Position InformationJoin the County of Sonoma Probation Department as a Juvenile Correctional Counselor III.Starting salary up to $52.04/hour ($108,613/year) and a competitive total compensation package!* The Probation Department invites you to watch their video that highlights the work they do within the community we serve: Probation Full-Length Video (English)
Probation Full-Length Video (Spanish)
Note, t o be considered for this position you must have:
- Six (6) months of experience as a group or youth counselor or other experience related to counseling or case management of troubled youth; and
- One (1) year of full-time experience in a position equivalent or closely related to Juvenile Correctional Counselor II; and
- Achieved a passing score on the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Selection Examination for the Adult Corrections Officer, Juvenile Corrections Officer, and Probation Officer Classifications for Local Corrections
What We Offer Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
- Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
- Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals and 12 paid holidays
- County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
- Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
- Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
- Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education
About the Position In the Sonoma County Probation Department , Juvenile Correctional Counselor IIIs (JCC IIIs) act in a lead capacity; are responsible for overseeing and directing the activities of residents detained in Juvenile Hall and Probation Camp; and collaborate with staff, supervisors, directors, and Health Services . They maintain the safety and security of the facility and provide supervision, care, and guidance to residents. JCC IIIs also facilitate cognitive behavioral interventions and use motivational interviewing and other evidence-based practices while mentoring, counseling, applying crisis intervention skills, and making necessary referrals. Other responsibilities include:
- Supporting unit staff by facilitating programming activities and developing related curriculum
- Applying de-escalation techniques and/or engaging in use of force when necessary
- Providing intensive casework and developing short-term case plans for residents
- Collaborating with staff to determine and implement the best methods to address resident issues and enforce accountability through the Behavior Management System
- Documenting resident behavior and other necessary information and entering data into justice system databases
The ideal JCC III candidate is an excellent problem-solver who brings their knowledge and experience working with evidence-based programming practices/concepts and marginalized populations. In addition to a strong cultural competency for working with people of diverse backgrounds/ethnicities, they possess:
- Effective communication and technical writing skills
- Empathy and patience, and the ability to build rapport and develop quality interpersonal relationships with youth
- Excellent time management strategies
- A passion for helping and serving others and the core belief that people can make positive behavior changes
- Basic computer skills to utilize the Microsoft Office suite
Training and/or completed coursework in the following areas is highly desired:
- Adolescent Brain Development or Positive Youth Development
- Cognitive Behavioral Interventions
- Cultural Considerations
- Gender Specific Programming
- Motivational Interviewing
- Trauma Informed Care
Citizenship Requirement: I ndividuals who possess United States citizenship or status as a permanent resident alien,
OR have the legal authorization to work in the United States under federal law, will be considered to meet the citizenship minimum standards for this position.
*Salary is negotiable. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association's Memorandum Of Understanding (SCLEA MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory .
This recruitment is being conducted to fill a full-time Juvenile Correctional Counselor III position in the Probation Department. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list.
Qualified C ounty employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.Minimum QualificationsEducation and Experience: Any combination of education, training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. Normally, this would include completion of twelve semester units at an accredited college in criminology, administration of justice, child development, sociology, behavioral and social psychology, social casework, social welfare, counseling and guidance; child psychology or a closely related field AND six months experience as a group or youth counselor or other experience related to counseling or case management of trouble youth AND one year full-time experience in a position equivalent or closely related to Juvenile Correctional Counselor II with the County of Sonoma.
Additional Requirements:
Additional Requirements: In accordance with California Government Code, Section 1029 - 1031, and the California Corrections Standards Authority, Title 15, Section 131, Minimum Standards for Selection, each employee shall meet the following minimum standards: United States citizenship or status as a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship (if a permanent resident alien has not obtained citizenship within three years after application for employment or is denied citizenship, he/she will be disqualified for peace officer status); have no prior felony conviction nor be under current formal probation supervision; and achieved a passing score on the California Corrections Standards Authority Juvenile Correctional Counselor written exam, or equivalent prior to appointment.
Candidates certified for employment must be willing to undergo and successfully complete an in depth background investigation, including a psychological evaluation, finger printing, criminal history check and a medical examination, including physical agilities testing.
License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesWorking knowledge of: recreational activities commonly enjoyed by youths; the laws, practices and procedures pertinent to the detention and custody of youths; child abuse reporting laws; advanced first-aid techniques and practices; CPR; personal hygiene techniques and methods in instructing youths in their use; knowledge of the proper use and care of various hand and power tools to complete construction.
Knowledge of: sociology and psychology, particularly as they relate to child and personality development, behavior patterns, motivation and group and family dynamics; the methods and techniques of individual and group counseling within a juvenile setting; factors that influence human behavior; accepted methods used to modify behavior; departmental policies, procedures and functions; techniques that motivate and encourage the efficiency and productivity of staff and youths.
Ability to: coordinate and lead the work activities of other Juvenile Correctional Counselors and youth activities; assist in the evaluation of the behavior and performance of assigned staff and youths; apply techniques of effective group dynamics; supervise and direct youths during work, meal and leisure activities; acquire and maintain the respect of the youths; effectively oversee youth or adult offenders engaged in various construction, industrial wilderness experience and maintenance work activities.
Maintain firm control in individual and group situations; relate to a wide variety of individuals from different socio-economic, cultural and ethnic groups; establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, health and social service providers, families, law enforcement agencies other departments and the public; exercise good judgment and adopt effective courses of action in emergency situations; lead the activities of Juvenile Correctional Counselors in emergency situations; apply basic first aid to youths and staff; write clear and concise oral explanations of situations that have transpired; help to train and coach staff in all aspects of their job responsibilities; physically subdue and restrain violent or fighting youth; defend against attacking youth; apprehend detention facility escapees in the line of duty; ability to work in a stressful environment.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED. Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient. The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An
Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION It is the policy of law enforcement and legal offices and departments, in the County of Sonoma, that candidates complete a thorough background investigation process prior to employment. This policy is imperative to keep the department’s employees and the public safe and to maintain high standards in the law enforcement community. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
The background investigation will include a thorough assessment of a candidate’s personal, employment, educational, criminal, and credit history. The investigation may include but is not necessarily limited to: the use of prescription and/or other drugs, reports from former employers, friends, family members, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, credit reports, court reports, public records search, and/or other relevant sources. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment.
All candidates will be required to take a pre-employment medical examination. The pre-employment medical examination will include drug testing as part of the medical examination for all applicants and for all current employees who are offered employment with the Offices/Departments. Additionally, candidates may be required to take a pre-employment psychological examination. The results of these examinations and the background investigation shall be confidential and shall not be available to the candidate for review. Failure to pass the background investigation will eliminate a candidate from the employment process. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
Issues that arise during the investigation process will be assessed, and judgment and discretion will be used to determine the employability of the candidate. Where there is evidence of a candidate’s past use of controlled substances, many factors shall be used to determine the employability of the individual such as a pattern of use, kind of drug used, circumstances of the start of the drug use, treatment, behavior, and attitude since discontinuance, etc. Please note that a history of using controlled substances does not result in automatic disqualification from the selection process. Prior to disqualifying any candidate whose profile falls within the provisions of the policy, the candidate shall be given the opportunity to present any and all evidence of mitigating facts that the candidate feels should be considered by the hiring authority.
HOW TO APPLY Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: AK
HR Technician: KK
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan :Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.
Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .
IRS 457 Plan :Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical : County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
Closing Date/Time: Continuous
