What are the responsibilities and job description for the Probation Officer Specialist position at Chester County of Pennsylvania?
Summary
The Adult Probation Officer Specialist is an experienced caseworker who will be assigned to supervise individuals who have been placed on probation and or parole supervision and determined by the court to be in need of intensive supervision or a risk assessment tool determined the individual to be high risk or high need of re-offense. A Probation Officer Specialist encourages long term positive change, enforces compliance with court ordered conditions and helps reduce the risk of recidivism. This position also involves court testimony and the completion of Court reports which include fair and balanced recommendations regarding the individual’s needs and protection of the community. Additionally, this position requires an individual to possess excellent proficiency in the use of evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing, Risk Assessment, and Trauma Informed Responses. Although law and procedures regulate the work, the employee is required in emergencies to make decisions directly affecting public safety and personal liberties of individuals.
Essential Duties
- Provide ongoing supervision by maintaining regular contact with high risk/ high need justice involved individuals, monitoring compliance with rules and regulations of probation & parole, along with any special conditions imposed by the court. Officers work to ensure community safety, identify violations, and take appropriate action.
- Maintain professional and timely contact with family members, victims, members of law enforcement, the court, community, and treatment providers.
- Gather information through interviews with clients, victims, court, law enforcement, treatment providers and other parties as necessary.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the use evidence-based practices such as risk/needs assessments, case plan, motivational interviewing and skill building with fidelity.
- Demonstrate the ability to testify in court without oversight.
- Utilize the risk/needs results to make appropriate referrals to treatment agencies to address the individual’s needs and continuously monitor the individual’s participation and progress in these programs to ensure compliance and appropriate outcomes.
- Enforce confidentiality of protected information.
- Ensure that all information pertaining to the case is well documented, thorough, and accurate.
- Ability to use trauma informed and trauma responsive in supervision strategies.
- Complete and submit Court reports with an emphasis on accuracy, timeliness, professionalism, appropriate use of grammar and proper formatting.
- Actively promotes teamwork among units and the whole department.
- Attend and participate in local and regional meetings, seminars, trainings, and conferences to maintain the highest level of education in the field of probation and parole services, including knowledge about current Probation/Parole research.
- Support and monitor the collection of fines, costs, and restitution.
- Perform urinalysis and breathalyzer testing, as needed.
- Provide professional court testimony and demonstrate the ability to make fair recommendations for sentencing with minimum supervisory oversight.
- Ability to successfully complete defensive tactics training
- Ability to obtain certification to complete C.R.N. evaluations.
- Perform duty team tasks, which include assisting with temporarily unsupervised caseloads, answering phone calls, and interviewing new clients who were sentenced or released from prison.
- Perform other duties, tasks, and special projects, as required.
Qualifications/Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university Two years of social services or criminal justice experience.
- Knowledge of criminal justice terminology and court procedures.
- Ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and prioritize.
- Strong knowledge of the procedures which govern the Court of Common Pleas
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to multi-task and carry tasks to completion.
- Knowledge of the principles, methods and practices of investigations, supervision and reporting in probation work.
- Strong writing, interviewing, and investigating skills.
- Strong professional ethics.
- Specialized training specific to the job duties.
- Must pass a background check.
- A valid driver’s license and use of a personal vehicle is required.
Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice or related field.
- Minimum of two years of experience as a Probation & Parole Officer.
- Familiarity with the laws and procedures concerning probation/parole supervision (i.e., search and seizures, violations, confidentiality etc.).
- Bilingual ability required for the bilingual specialist position.
- Excellent organization and time management skills.
- Ability to maintain confidential information and handle confidential matters.
- Knowledge of illegal and prescription drugs, and the effects, and length of time spent in someone’s system.
- Knowledge of individual and group behavior, with special emphasis on psychology.
- General knowledge of the rules and regulations of probation/parole.
- Strong professional ethics
- Knowledge of evidence-based practices, motivational interviewing, and risk assessment.
- Ability to work as part of a team.
- Ability to handle and resolve recurring problems and to make firm and unbiased decisions.
- Accurate and detail oriented.
- Demonstrates integrity and honesty.
- General working knowledge of County of Chester policies and procedures.
Additional Information
Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.
Computer Skills:
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have:
- Basic Word, Access, and Excel skills
- Basic Outlook skills (Email and Calendar)
- Basic Internet skills.
- Basic Court System software skills and data entry skills for Case Management system.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, stand, talk, and hear and drive a vehicle. Occasionally, the employee will need to bend at the waste while working; kneel, stoop, crouch, or squat; climb stairs; and taste or smell. On rare occasions, the employee will need to carry, lift, or push items; twist or rotate at the waist; and reach above shoulder height.
The specific vision requirements for this position are as follows:
- Close and distance vision while driving a vehicle.
- Peripheral vision for safety reasons (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point).
- Completion of self-defense training.
Work Environment:
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can vary by location.
- Work will be performed inside approximately 80% of the time.
- Work will be performed in the field approximately 20% of the time (visiting defendant’s homes, courtroom appearances, treatment facilities, etc.).
- Will be unable to carry weapons while in the field or in the office.
- Monitoring drug and alcohol use exposes incumbent to potential health risks.
- While in the community/ field, it is encouraged to work with another probation officer.
Other:
- This position requires professionalism.
- Confidentiality is crucial to this position.
- Strong interviewing and communication skills are necessary, as you work with a wide variety of defendants, from cooperative to aggressive.
- Must be able to work extended hours.
- Will occasionally need to drive to and from locations.
- Completion of Self-defense training.
