works in a general office setting with moderate noise levels. Employee also may work in a classroom environment testing and teaching course materials. Employee is expected to conduct walk-throughs and interviews in the Detention Center, which is a 24/7 secure correctional facility.

Usual Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, to speak clearly, and to hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Knowledge of effective correctional practices, such as relational skills, safety protocol, and behavior management strategies; thorough understanding of court operations with experience in working with youth justice population in similar setting to the Detention Center; ability to work independently with demonstrable skills in organization, establishing and maintaining work relationships with Court officials and problem-solving; familiar with social service agencies serving children, parents, families, community, etc.; ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing; able to effectively present to adult learners; able to effectively provide constructive feedback to aid in implementing best practices; attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records; ability to maintain confidentiality and professional discretion; knowledge of risk levels, criminogenic needs, the youth justice system, case management, behavioral strategies and program models. Ability to make use of supervision, be culturally competent; skills in interviewing, report writing, and synthesizing information; ability to work with numbers, including basic understanding of arithmetic, statistics and; must be computer literate – proficient in MS Word, Excel, and have the ability to acquire knowledge and use of Court’s Case Management System; Internet research skills, proven record of discretion and diplomacy;

Flexibility in work hours to accommodate program needs including, but not limited to, out-of-state travel (including overnight travel), program monitoring and observation, and youth and staff interviews on an as-needed basis.

Flexibility in work hours to accommodate the Detention Center needs.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science, Social Work, Criminology or related fields (or equivalent where 1 year of college = 2 years of experience); Master’s Degree preferred.

AND

Five (5) years of work experience in youth justice or social services as related to adolescents.

Licensure or Certification Requirements

Must possess a valid driver's license and continuously maintain automobile insurance in compliance with state law, with a driving record acceptable to the Court's current policies. Must have ready access to a safe functioning automobile with valid registration and insurance.

Any position which requires operating a motor vehicle as an essential duty of responsibility of the position will be subject to a driving record check through the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Applicants are required to provide their driver’s license number upon request. Applicants who possess a driver’s license from a state other an Ohio, or those applicants who have possessed an out-of-state driver’s license at any time during the five years prior to review, must provide a certified copy of his or her out-of-state driving history for at least the five years prior to the review of the applicant’s driving qualifications.

Court Expectations of Employee

In accomplishing the responsibilities of this position, the Court expects that the employee will adhere to the mission and values of the Court as well as all Court policies and procedures. In addition, while carrying out the duties of this position, the employee is expected to model high ethical conduct on and off the job, and exhibit a professional and respectful demeanor with all Court employees.

Court Mission Statement

To administer justice, rehabilitate juveniles, support and strengthen families, and promote public safety.

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