5A47
PAY RANGE: EP17
(Bilingual)
(General)
GENERAL DEFINITION
This is advocacy and counseling work in the Philadelphia Prisons System or Philadelphia Police Department interviewing, referring and aiding individuals or providing re-entry services for individuals in need of social services. Employees in the Inmate Services Assignment are responsible for interviewing and screening inmates for possible drug or alcohol abuse problems and recommending and developing treatment plans. Employees in the Re-Entry Services Assignment are responsible for assessing the needs of formerly incarcerated individuals to provide educational and vocational resources to assist in successful reintegration into society. Work includes scheduling and conducting individual and/or group counseling sessions and identifying short/long-term goals and objectives. Establishing and maintaining positive relationships with clients, law enforcement, social service providers; eliciting detailed personal history information and recommending appropriate courses of action are important aspects of the work. Work is performed under the supervision of a technical superior and involves conditions which can only be partially controlled.
ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)
1. Positions must perform advocacy and counseling work in social service and/or addiction rehabilitation in the Philadelphia Prisons System or the Philadelphia Police Department.
2. Positions in the Inmate Services and Re-Entry Assignments must conduct individual and/or group counseling sessions and refer and aid inmates or formerly incarcerated individuals in job placement and/or legal and court-related issues.
3. Positions in the Victim Advocate Assignment must provide crisis intervention support and referral assistance to crime victims.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
BILINGUAL SPECIALTY
Performs the duties shown below in the General specialty with members of the English language-speaking and designated non-English language-speaking inmate population and formerly incarcerated individuals.
GENERAL SPECIALTY
All Assignments
Interviews individuals, and screens clients and referrals, to gather background information on family, social, education and medical life histories; assesses social services needs and makes recommendations for referrals as necessary.
May schedule and/or conduct individual and/or group counseling or crisis intervention sessions; evaluates clients’ needs; provides direction in setting short/long-term goals and objectives; prepares client's case history and progress reports; discusses cases with superior; may recommend discharge from the program; prepares program reports to be forwarded to the appropriate criminal justice officials; keeps records of services provided; may discuss issues with family and other social service workers.
Performs related work as required.
Inmate Services Assignment
Interviews inmates or formerly incarcerated individuals, and screens clients and referrals; performs the above services to current inmates in the Philadelphia Prison System as related to drug or alcohol abuse; recommends treatment for inmates addicted to drug or alcohol; orients clients to the nature and scope of addictive disease treatment program (ADTP), and Prison rules and regulations guiding the program; educates clients in the consequences of drug or alcohol dependence; guides client discussion towards the establishment and reinforcement of behavior patterns; refers inmates for job placement in a prison work program; prepares and submits recommendations for inmate job placement to the classification board and encourages inmates to participate in recommended social, educational and job training programs.
Assists inmates in legal and court-related issues; reviews court summary sheets to explain to inmates their legal status; advises inmates in resolving social, financial, family and legal problems; contacts appropriate officials to arrange for conditional release of inmates; contacts attorneys to clear up unresolved inmate legal problems; orients and explains to inmates bail conditions and anticipated court proceedings; encourages establishment of more positive relations between and among inmates and prison staff.
Contacts inmates' relatives and friends to attempt to resolve financial, medical, or other family problems or to engage them in treatment programs for the inmates; discusses family and inmate needs and refers family to appropriate social service agencies for aid; refers inmates to be discharged to community drug and alcohol treatment programs.
Re-Entry Services Assignment
Provides the above services to formerly incarcerated juveniles and adults to achieve re-integration following incarceration; refers clients for job placement and employment services; develops, implements and monitors training and workshops on job readiness, life skills and employment competencies; recommends external services including housing, substance abuse and vocational training; creates and administers tests to measure mastery of training program components; performs client assessments to determine public benefit eligibility and makes appropriate referrals.
Develops and maintains relationships with community organizations providing substance abuse, mental health, educational, and other social services.
Establishes and maintains relationships with local businesses and community partners to recommend and match qualified candidates to employment opportunities.
Compiles, reviews and submits case reports to superior as necessary; manages client progress and placement in the web based tracking system.
Victim Advocate Assignment
Provides the above services to crime victims; refers clients to appropriate outside social service or criminal justice agencies; provides limited emergency crisis intervention to crime victims; prepares crime victims and their families for next steps; explains victim’s rights; accompanies victims to court proceedings and related court appearances; attends court to provide information to judges.
Conducts research to identify needs and trends related to victim assistance; documents case files; may prepare reports on program trends.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
• the methods, practices and techniques of interviewing persons with social problems, and persons addicted to drugs or alcohol for the Inmate Services Assignment
• the social and psychological concomitants and factors contributing to the cause of criminal behavior and drug or alcohol addiction for the Inmate Services Assignment
• individual and group counseling methods and techniques
• the community, state and federal resources available in the area of social services
• the rehabilitation of drug and alcohol addicts for the Inmate Services Assignment
• case history preparation method
• the practices and techniques of job placement and employment services for the Re-Entry Services Assignment
• the local employment market and community resources for the Re-Entry Services Assignment
• city, state and federal laws, regulations and codes related to employment and Equal Employment Opportunity regulations for the Re-Entry Services Assignment
current federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and standards applicable to crime victims bill of rights for the Victim Advocate Assignment
ABILITY TO:
• perform assessments and provide referral services for clients, inmates and formerly incarcerated populations depending on assignment area
• understand the behavior and attitude of persons with social and emotional problems, and persons addicted to drug or alcohol, and to deal with unusual behavior and avert hostile attitudes tactfully and effectively for the Inmate Services Assignment
• recommend and develop drug or alcohol addiction rehabilitation plans for the Inmate Services Assignment
• schedule and conduct individual and group counseling sessions
• prepare case histories and evaluations which are accurate and concise
• prepare recommendations for position appointment and encourage clients to participate in recommended programs
• aid clients in social services, legal and court-related issues
• present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing
· conduct research in assignment area
· analyze and interpret data related to assignment area
• develop training curriculum and provide workshops related to the area of assignment
• Identify and recommend community employment opportunities for the Re-Entry Services Assignment
• establish and maintain relationships with local businesses and community partners for the Re-Entry Services Assignment
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families and associates
• speak and understand the designated non-English language for the Bilingual specialty
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 9/24.)
EDUCATION:
BOTH SPECIALITIES
Completion of 60 credits at an accredited college or university.
NOTE: Additional experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year for year basis.
AND
EXPERIENCE:
Two years of counseling experience in a program to rehabilitate drug addicts or alcoholics, one year of which has been in a correctional institution.
OR
Two years of experience performing counseling and training services for formerly incarcerated individuals in a re-integration services program.
OR
Two years of experience performing social service or counseling for crime victim services.
NOTE: Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university and one year of the above experience satisfies all requirements.
OR
Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources that has included one year of the experience described above.
NOTE: Selective Factor Certification may be utilized, as needed, to fill specific positions. In accordance with Civil Service Regulation 11.032 - Selective Factor Certification – the appointing authority may request certification of eligible candidates with the specific experience to fill specific positions in this class. Certification to fill such position will be made from the two highest-ranking eligible candidates on the eligible list who possess the specified experience.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE BILINGUAL SPECIALTY
Sufficient training and/or experience to be able to converse effectively in English and the designated non-English language.
PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.
Ad. Board - 2/88
Spec. Revision: CSC - 7/93 Ad. Board - 8/93
Spec. 5D09 was consolidated with this class: CSC 7/01 Ad. Board 9/01
Spec. Revision
CSC - 6 /15; Ad. Board - 6/15
Latest Spec. Revision
CSC – 8/24; Ad. Board – 9/24
JH