JUVENILE JUSTICE YOUTH & FAMILY SPECIALIST SUPERVISOR

Position Overview:

The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is seeking a highly motivated and compassionate candidate to serve as the youth and family specialist supervisor for the assigned region. The incumbent in this position will assign and review subordinate work, monitor youth case plans for compliance with agency mandated processes and procedures. Additional duties in this position include managing incidents, providing management's direction throughout the assigned division, assigning caseloads, directing home/placements, visitations, and establishing timelines/schedules. The ideal candidate will possess previous supervisory experience; experience contacting and reviewing progress reporting, approving submission of case load transfers and Aftercare plans, warrants and hold orders. DJJ encourages all interested and qualified individuals to apply!

Essential Functions:

• Under general supervision, supervises assigned staff.
• Monitors case plans for compliance with agency-mandated processes timelines.
• Manages supervision of youth, reviews arrests and incident reports and provides case management direction to manage complex cases and issues regarding the youth, monitors adherence to and enforcement of agency procedures and practices.
• Reviews and approves submission of case load transfers, authorized absences, transition and parole plans following agency guidelines.
• Manages a complex caseload of special needs youth.
• Conducts staff meetings to discuss goals/objectives for assigned youth.
• Participates in continuing education programs, training and staff development to build staff competencies and skills and knowledge of Aftercare programming, process and procedures.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires a master's degree in counseling or related social sciences. Requires three years of professional experience working with youth in juvenile services.

OR

• Requires a master's degree from an accredited college or university. Requires four years of professional experience in counseling or casework. 
• Candidates must be over the age of 21. 

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance):

• Requires extensive knowledge of counseling and guidance principles and techniques.
• Requires extensive knowledge of theories of personality and deviant behavior, delinquency, and criminology.
• Requires working knowledge of the principles of cognitive behavioral treatment.
• Requires working knowledge of sociology of the family and of racial and cultural minorities, urban sociology and social problems.
• Requires working knowledge of casework techniques and the writing of professional reports.
• Requires ability to supervise a professional staff, assign and review work and monitor resources.
• Requires ability to prepare comprehensive evaluations and to develop recommendations for rehabilitation and positive behavioral change programs, and for parole placement and supervision.
• Requires ability to use a personal computer and office software in data tracking and the preparation of work reports and case management.
• Requires ability to relate and integrate professional aspects of counseling and guidance with those of other disciplines.
• Requires ability to apply a high degree of tact, patience, empathy and insight in the skillful counseling of residents, families, parents and relatives.
• Requires ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Requires ability to administer objective psychometric tests.
• Requires ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with parents and families, other professional disciplines, and members of other governmental and community organizations.

Conditions of Employment:

• Requires the ability to pass an IDOC/IDJJ background check.
• Requires ability to pass a drug screen. The use of unauthorized drugs by an employee, regardless of position held, is prohibited.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description. 

About the Agency:

The mission of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) is to build youth skills and strengthen families by promoting community safety and positive youth outcomes. Over 900 staff members from across various departments—security, programming, education, mental health, and more—collaborate with the understanding that youth are physically, emotionally, and cognitively different from adults. The department provides extensive services to young people through a developmental, treatment-focused model of care that builds youth resiliency, engages families, and promotes community safety at the five youth facilities it operates across the state. IDJJ serves and houses approximately 150 youth and is responsible for approximately 500 youth on Aftercare in various Illinois’ communities.