ADULT PROBATION COUNSELOR II na County of Thurston

The salary for this position is: $6,257 - $8,322 monthly.

Thurston County District Court is seeking a highly motivated, professional, and positive candidate for the position of Adult Probation Counselor II within our Probation Department. This position supports the success of those justice involved that have release and sentencing conditions ordered by the Court. The Probation Counselor performs assessments, develops action plans, and facilitates the resources needed for successful outcomes, short and long term. This role also acts as a liaison with community assistance and support agencies, facilitating involvement with programs that provide resources for drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violation, housing, education, employment, and other associated programs.

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Directs a caseload of medium to high-risk clients heard before the court on charges such as Domestic Violence, Assault, Reckless Endangerment, and Driving Under the Influence, assessing client skills and developing treatment plans on a case-by-case basis.
• Conducts pre/post-sentence investigations with face-to-face interviews and extensive contact with victims, personal history, social and economic needs, community resource needs, counseling/treatment needs, work history, family and employer support, and complete written reports.
• Determines client risk to the community using established risk assessment tools, performs client intake and support/action plans, and performs regular face to face meetings with clients.
• Records and maintains accurate records of client interactions, to include progresses as well as potential violations and the reports required to ensure success while ordered to Probation, and the documentation required to address matters effectively and accurately at court proceedings.
• Client supervision includes Active/Supervised Probation, requiring regular in-person contacts, as well as Monitored Probation that will include compliance report monitoring and records checks.

To view the full job classification, click here: Class Specifications | Adult Probation Counselor II | Class Spec Details

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Environment – Work is performed in office, community, and corrections environments, engaging in both team and individualized roles providing for professional collaboration with the court and multi-disciplinary teams, justice partners, community stakeholders, and treatment agencies.
• Schedule - Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Workload demands may occasionally require work outside the assigned work hours.
• Travel Requirements - Travel is required to attend meetings and trainings, and to engage with program participants.
• Customer Interactions - Daily interactions via phone, in-person, and video with clients, justice partners, community stakeholders, and treatment agencies.

WHO WE ARE:

District Court serves the community of Thurston County as a court of limited jurisdiction. This court hears misdemeanors, infractions, civil and small claims, protection orders, and name changes. Thurston County District Court provides recognized support through our Mental Health and Veterans Court, as well as Probation services. The vision of District Court is Serving Justice Through Serving People.

Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values. Thurston County Racial Equity and Inclusion Webpage

WHAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit Thurston County Employee Benefit Plans for more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays.
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Why you’ll love it here: Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched in between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capitol city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmer’s markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.

Message to potential applicants: We understand that some potential applicants are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the functions or skills listed in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we understand that may be someone who will learn some of these skills on the job. If you are interested in this position, and meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to go ahead and apply! Feel free to think about how you will bring your own set of skills to the role and tell us about the potential that you hold. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• A bachelor's degree that provides the necessary education and skills in dealing with complex legal and human issues, as well as competence in making decisions and using discretionary judgment. A course of study in sociology, psychology, or criminal justice is preferred.
• Four years of experience in the criminal justice or social work field.
• Counseling skills necessary to evaluate and act on offender crisis, assess offender needs, motivate offenders, and make recommendations to the court.
• Education and training necessary to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to interview and counsel offenders with a wide variety of offender problems, including but not limited to alcoholism, domestic violence, mental illness, sexual deviancy; to testify in court, to communicate with referral resources, and to prepare legal documents and reports.
• Thorough knowledge of local, state & federal criminal laws, confidentiality requirements, local court rules and administrative codes.
• Must be able to efficiently operate a personal computer and applicable software required of the position.
• Must have a current Washington State Driver's License. Successful completion of the Criminal Justice Training Academy, Corrections Services Academy is required.

DESIRED SKILLS: 

• Ability to work independently as well as in a collaborative manner.
• Ability to communicate well in both oral and written form.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Knowledge of local mental health, chemical dependency, domestic violence and social service resources.
• Knowledge of the judicial branch, court, and legal system is desired.

OTHER RELATED RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:

Questions about this recruitment? Please contact: Raul Salazar by email: [email protected] or phone: 360-786-4558

This position is:

• Represented by a union
• Eligible for benefits
• Eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Items requested for consideration:

• Application
• Resume
• Letter of Interest
• Responses to questionnaire

Please note: Information in this announcement is subject to change without notice at any time during the length of the job advertisement.

THURSTON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Thurston County is committed to provide equal opportunity to all persons seeking or having access to its employment, services and activities, which is free from restriction based on race, sex, marital status, color, creed or religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, pregnancy, status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, unless based upon bona fide occupational qualifications. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation with the application or selection process should contact Thurston County’s Human Resources, at (360) 786-5498.  Those who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use the statewide relay system to reach Thurston County offices and departments to conduct their business telephonically. Relay users can simply dial 7-1-1 (or 1-800-833-6388) to connect with Washington Relay.