Juvenile Center Director of Treatment Services at Northampton County, PA

About the Department

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must successfully submit a completed application prior to the posting deadline. Applications submitted with incomplete or missing education and/or work experience sections will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. These applicants will be disqualified from consideration. The attachment of a resume to the application does not fulfill this requirement and will not prevent incomplete applications from being rejected. Education and work experience fields must be completed, regardless of the presence of an attached resume.

Once the posting closes, all applications will be reviewed. The information provided on the application will be utilized to determine whether or not each applicant meets the Minimum Requirements for this position as noted in the Job Description. We encourage all applicants to provide a comprehensive, concise history of their education, certification, licensing, and employment history. Please read the Minimum Requirements thoroughly and then demonstrate that you meet these requirements on your application.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sherry Christman, Human Resources Analyst at [email protected] or 610-829-6382.

Equal Employment Opportunities – It is the policy of Northampton County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or any other status protected by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state, federal, or local law.

Position Duties

GENERAL PURPOSE
The Juvenile Center Director of Treatment Services position is responsible for managing the clinical providers, counseling services, and treatment programs provided to all of the juveniles placed within the Juvenile Justice Center. The Juvenile Justice Center can house up to eighty-four (84) residents. This position requires on-call duty twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
This position reports directly to the Juvenile Center Director. 

SUPERVISION EXERCISED
This position exercises direct supervision over the following classification(s):  Assistant Deputy Director / Quality Assurance, Juvenile Justice Center Supervisor, Juvenile Justice Center Assistant Supervisor, and Youth Care Worker. This position also exercises supervision over contracted therapists and case managers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION
Manages all aspects of the therapeutic programs in the Detention and Treatment Programs, under the direction of the Juvenile Center Director.

Serves as liaison with contracted clinical providers, psychologists, and psychiatrists.

Coordinate psychotropic medication management with outside psychiatrists and the facility’s contracted psychiatrist.  

Coordinate and complete clinical assessments and testing.  

Assists in the management and operation of the Detention and Treatment Programs, under direction of the Juvenile Center Director and Juvenile Center Deputy Director.

Responsible for program development and monitoring.

Collaborates with the Deputy Director to complete intake assessments, and review treatment needs and safety and security concerns for all youth referred. Assists in making the final determination of their acceptance into a Treatment program.

Collaborates with the Deputy Director to assess progress and recommends successful discharge or termination for failure to adjust.

Implements treatment plans for the residents and monitors progress of such plans.
Orders suicide assessments on all suspected suicidal juvenile treatment residents.

Collaborates with the Deputy Director to coordinate group, individual, and family counseling sessions.

Collaborates with the Deputy Director to review and approve recommendations to the Court supporting the release, transfer, or retention of delinquent youth.

Ensures compliance with Department of Public Welfare regulations, Child Protective Services Law, and the Juvenile Act.

Responsible for reporting of any allegations of abuse to Childline.

Development, implementation, and oversight of procedures and policies.

Confers with staff on behavioral and disciplinary problems.

Collaborates with the Deputy Director to coordinate in-service training programs for development of Youth Care Workers.

Serves as liaison with community-based organizations and the Juvenile Probation Office.  

Confers with judges, probation officers, police, social agencies, and community groups interpreting the institutional program, objectives, and developing cooperative working relationships.

Prepares reports as required.

*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE – Possession of a Master’s Degree, from an accredited college or university, in Criminal Justice, Social or Behavioral Sciences, Psychology, Education, Administration, or a related field of study; AND

At least five (5) years of professional experience working with youths with emotional, social, or legal problems; OR

Equivalent combination of acceptable training and experience, at the discretion of the Juvenile Justice Center, which has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities cited below, and which conforms to State regulatory requirements.

State Licensing (i.e. LSW, LCSW, LPC, etc.) is preferred, but not required; AND

Employee assigned to this title will be required to possess and maintain a valid and current motor vehicle operator’s license. Must have an acceptable driving record.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Thorough knowledge of the regulations and operations affecting all aspects of the operation of a facility housing youths who have been alleged or adjudicated delinquent.

Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of institutional management.

Considerable knowledge of principles and methods of supervision and administration.

Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in the application and interpretation of departmental policies and procedures.

Ability to determine and evaluate the qualifications of prospective employees in relation to the needs of the juvenile detention facility.

Ability to work effectively with disturbed and delinquent youth.

Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, public and/or private agencies, and the general public.

Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills.

Must possess the ability and willingness to deal with difficult situations.

Ability to maintain records and prepare reports.

Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.   

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Telephone or cell phone, personal computer (including word processing and job related software), calculator, fax machine, and copy machine.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.  

While performing the duties of this job the employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 pounds, while physically restraining a resident.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions and is subject to exposure to hostile residents and conditions.

The noise level in the work environment varies.  

SELECTION GUIDELINES
Formal application, rating of education and experience, interview, and reference check as well as job related tests may be required. 

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.


FLSA STATUS:    FLSA EXEMPT (NOT ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME)
DESIGNATION:    EXEMPT SERVICE
PAY GRADE:        CS/GR29
UNION STATUS:  NON-UNION

Updated November 2025