Licensed Social Worker

JOB SUMMARY

Responsible for providing crisis intervention and assessment counseling for detained youth and their families; preparation of performance reports and assessments for juvenile court; and interaction with community schools and organizations.

• Conducts interviews with detained juveniles within the required time frame to obtain personal history and information such as age, pregnancies, medical conditions, prior delinquency history, escape history, assessment of behavioral tendencies, gang memberships, caseworker information, and any prior treatment history at other facilities.
• Provides juveniles with initial and continuing Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) training and counseling.
• Assesses detainees to determine the existence of suicidal ideation; informs director, staff, and appropriate medical personnel.
• Prepares reports of juvenile behavior for adjudication, dispositions, and review hearings in court.
• Serves as liaison between the juvenile, courts, and outside agencies; maintains contact with family and professionals on behalf of detained juveniles.
• Informs appropriate court staff of pertinent information concerning the needs of juveniles, such as court date, guardian arrest or inaccessibility, medical appointment, death in the family, etc.
• Provides crisis intervention for juveniles as needed for new intakes and youth in detention.
• Counsels juveniles experiencing negative emotions such as frustration, anxiety, depression, anger, confusion, etc.; refers to juvenile to Director, courts, and outside agencies when needed.
• Develops programs to meet psychological, emotional, recreational, and educational needs; makes recommendations to Director to ensure an atmosphere of rehabilitation is maintained.
• Develops and conducts art projects designed to assist youth in expressing their feelings, enhancing their self-esteem, and developing socialization skills.
• Schedules motivational speakers to provide supplemental educational outreach programs and enhance the classroom curriculum.
• Identifies and recruits individuals and community organizations to promote well-being and rehabilitation by providing programs, services, and supplies for youth.
• Maintains contact with guardians to share information, communicate requests, and obtain health and medication information.
• Assist juveniles in completing request forms, applications for services through Job Corp, Youth Challenge, technical schools, vital statistics, etc.
• Obtains and maintains a library of appropriate reading materials for youth.
• Organizes and conducts tours of outside correctional facilities in an effort to reduce the rate of recidivism.
• Presents workshops for staff on topics that will advance employee development and improve teaching skills.
• Completes annual continuing education requirements.
• Conducts public speaking engagements and facility tours for public and private schools in order to reduce youth crime; maintains statistics of the number of presentations and tours provided.
• Assists with coordination of a graduate internship program ensuring scheduling of interns with detainees; maintains contracts with LDSCW / Field Supervisor.
• Testifies in court as needed.

• Performs other related duties as required.

None

Work is performed in a smoking-restricted office environment with interaction with hostile or aggressive individuals.

• Considerable knowledge of the psychological, educational, and social factors, interactions, and influence upon juvenile development.
• Considerable knowledge of the social and legal problems related to substance abuse and other juvenile-related criminal behavior.
• Considerable knowledge of the training and reporting standards and requirements mandated by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
• Considerable knowledge of interviewing and counseling methods and techniques.
• Good knowledge of Federal, State, and County laws, ordinances, and regulations governing juvenile detention.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with outside agencies, other staff members,…