Director of Juvenile Services/Juvenile Referee

MARQUETTE COUNTY-To apply please complete the application available on our website: www.co.marquette.mi.us

Director of Juvenile Services/Juvenile Referee

General Summary

Under the direction of the Probate Court Judge, manages and supervises the Probate Court Recorders and staff of the Juvenile Division of the Probate Court, including the supervision of juvenile casework staff. Oversees and supervises all contractual employees such as diversion specialist, drug and alcohol testers, RDSS workers, mentors, and in-home detention workers. Recruits and negotiates contractual employee agreements. Assists in planning, developing and implementing programs and policies to improve court services and maintain compliance with statute and court rules. Coordinates activities with other court operations and other community agencies. Performs intake functions and determines formal/informal court action. Performs functions of Juvenile Division employees as needed. As Juvenile Court Referee, presides over hearings, considers testimony, and enters recommendations or adjudications in delinquency and abuse and neglect cases.

Essential Functions

Director of Juvenile Services

1. As supervisor of Juvenile Division and Probate non-exempt staff, interviews candidates and participates in the employment process, assigns work, schedules, trains staff, reviews case progress, reviews and evaluates performance, and deals with employee relations issues in the early stages. Supervises caseworkers engaged in preparing pre-dispositional reports, developing treatment plans, and supervising probationers.

2. Assists in establishing policies and procedures for the proper care, custody and control of all youths under the court’s jurisdiction and oversees investigation and probation supervision. Reviews court procedures. Policies and operations and recommends modifications to the judge as appropriate. Proposes revisions to respond to changes in court rules and legislation.

3. Examines cases submitted to the court for juvenile services and determines if formal or informal court actions is appropriate. Assigns caseloads and recommends alternative dispositional action as appropriate.

4. Reviews the more complex matters with staff and assists in the proper application of laws, court rules and policies and assists in the handling of the more difficult and sensitive case matters.

5. Assists the Probate Court Judge and Director of Court Operations Magistrate with designated administrative functions of the court, includes participating in drafting the budget for the county, the child care fund budget, and monitoring and administering approved budgets. Reviews financial reports prepared in the Juvenile Division. Applies for grants and seeks funding from alternative sources and prepares financial data for grant programs.

6. Serves as liaison with other courts, community organizations, law enforcement agencies, schools and others. Represents the court on matters related to child welfare programs.

7. Oversees and participates in the development and implementation of programs designed to prevent, intervene, divert, and control delinquent behavior and meet the changing needs of juveniles referred to the court using juvenile justice focused best practices.

8. Establishes and evaluates referral sources for the youths under court supervision.

9. Responds to inquiries and requests from legal guardians, attorneys, agencies and others providing information about the Juvenile Court matters and its policies, addressing concerns and addressing and resolving complaints. These groups may include Northern Michigan University classes, police academy, and Crisis Intervention Team trainings.

10. Responds to inquiries from parents and others regarding incorrigible and runaway youths.

11. Oversees the residential placement care for juvenile wards of the court.

12. Oversees the collection of data regarding court operations and analyzes such data in developing new or revised programs to improve court effectiveness.

13. Oversees financial management activities of the Juvenile Division. Reviews financial statements of parents, recommends payment schedules to the judge, and oversees collection activities.

14. May serve in on-call duty on nights, weekends, and holidays for law enforcement and Department of Human Services’ personnel for emergency out-of-home placement request involving delinquency and child protective matters.

15. Performs the functions of a juvenile caseworker as needed.

16. Assists all caseworkers with daily needs as emergencies arise, such as drafting petitions, arranging hearings, locating placements, meeting with parents, youths, school staff, law enforcement, and other community partners to problem solve complex family and community crises.

17. Responsible for meeting prospective adoptive parents and completing adoption home studies in a timely fashion when ordered by the court.

18. Responsible for written guardianship reviews when ordered by the court.

Juvenile Referee

19. Ensures the efficient disposition of cases by conducting hearings in accordance with the law and Court policy and issues recommended orders in Juvenile Court cases.

20. Acts as referee for preliminary hearings, trials, and dispositional hearings in delinquency and abuse and neglect cases. Makes written, signed reports and orders to the Court containing a summary of testimony given, a statement of findings, and a recommendation order.

21. Conducts after-hours and weekend emergency hearings as necessary.

This list may not be inclusive of the total scope of job functions to be performed. Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted, or modified at any time.

Education: Law degree from an accredited institution and licensure as a Michigan attorney. Extensive knowledge of relevant statutes, case law, and the Michigan Child Support Formula and Court Rules.

Experience: Five years of professional level experience in a juvenile court or closely related setting involving services to delinquent youth.

Other Requirements:

· Must meet the minimum qualifications of Supreme Court Administrative Order 1985-5 and confirm to the requirements of MCR 3.913.

· Family Division of the Circuit Court Juvenile Probation Officers and Caseworkers MJI certification by the Michigan Supreme Court

· Valid Michigan Driver’s License

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.

Physical Requirements:

· Ability to access departmental files.

· Ability to drive to various sites to conduct interviews and follow-up on youths.

· Ability to conduct home inspections and visits.

· Ability to climb stairs and otherwise access homes, schools, and other buildings in order to conduct interviews and collect information.

· Ability to assist in restraining youths as necessary.

This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the above requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements.

Working Conditions:

· Exposure to various weather conditions while conducting field work.

· Exposure to youths with various emotional problems, and their parents and others.

· Available for evening and weekend calls.

· Exposure to communicable diseases of clients and families.

· Exposure to homes of various states of cleanliness and hygiene.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $41.82 - $51.01 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $42 - $51