Group Life Counselor III presso Josephine County, OR

About the Department

SUMMARY 
Josephine County Juvenile Justice Department provides detention services to youth in Josephine and neighboring counties. Josephine County Juvenile Detention operates under the Oregon Revised Statutes. The program utilizes Trauma Informed Care, provides services which include evidence-based programming, cognitive behavioral programming, educational services, mental health services, and medical services. Further, the program relies on and collaborates with other state and local agencies such as juvenile and adult courts, attorneys, Department of Human Services, The Oregon Youth Authority, law enforcement agencies, and the public. 

Group Life Counselors (GLC) are essential employees and oversee all aspects of daily living which includes, but is not limited to, education, recreation, facilitating both group and individual interventions based on department approved curriculum and training. Group Life Counselor III reports to GLC Shift Lead and will primarily support the 30-Day Extended Detention Program by facilitating group and individual skill building interventions for all detention youth in collaboration with the 30-Day Extended Detention Program Coordinator. A GLC III may be assigned other duties within the facility depending upon facility need. In addition, a GLC III will serve as the facility trainer for new staff and will always conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner; role modeling respect towards youth, family, co-workers, and stakeholders.

Position Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

(Illustrative Only. Any single position in the classification will not necessarily involve all the listed duties below and other positions will involve duties that are not listed. These duties do represent the essential functions needed of persons in this classification.) 

1. Provide interactive supervision and proactively respond by using methods that are reasonable, proportionate, and least restrictive to maintain safety, security, and order of the facility in accordance with the facility Use of Time Out, Room Lock, Isolation, Individual Programming, and Rotations Policy. 
2. Establish rapport by demonstrating and maintaining clear, consistent, appropriate, and therapeutic boundaries. 
3. Collaborate with and assist GLC Shift Leads with planning and implementing detention programing that promotes youth well-being. Programming will include a daily “wellness block” for youth to engage in pro-social and mindfulness activities. In the absence of the GLC Shift Lead, GLC III will ensure facility programing is maintained and all youth needs are addressed.  
4. Provide a continuum of verbal and physical interventions to redirect and interrupt unsafe behaviors. Provide physical interventions, when necessary, to maintain youth and staff safety in accordance with Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) standards and training. 
5. Engage in physical interventions, use mechanical restraints, and employ defensive tactics to subdue physically violent detention youth to maintain safety and security during a crisis. 
6. During an emergency or crisis, the GLC III shall assist in physically moving combative detention youth to a safer location as directed by the Supervisor or Designee. 
7. Present a positive attitude, professional demeanor, provide an affirming environment and demonstrate respect to all youth, families, staff, visitors, and stakeholders. 
8. Maintain prompt and regular attendance for all assigned shifts, staff meetings, and trainings. 
9. Perform housekeeping tasks such as filling up and emptying mop buckets, lifting full baskets of laundry, removing, and replacing floor mats, and cleaning bathrooms as needed to maintain a clean and safe milieu. 
10. Demonstrate alignment with the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard (RPPS), and the philosophy of Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS), and the principles of Restorative Justice 
11. Adhere to Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) and the Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) by actively utilizing, referencing, and following all policies and procedures set forth by Turning Point Residential and the Josephine County Juvenile Department. 
12. Abide by Josephine County Juvenile Justice Standards of Conduct. 
13. Serve as the primary GLC for assigned youth who are in the Detention Program and the 30-Day Extended Detention Program. A GLC III is responsible for assisting the detention youth with various projects and activities. In addition, a GLC III will debrief with youth after phone calls and visits when needed and will advocate for Detention youth when individual programming may be necessary. 
14. Facilitate and document group skill building opportunities and individual skill building opportunities for Detention youth using approved curriculums that address the youth’s skill deficits. 
15. Transport youth as directed by Supervisor or Designee. 
16. Perform the duties of the designated medication person (when designated as such), including receiving, storing, administering, documenting and disposing of medications as outlined by policy. 
17. Perform control room duties which include communicating with law enforcement, monitoring radios, intercoms and cameras, telephone communications, control all door locking mechanisms, and visually supervise youth visits. 
18. Complete intake and release procedures for youth in custody. 
19. Search detained youth for weapons, contraband, and other harmful articles. 
20. Inform GLC Shift Lead of intake dispositions, or, as directed by GLC Shift Lead, inform Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) and Juvenile Department personnel of intake dispositions. 
21. Make mandatory reports to the appropriate agencies when allegations of abuse, neglect, PREA incidents, or sexual contact are made by detention or residential youth. 
22. Gain competency in the Juvenile Justice Information System (JJIS). 
23. Supervise and document all daily activities of detention youth, including meals, recreation, cleanup, room time, showers, visitations, work in the Eco Literacy Center, etc. 
24. Provide back-up support for the 30-Day Extended Detention Program. 
25. Serve as the facility trainer for new GLC staff. Responsible for training new staff to be able to work in all areas of the facility; including group and individual skill building, residential group outings, medication administration, control room duties, detention intake and release procedures, and documentation. Coordinate with the GLC Shift Leads and Leadership team to ensure new GLC staff are supported during the onboarding and training process. 
26. Serve as a member of the Detention Performance Quality Improvement committee. Attend quarterly meetings and provide feedback for potential detention policy revisions. 
27. Other related duties assigned by GLC Shift Leads and Leadership Team. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This job has no daily supervisory responsibilities over Josephine County employees, except for the purposes of training. The GLC III role will oversee the training of new staff and work with their designated Juvenile Justice Supervisor to ensure proper completion of all trainings. They will also monitor and implement continuation training for all GLC Is and IIs under the supervision of Juvenile Justice Supervisory Staff.

Minimum Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS  
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.
 
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
A Bachelor’s Degree in applicable field of study and experience working in human services preferred. A satisfactory combination of education and related work experience may be considered.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
The following must be obtained during the first six months of employment and maintained while in this position. 

• Successfully complete 40 hours of OJDDA: “Working with youth in custody and residential settings” training. 
• Successfully complete Facility New Hire orientation and training. 
• Successfully complete Facility Defensive Tactics Training 
• Successfully complete Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Full Course with verbal de-escalation skills and physical skills. 
• Successfully complete Suicide Awareness and Intervention Training. 
• First Aid/CPR Certification. 
• Food Handlers License. 
• Possession of (or ability to obtain) a valid Oregon Driver’s License, comprehensive automobile insurance, and a safe driving record.
• Attend on-going training as scheduled. 

REASONING ABILITIES 
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited information is available at the time. Demonstrate flexibility and openness to new courses of action when additional information is provided. Ability to follow instructions and apply good judgement in the execution of those instructions.

Other Qualifications

WORK ENVIRONMENT 
(The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.) 
The working environment in Josephine County Juvenile Detention includes youth that may be angry, hostile, and potentially dangerous to themselves or others, youth that may use threatening language or be verbally abusive. GLCs may also perform youth intakes and releases during their shift. Detention Programming should provide a therapeutic setting to work with at-risk youth. This includes maintaining daily structure, facilitating group and individual interventions, recreation, skill development, and crisis intervention

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
Those employed in this position are subject to drug testing and background investigation including criminal background investigation. Conviction of a crime may disqualify an individual for this position. Must pass and maintain Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) security clearance. Individuals in this position are required to receive and maintain approval for employment in the position from the Department of Human Services criminal records unit.

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