Seeking a Juvenile Probation Officer Trainee to receive on-the-job training and given progressively responsible assignments in all aspects of the following operations: prepare pre-dispositional studies for the court and formulate dispositional alternatives appropriate to the needs of the juvenile; conduct in-depth interviews with juveniles, parents, educators and social service agencies; initiate referrals for diagnostic evaluation and implement treatment recommendations; provide crisis intervention counseling to juveniles and families; may screen juveniles to determine eligibility for alternative vocational and educational programs; provide counseling services to enhance juveniles' adjustment in home, school and community; facilitate referral or placement to social service agencies or residential treatment program and serve as a liaison; investigate victim restitution and assist victims with their participation in court process; supervise and verify juveniles' compliance with court orders through periodic interviews and field visits with family and school; in conjunction with the State's Advocate, prepare detention hearings and initiate probation violations; maintain probation contact records and prepare status reports; testify at court hearings; may participate in drug and alcohol screening; develop community resources and conduct public education workshops and training; conduct non-judicial interviews which incorporate elements of assessment, supervision, and diversion; mediate parent-child conflicts in order to develop formal resolutions; may transport children and family for placement, medical testing, or other required services; perform related duties as required.
DIVISION: Court Support Services
PURPOSE OF CLASS: This class is accountable for receiving on the job training in performing a variety of tasks relative to the effective and expeditious management of cases through the juvenile justice system recognizing the needs, rights and responsibilities of the child, the family, the community and the victim.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Initially works under the close supervision of a Juvenile Matters Supervisor or other employee of higher grade; works more independently with acquired experience.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: Receives on-the-job training and is given progressively responsible assignments in all aspects of the following operations: prepares predispositional studies for the court and formulates dispositional alternatives appropriate to the needs of the juvenile; conducts in-depth interviews with juveniles, parents, educators and social service agencies; initiates referrals for diagnostic evaluation and implements treatment recommendations; provides crisis intervention counseling to juveniles and families; may screen juveniles to determine eligibility for alternative vocational and educational programs; provides counseling services to enhance juveniles' adjustment in home, school and community; facilitates referral or placement to social service agencies or residential treatment program and serves as a liaison; investigates victim restitution and assists victims with their participation in court process; supervises and verifies juveniles' compliance with court orders through periodic interviews and field visits with family and school; in conjunction with the State's Advocate, prepares detention hearings and initiates probation violations; maintains probation contact records and prepares status reports; testifies at court hearings; may participate in drug and alcohol screening; develops community resources and conducts public education workshops and training; conducts non-judicial interviews which incorporate elements of assessment, supervision, and diversion; mediates parent-child conflicts in order to develop formal resolutions; may transport children and family for placement, medical testing, or other required services; performs related duties as required.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY: Knowledge of family dynamics and child development; considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; interviewing and counseling skills; ability to relate to different cultural and economic backgrounds.
EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING
General Experience: A Bachelor's degree.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Incumbents are required to have a valid Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license and a motor vehicle available for daily use.
WORKING CONDITIONS: Incumbents may be exposed to some risk of injury from assaultive/abusive clients; may be exposed to disagreeable conditions when interviewing clients in detention or conducting home visits; may be exposed to communicable diseases.
TERM OF APPOINTMENT: This class is intended to permit the Judicial Branch to recruit and train employees for the class of Juvenile Probation Officer I. An employee classified as a Juvenile Probation Officer Trainee shall be advanced to Juvenile Probation Officer I upon his/her first anniversary with the Judicial Branch and a service rating of satisfactory or better.