Juvenile Custody Services Specialist

The Opportunity:

• Do you have a passion to help youth involved in the juvenile justice system?

• Do you want to make a difference in their lives and the lives of their families?

• Do you believe that all youth are capable of turning their lives around?

• Are you passionate about helping others?

• Do you thrive when working on a team?

If you answered "yes" to these questions, we want you to join our team as a Juvenile Custody Services Specialist!

The Department of Community Justice Juvenile Detention and Residential Services Team is seeking committed, enthusiastic and compassionate Juvenile Custody Services Specialists (JCSS) to strengthen our detention facility. If selected for one of these positions, you will serve a critical, operational role within the Juvenile Detention Center.

As a JCSS with Multnomah County's Department of Community Justice, you'll help foster pro-social behavior with youth residing in our juvenile detention facility and our Behavioral Rehabilitation Services (BRS) residential program.

Working in a culturally diverse juvenile detention facility, you will be responsible for the guidance, security and general care of youth who present a variety of behavioral, cognitive, emotional and intellectual issues. Using an interactive model of supervision, we place particular emphasis on skill development, engaging youth in pro-social development, cognitive restructuring programming, leisure time activities, personal hygiene, and work activities.

You will be responsible for:

• Supervising and documenting youth activities and behavior

• Providing guidance and group programming, including planning recreational programs and facilitating cognitive skill groups

• Maintaining safety, security and order in the living units

• Maintaining routine records; preparing oral and written reports using automated systems

JCSS work in a secure detention environment and in a Behavioral Rehabilitation Services (BRS) residential program. The detention facility has numerous two-level pods that house youth in detention. All Juvenile Custody Services Specialists must have the ability to use verbal skills to de-escalate volatile situations. You must also be able and willing to respond to crisis situations, including physically intervening with youth who may be violently acting out; this may involve the use of restraints. All Juvenile Custody Services Specialists must have the ability to regularly go up and down stairs.

Some positions are assigned to work in a secure residential Behavioral Rehabilitation Services treatment program for youth of all genders who require a staff secured, out of home placement for assessment/evaluation, stabilization and transition planning.

The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Applicants must be willing to work a variety of shifts, including overnight, swing, weekends and holidays. JCSS are Essential Personnel and work on a continuous duty shift, meaning that you may not be relieved of duty during your work day.