Protective Services Counselor - HEM

The City of Richmond Department of Justice Services is seeking highly qualified candidates for the position of Protective Services Counselor. The incumbent will work in the Adult Home Electronic Monitoring Unit and is responsible for providing monitoring of all court-ordered movements. This class provides case management and collaboration with justice partners. Work includes utilization of GPS technology; regularly communicating with program participants; writing compliance/non-compliance letters; testifying in court; conducting home verifications; problem-solving technical and equipment issues; and serving as the point of contact for assigned program participants. The HEM program is a 24 (twenty-four) hour operation.  Working shifts are assigned based on program needs and may be subject to change with notice.

• Installing, troubleshooting, and conducting routine inspections of Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring equipment
• Maintaining an inventory of equipment and supplies
• Conducting home/work/school visits
• Preparing written reports and documentation as required and needed.
• Testifying in Court and providing reports to the Court
• Performing other related duties as assigned

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Associate degree in human services, Social Services, Criminal Justice, or related behavioral health field 
• Bachelor's degree in a related field is preferred. 
• Two (2) years of related criminal justice or social services experience 
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the class.

 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge (some combination of the following):

• Considerable knowledge of laws and legal procedures as it relates to home electronic monitoring; court proceedings and courtroom decorum; mental health training, including behavioral needs of program participants; human behavior; criminal behavior; proper search procedures and protocols; security operations; computer programs such as Microsoft Office Suite and electronic databases and related software applications. 
• Demonstrated skill in communicating with various internal and external departments; dealing with program participants in an empathetic yet firm manner; enforcing rules and regulations; establishing a positive rapport with program participants; exhibiting sound judgment in stressful situations; identifying behavior induced by drugs or alcohol; intervening effectively in crisis situations; maintaining a calm composure; planning, scheduling, prioritizing, and monitoring program participant activities; providing effective and appropriate supervision. 
• Proven ability to demonstrate awareness and attention to detail and understanding, interpreting, and conveying to others written policies, procedures, and instructions.

• A valid Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record
• A valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License within 30 days of hire (Please note: A candidate's DMV record can have no more than 6 demerit points in one year. Additionally, a candidate with a DWI/DUI conviction within 3 years of the date of application or the date of hire automatically disqualifies an applicant. Conviction of more than one DWI/DUI automatically disqualifies an applicant). 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly finger, talk, hear, and see. The working conditions may include environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.

Salary : $57,408 - $90,002