TJJD - Juvenile Correctional Officer II / III / IV - Recreation - (GNS) - 57575

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Plan and implement a variety of recreational activities, leisure service activities, enrichment activities, intramurals, incentive programs, special events, holiday activities, school vacation activities, and facilitate the use of the incentive dorms/motivational areas. Maintains an inventory of equipment and recreational needs. Engages in healthy relationships and boundaries with both staff and youth. Recreation staff will work cooperatively with JCO’s to provide adequate supervision, a safe environment and engagement of youth during activities. Incorporates feedback from all campus staff into activities to ensure needs of youth and campus are met during recreation.

Works to be aware and vigilant of all individualized plans for youth involved in activities. Collaborates with the facility’s administrators, program management, and other recreation program staff to design and implement the facility’s recreation activities as part of the agency’s rehabilitation strategy.

Career Ladder Promotion Opportunity: This position is in the approved TJJD career ladder for Juvenile Correctional Officers. Personnel in this career ladder have the working title of Juvenile Correctional Officer (JCO) - Recreation. JCOs receive career ladder salary adjustments upon meeting established eligibility criteria per agency policy (PRS.15.08) until they reach the top level of the ladder. Placement on the career ladder is dependent upon experience and education. Progression to the highest pay level on the career ladder is dependent upon experience and performance.

Pre-Service Training Academy Requirement: Newly hired JCOs or rehired JCOs who have been separated more than 18 months will be required to attend the pre-service training academy and complete on-the-job training on a full-time basis. JCOs who have worked for TJJD and return to employment within 18 months of their separation date are not required to attend the pre-service academy and will be placed in full-time status on their date of employment.

Levels of Work Performed by Career Ladder Level:

Juvenile Correctional Officer II - Recreation: Performs moderately complex (journey-level) work under general supervision with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Juvenile Correctional Officer III - Recreation: Performs complex (journey-level) work under general supervision with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Juvenile Correctional Officer IV - Recreation: Performs highly complex (senior-level) work under limited supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Recreation staff will plan and implement: special events, holiday activities, school vacation activities, intramurals, enrichment activities, incentive programs, and facilitate the use of the incentive dorms/motivational areas.

Recreation staff will support youth programming on the dorm by providing materials for leisure, coach led activities, and meeting the specialized needs for the self-contained programs. Documents recreation activities and maintains required records, files, and forms in a timely and accurate way.

In the event recreation staff are unable to be in attendance, recreational staff will collaborate with direct care staff and will provide necessary equipment to direct care staff to facilitate scheduled coach led recreation, leisure recreation, and enrichment activities.

Recreation staff will work cooperatively and collaboratively with co-workers. Proactively provide ongoing mentoring and coaching to JCO’s when needed. Assists co-workers and offers assistance when able. Recreation staff will carry an equal work load.

Recreation staff will be scheduled to work in a manner that best suites the needs of the campus including evening and weekend programming.

In the event recreation staff are unable to be in attendance, recreational staff will collaborate with direct care staff and will provide necessary equipment to direct care staff to facilitate scheduled coach led recreation, leisure recreation, and enrichment activities.

Practices and models appropriate self-regulation skills and is able to remain calm during times of stress and crisis.

Provides for a predictable schedule for youth that is transparent to them and provides warnings and prompts for all movements and transitions; and exercises independent judgment when the need arises to alter a schedule (while still maintaining transparency and warnings).

Rec staff will maintain an inventory of equipment, remove any faulty or malfunctioning equipment immediately and report to appropriate supervisors.

Performs a variety of related duties not listed, to be determined and assigned as needed.

Performs all duties in compliance with agency safety policies and procedures:

• Reports safety hazards and corrects hazards when possible.
• Completes required documentation in the event of an accident/injury within requested timeframes.

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency attendance and leave policies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Must be at least 21 years of age and have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Required:

• Must have a current valid Driver License.

Must meet one of the following:

• be a current Juvenile Correctional Officer III or higher with a minimum 9 months of JCO experience; or
• have (1) year of experience working with adolescents; supervising or providing recreational activities with youth in the community (e.g., youth center leader, coaching experience, direct care staff, activity therapist, recreation coordinator); or
• have a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, behavioral science, kinesiology, physical education or a related field; or
• have two (2) years of active military service, with at least one year in a supervisory capacity as an E-5 or above.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience leading group sports/leisure activities for adolescents. Verifiable documented volunteer experience involving such activities will be considered experience for meeting this preference.
• Bachelor’s degree with major course work in criminal justice, behavioral science, kinesiology, therapeutic recreation or a related field.
• Experience as a Juvenile Correctional Officer.

Note: Any degree, diploma, high school equivalent, or course hours required to meet minimum qualifications must be obtained from an accredited educational institution. Experience requirements may be satisfied by the prorated part-time equivalent.

Applicants with the following will not be considered:

• Convicted or received deferred adjudication for any felony.
• Convicted or received deferred adjudication for domestic violence involving a family member (including non-spouse partners).
• Convicted or received deferred adjudication for official oppression.
• Current requirement to register as a sex offender.
• Arrested for a disqualifying offense that was not expunged before the statute of limitations expired.
• Outstanding warrant.

Applicants with other arrests, deferred adjudications, and convictions may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine suitability for employment.

Pre-employment conditions require acceptable results from mandatory:

• pre-employment drug test;
• finger printing, criminal records check, and driving record check;
• Fitness-for-Duty Assessment which may include both physical and behavior evaluations.

Requirements for Continued Employment:

• Obtain and maintain certification in TJJD’s Use of Force techniques, which requires physical restraint of juveniles.
• Obtain and maintain certification in First Aid and CPR.
• Failure to maintain required certification will result in termination of employment.

This position is subject to mandatory pre-employment drug testing and any offer of employment is contingent upon acceptable results from a drug screen conducted for the agency.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of safety and security procedures and practices.

Knowledge of general counseling and guidance techniques with adolescents.

Knowledge of facility rules and regulations.

Knowledge of individual and group behavior.

Knowledge of child development and the role of the family.

Knowledge of causes of juvenile delinquency and current methods of juvenile offender treatment.

Knowledge of rules and methods of implementing a wide range of recreational/competitive activities, such as, sports, games, arts, crafts, and hobbies.

Skill and willingness to physically restrain youth in the appropriate manner.

Skill in maintaining order and discipline, and act quickly in emergencies.

Skill in maintaining written files and records.

Skill in verbal and written communications.

Ability to plan, schedule, and oversee recreational activities and oversee the maintenance of recreational and athletic equipment and facilities.

Ability to remain calm and regulate one’s own behavior while helping to serve as a role model for youth who are learning to self-regulate their own behavior

Ability to maintain healthy and engaging relationships with youth while maintaining appropriate boundaries important for healthy development.

Ability to work with youth in an empathetic and understanding manner with sustained positive interactions.

Ability to communicate effectively with youth to foster youth cooperation in the treatment process.

Ability to plan and implement youth programs.

Ability to facilitate group discussions and activities.

Ability to set limits on youth behaviors when appropriate in a consistent, firm and fair manner.

Ability to intervene and redirect behavior.

Ability to appropriately respond to abusive language and behavior in a manner consistent with instructions received in training.

Ability to remain alert, observant, and physically able to respond appropriately to work situations or emergencies including, but not limited to, physical restraint of youth.

Ability to learn verbal and physical crisis intervention/de-escalation techniques and emergency treatment procedures.

Ability to maintain order and discipline.

Ability to physically restrain youth, when necessary, in a manner consistent with instructions received in training.

Ability to explain the progress of the youth to their family members and other treatment staff.

Ability to interpret rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Ability to accept and adapt to changes in assignments, methods, policies, etc.

Ability to work collaboratively with all stakeholders and maintain a professional, courteous demeanor.

Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.

Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments; and meet deadlines.

Ability to process information logically, make decisions, and demonstrate the soundness for those decisions.

Ability to document observations and incidents and maintain written files and records.

Ability to transport youth and travel as necessary.

Ability to utilize Texas Model levels of engagement to appropriately intervene with youth.

Ability to work a variety of shifts, weekends, holidays, and be on-call.

Ability to work more than of 40 hours per workweek, and travel, when required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

The following physical demands and working conditions are representative of those encountered when performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Analyzing

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing

Ability to see

Identify colors

Depth perception

Operate motor equipment

Ability to hear (with or without aid)

Ability to perform tactile discernment

Restraining combative youth

Heavy lifting, 45 lbs. & over

Heavy carrying, 45 lbs. & over

Pushing

Pulling

Repeated bending

Reaching above shoulder

Manual/finger dexterity

Dual simultaneous grasping

Walking

Standing

Sitting

Crawling

Twisting

Kneeling

Stooping

Climbing ladders

Climbing stairs

Additional Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Code or Crosswalk information is available from the Texas State Auditor’s Office at
Criminal Justice MOS Codes.

SPONSORSHIP

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship.