JTDC - Youth Detention Specialist

JOB TITLE : YOUTH DETENTION SPECIALIST

DIVISON : RESIDENT DAILY LIFE

LOCATION : JUVENILE TEMPORARY DETENTION CENTER

11OO S HAMILTON

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60612

UNION : TEAMSTERS 700

GRADE : PS1

SALARY : $30.126 / $62,661

Company Overview

The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) provides safe and temporary housing for youth ages 10 - 18 with pending legal action in the Cook County Courts. The JTDC is dedicated to providing its youth with leadership, structured care, and supervision through a balanced approach of creative programming and services that teach responsibility, accountability, and sensitivity. Each member of the JTDC staff is actively encouraged and supported in pursuit of creative participation, personal well-being, and professional development.

As the largest juvenile detention center in the nation, the facility contains five major departments and various offices consisting of 600+ employees who serve an average daily population of 280+ residents.

The Youth Detention Specialist supervises, guides, and counsels residents through daily activities within the JTDC's residential and educational programs.

Typical Duties

• Closely provides direct and continuous supervision of JTDC residents in accordance with policy and procedure that promote a safe, secure, and humane environment for residents and staff. This includes monitoring all resident activity to make certain that adequate security measures are maintained through conducting security checks, safety checks, resident counts, searches, and room checks at appropriate intervals.
• Supervises structured and leisure activities of the residents around the clock, including preparing residents for various group and individual activities such as religious services, classes, recreational programs, and court hearings.
• Supervises meals and coordinates distribution of food and utensils.
• Supervises and provides instruction of all activities (e.g.; bathing / showering, personal hygiene, etc.) on a daily-basis to maintain physical cleanliness and hygienic conditions of the juvenile and center. May assist in laundry of residents' clothing.
• Participates in the resident admission and orientation processes which includes, but is not limited to, rules and regulations applicable to residents, room assignments, and completion of appropriate shift log documentation, etc.
• Administers behavior management programs such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Pro Social behavior and social skills.
• Monitors residents for changes in behavior that may indicate potential crises in accordance with facility guidelines and alerts other staff as appropriate.
• Intervenes, when necessary, in crises in accordance with policy and procedure guidelines for physical and mechanical restraints, room confinements, or other appropriate action. Submits information to Supervisor in Charge / Team Leader / Assistant Team Leader in accordance with JTDC policy / procedure
• Escorts residents within the facility and externally as directed. This may be to accompany youth during hospital visits, funerals, and appointments at various social service agencies.
• Reports all observances of unusual behaviors of resident's physical and mental health to the Supervisor in Charge / Team Leader / Assistant Team Leader and the designated medical and / or Mental Health authority.
• Organizes and directs participation in group recreational activities such as games, arts and crafts, gym events, outdoor activities and other activities as needed.
• Documents resident behaviors and actions daily, using observation notes, incident reports, shift change notes, RMIS shift logs and other related documentation.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, local and JTDC policy and procedure and lawful court orders
• Maintains cleanliness of assigned PODS and common areas
• Maintains and accounts for all JTDC issued equipment to include but not limited to radio, keys and Guardian electronic device
• Communicates verbally and in writing in a coherent and effective manner through reports, and memorandums, both internally and with external agency contacts.
• In collaboration with a certified instructor, serves as an active participant in the resident's educational program.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

Minimum Qualifications

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

Physical Requirements

[This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements.]

Working Conditions

Hiring Requirements

Benefits Package

This position has an Administrative Office of the Illinois Court (AOIC) requirement, if an offer of employment is extended to you, you will be required to show immediate proof of AOIC Certification. If you are AOIC certified please upload your letter, and if not please move forward with completing the Administrative Office of the Illinois Court certification application. Link is below.

Employment | Probation / Court Services (illinoiscourts.gov)

THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

It is the policy of the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants for employment. No person is to be discriminated against in employment because of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.