5B23
PAY RANGE: 43A**
(General)
This is youth custody and counseling work, at the full performance level, monitoring and supervising the activities of a group of involuntary detained youths in the City's juvenile detention facility. This class is differentiated from the next lower level in the series in that employees are expected to perform all job functions with relative independence and fully understand all the principles and practices of juvenile detention. An employee in this class 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. An employee in this class makes recommendations and referrals for corrective action for youths exhibiting inappropriate or erratic behaviors. Establishing and retaining the confidence of youths while maintaining security and discipline are significant aspects of the work.
Employees serve as lead workers over lower-level counselors. Employees in this class must provide direct supervision and, when necessary, physical intervention and restraint to ensure youth a safe, secure and healthy living environment. Work is performed under the direction of a higher-level detention supervisor.
ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met 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 conduct individual and group counseling sessions and make recommendations and referrals pertaining to the stability of youths.
• The position must provide direct supervision and, if necessary, physical intervention utilizing safe physical restraint methods provided to ensure a safe, secure and healthy environment for detained youth.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
Supervises the conduct of youths, ensuring that proper conduct and security are maintained throughout the detention facility, including living, recreational, dining, educational, medical and other areas; 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 recommends youth for counseling and/or transfer to other units; monitors closely, those youths suspected as being suicidal or extremely depressed; makes referrals to medical, social services and religious counseling units.
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 areas 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.
Serves as a lead worker over lower-level counselors in performing work.
Attends training sessions to keep abreast of current methods and techniques employed in counseling and guiding delinquent youths.
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
• counseling and interviewing principles and techniques
ABILITY TO:
• oversee the activities of individuals and groups of youths to observe their behavior patterns in custody or protective care
• gain the confidence and respect of, and maintain sympathetic relationships with youths experiencing emotional problems
• work and communicate with delinquent youths
• observe, understand, and report behavioral problems of youths and to recommend corrective action
• keep records and prepare clear and concise reports
• learn and utilize safe physical management methods
• speak, read, and write fluently in a specified non-English language, and the English language for the Bilingual specialty
· 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 11/22.)
EDUCATION:
Completion of at least 60 credit hours of study at an accredited college or university.
EXPERIENCE:
Two years of experience performing youth custody and counseling work monitoring and supervising the activities of a group of involuntarily detained youths.
NOTE: Employees in the Juvenile Youth Detention Counselor 1 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 to the Office of Human Resources.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR BILINGUAL SPECIALTY
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
Completion of eighty certifiable hours of detention training that meet 55 PA Code Chapter 3800 and the American Correctional Association standards within the first six months of appointment.
Completion of forty hours of mandated Child Residential and Day Treatment Facilities training on an annual basis during tenure of employment as required by 55 PA Code Chapter 3800.
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
Spec. Revision:
CSC – 12/10
Ad. Board – 2/11
Spec. Revision:
CSC – 08/19
Ad. Board – 09/19
Spec. Revision:
CSC – 1/21
Ad. Board – 2/21
Change in pay rate:
CSC – 3/21
Ad. Board – 5/21
Spec. Revision
CSC – 10/21
Ad. Board – 11/21
Change in Pay Rate:
CSC – 9/22
Ad. Board – 10/22
Latest Spec. Revision:
CSC – 10/22
Ad. Board – 11/22
Spec. Revision:
CSC – 3/24
Ad. Board – 4/24
JA