Probation Counselor 1

This position is 37.5 hours per week. 

The position allocated to this class perform investigative, counseling or casework duties. Initially, employees are provided on-the-job training on court procedures, department procedures and the law, and are assigned to work under the guidance of a higher level Probation Counselor or Supervisor. Duties include developing and presenting case histories and making recommendations to the Court regarding dependent, delinquent or at-risk youth; and overseeing and counseling youth on probation or in a confinement setting. As experience is gained, the work is performed with considerable professional independence.  Cases are assigned by a Supervisor.

• Receives and examines referrals to the Juvenile Court for the purpose of considering the filing of a petition or information pursuant to RCW chapter 13.32A, 13.34, or 13.40.070.
• Makes recommendations to the court regarding the need for continued detention or shelter care of a child.
• Monitors youth in the community directly with GPS tracking and indirectly through families, schools, job sites, etc.
• Arranges and supervises diversion agreements as provided in RCW 13.40.080 and ensures the requirements of such agreements are met.
• Prepares predisposition studies as required in RCW 13.34.120 and 13.40.130 and is present at the disposition hearing to respond to questions regarding the predisposition study.
• Supervises court orders of dispositions to ensure all requirements of the order are met.
• Gathers information to assess a youth's risk to community safety, themselves, and their possibility of being a flight risk.
• Administers behavioral, mental health, and substance abuse counseling. 
• Evaluates options for release, detention, or detention with electronic monitoring authorized, and represents probation in delivering recommendations to the Court, after collaborating with co-workers, public defenders, and prosecutors. 
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
• Experience in work such as casework, parole, probation, counseling, youth and group work, or detention.
• Counselor Agency Affiliated Registration at time of hire and maintained throughout employment with Juvenile Court. 
• Must possess and maintain a valid Driver’s License or have the ability to provide suitable transportation which is approved by the County.
• Applicants selected must successfully pass a criminal background check.

• Knowledge of the dependency field and criminal justice system as it relates to youth.
• Knowledge of individual and group behavior applicable to the probation field as it relates to youth.
• Knowledge of probation philosophy, methods and practices as it relates to youth.
• Knowledge of counseling and interviewing techniques and methods.
• Knowledge of report writing techniques.
• Knowledge of the literature, development, and trends in the field of juvenile probation.
• Skilled in basic computer word processing and data entry.
• Skilled in counseling delinquent, dependent or at-risk youth and their families.
• Skilled in understanding, interpreting and applying complex statutes, court regulations and rules.
• Skilled in expressing ideas and recommendations effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to conduct thorough investigations in an impartial manner and to prepare detailed case histories and reports.
• Ability to effectively work and communicate with individuals and groups from a variety of social, economic, ethnic and racial backgrounds.
• Ability to convey a professional image via attire and demeanor.
• Ability to consistently make effective decisions.
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with staff, community and social agencies, and the general public.

Salary : $50,458 - $70,619