5B22
PAY RANGE: 41
JUVENILE DETENTION COUNSELOR 1
(Bilingual)
(General)
GENERAL DEFINITION
This is youth custody and counseling work, at the intermediate level, monitoring and supervising the activities of a group of involuntarily detained youths in the City's juvenile detention facility. An employee in this class participates in a continuing training program in order to attain proficiency in youth custody and counseling work. Work includes observes the interaction and behavior of youths while engaged in various daily activities; conducts individual/group counseling sessions; establishes rapport with detained youths; and maintains security in areas where youths are housed or involved in programmatic activities. Work is distinguished from the next lower-level class in the series in that employees perform are expected to perform a full compliment of youth custody and counseling assignments as work experience accrues.
Employees in this class must provide physical intervention and restraint to ensure a safe, secure and healthy living environment. Employees work under the close supervision of higher-level counselors, while work expands in complexity and scope as experience is gained.
ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met in order for a position to be allocated to this class.)
· The position must be responsible for performing specialized youth custody and counseling work, observing the conduct of a group of involuntarily detained youth engaged in a variety of activities in the City's juvenile detention facility.
· The position must participate as part of a continuing training program, while performing progressively more complex and difficult assignments to achieve competency in the work.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK
Receives increasingly complex and difficult youth custody and counseling assignments in order to achieve competency in supervising youths to ensure that proper conduct and security are maintained in the City's juvenile detention facility; prevents youths from engaging in physical confrontations and destruction of facility property; observes behavior patterns in order to detect signs of depression or other emotional stress and reports observations; monitors closely, those youths suspected as being suicidal or extremely depressed.
Conducts individual/group counseling sessions; interviews youths to elicit background information; collaborates with child guidance and educational staff about youths; maintains log of unit activity as prescribed; prepares incident reports, adjustment summaries and submits unit repair requests; orients youths on the policies, procedures, operations and rules of the facility; rewards appropriate behavior as part of an established behavior modification system; encourages youths to discuss their behavior and personal habits/attitudes; guides discussion towards the establishment and reinforcement of appropriate behavior patterns.
Assists youths in adjusting to detention rules and regulations and the behavior modification system; utilizes safe physical management restraint procedures for highly troublesome youths, as necessary; participates in the organization of, and provision for, individual/small group leisure activities; requisitions and maintains special interest activity supplies; encourages and supports youths involvement in recreational, educational, and religious program offerings; inspects living area of youths daily to check for cleanliness, vandalism and contraband.
Escorts youths to various locations throughout the facility for different activities; escorts and/or drives youth to various locations outside the Center for medical and psychological health appointments while maintaining security measures dictated by policy and training, as necessary; inspects other facility living units periodically to check for cleanliness and for contraband or escape attempts.
Attends training sessions to learn the practices and procedures utilized in performing youth detention custody and counseling work.
Performs related work as required.
Performs the duties described above with members of the English language speaking and designated non-English language speaking populations.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
· behavior patterns which are symptoms of illness or emotional stress in youths
· group work principles and methods as they apply to delinquent youths
· the social factors which result in institutionalization of youths and the attitudes and habits of youths in custody or protective care
· youth detention counseling and departmental rules and regulations
ABILITY TO:
· oversee the activities of individuals and groups of youths to observe their behavior patterns in custody or protective care
· work and communicate with delinquent youths
· learn the practices and procedures of youth detention custody and counseling work
· establish and maintain effective working relationships with residents and associates
· speak, read, and write fluently in a specified non-English language, and the English language, for the Bilingual specialty
· act quickly and calmly in an emergency
· maintain professional boundaries regarding appropriate behaviors
· engage in positive activities that build self-esteem and encourage participation in therapeutic programs
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 4/24.)
EDUCATION:
Completion of at least 60 credit hours of study at an accredited college or university.
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:
Six months of experience, as a Youth Detention Counselor Trainee
NOTE: Employees in the Juvenile Youth Detention Counselor Trainee class with permanent civil service status hired under the waiver effective October 1st, 2022 under PA Code, Chapter 3800 CHILD RESIDENTIAL AND DAY TREATMENT FACILITIES, are not required to have the 60 college credits.
Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources that has included the specific experience described above.
Sufficient training and/or experience to be able to converse effectively in the designated non-English language.
NOTE: Child Protective Service Law requires FBI criminal history background check as well as the Pennsylvania State Police criminal history background check and Pennsylvania child abuse background check as a condition of initial employment to the class and during tenure of employment.
NOTE: If the FBI/Pennsylvania State Police criminal background checks reveal the existence of a disqualifying offense, additional documentation must be submitted as required by the City of Philadelphia to determine eligibility for appointment to or continued employment in the class under the Child Protective Services Law.
PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES
Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator's licenses issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment and during tenure as an employee in this class and series.
NOTE: Pennsylvania Act 33 of 1985 requires state criminal record and central register reports prior to appointment to positions in this class having responsibility for direct child care.
Class Established 3/75
CSC – 12/10
Ad. Board – 2/11
CSC – 08/19
Ad. Board – 09/19
Spec. Revision:
CSC – 01/20
Ad. Board – 03/20
Spec. Revision:
CSC – 10/21
Ad. Board – 11/21
Spec. Revision:
CSC – 10/22
Ad. Board – 11/22
Latest Spec. Revision:
CSC – 3/24
Ad. Board – 4/24
JA