Juvenile Court Counselor - Probation Officer I or II

Announcement # 2025-003

Closing Date : February 7, 2025

Salary Range : POI : $5,450 - $6,745, per month POII : $5,995 - $7,420, per month

The JUVENILE COURT COUNSELOR - PROBATION OFFICER I or II position is full-time, 37.5 hours, Civil Service, and Union represented.

Columbia County is looking for an experienced juvenile probation officer to provide support to our juvenile division and the community justice team.

The Community Justice department mission is to reduce criminal conduct and help keep residents of Columbia County safe. We do this by providing evidence-based programming and interventions for adults and juveniles that aim to prevent individuals from re-offending, while also addressing the underlying issues of crime.

Our department partners with community groups and human services agencies, and provides a continuum of supervision, incarceration, and programming to manage offender behavior.

The Juvenile Division of the Columbia County Department of Community Justice is committed to protecting the public and reducing delinquency by holding youth accountable to their victims and to their community.

DUTIES : Work in conjunction with community resources and coordinate available services to provide ongoing care and supervision for juveniles and families. Perform professional casework services, counseling, crisis intervention, guidance and supervision of children and families under departmental jurisdiction. While the work is similar to a POI , the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties, for the POII , is greater and includes handling more complex cases, performing a unique function of the court requiring specialized knowledge and abilities. Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. Serve as and perform all duties assigned to 'Juvenile Counselors' under ORS 419A.010 (1) (a) and 419A.012.

EDUCATION and / or EXPERIENCE : POI : Equivalent to a four-year degree with course work in social case work, corrections, sociology, or psychology. One year of experience in social work dealing with juveniles. POII : Master's degree with major course work in social casework, corrections, sociology, or psychology. Three years of experience in social work dealing with juveniles which must include at least two years of juvenile case work experience at the County or equivalent level. Any satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training which demonstrates the ability to perform the above described duties may be acceptable.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS : Team player willing to work collaboratively toward shared goals and be open to diverse ideas and perspectives. Must be First Aid, CPR, and AED certified. Receive constructive feedback in a positive manner.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS : Possession of, or the ability to obtain within a short time period, State certification as a Juvenile Probation Officer. Possession of an appropriate Oregon motor vehicle operator's license and must be insurable under the County's liability coverage.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITY : Considerable knowledge of behavior and adjustment problems in juveniles and methods of treatment. Considerable knowledge of parole and child welfare laws of the State. Considerable knowledge of the principles of psychology in relation to child welfare.

Skill in individual and group work with maladjusted children and adolescents.

Ability to :

• Organize, prioritize, and produce an accurate work product and meet deadlines.
• Express ideas effectively, both verbally and in writing. Use sound judgment. Write clear, concise, and complete reports.
• Adapt to change or new situations and openly acknowledge and work through conflict. Accept responsibility and be able to work well with ambiguity.
• Work independently and as part of a team where collaboration with all staff in divergent positions is imperative.
• Act in such a manner as to maintain the confidentiality of the records and issues and other matters that may be encountered.
• Develop and maintain harmonious and effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, county officials, and the general public.
• Enforce all laws, regulations, ordinances, and standards consistently to ensure compliance and to protect the public's health and safety.
• Multi-task, prioritize, and accomplish quickly and efficiently a large number of diverse tasks.
• Communicate effectively with persons of various ethnic, racial, or age groups and socio-economic levels who may be hostile or abusive.
• Meet requests for information and task completion from a diverse clientele in a timely manner.
• Act effectively and decisively in emergency situations.

Join our team - Columbia County online application must be completed - Apply today!

All successful candidates will be required to pass a pre-employment background screening and drug test prior to hire.

Salary : $5,450 - $7,420