Juvenile Services Officer I is part of a career series for Juvenile Services Officer I, II and III. Classes in this series, in a custody setting, provide for the temporary and safe supervision of juveniles who are accused of conduct subject to the jurisdiction of the court who require a restricted environment for their own, or the community's protection, while pending legal action; do other related work as required.
Click here to view detailed job description for Juvenile Services Officer I.
For more information regarding the Probation Department, please visit our website at Probation - County of San Luis Obispo.
Note: This recruitment may be used to fill future permanent, substitute, limited term, and temporary positions, both full-time and part-time.
The ideal candidate will have an understanding of the Juvenile Justice System process and have a basic working understanding of interviewing, counseling, crisis intervention, institution safety, and security methods and techniques. Additionally, a successful candidate will have knowledge of the developmental stages of minors and basic principles of applied psychology, including parenting skills and conflict resolution methods. Effective report writing skills and communication skills are a must.
Distinguishing CharacteristicsJuvenile Services Officer I: This is the entry-level class in the Juvenile Services Officer series. Incumbents, under close supervision, learn the principles and procedures of a juvenile custody setting, and learn to supervise, control, and guide juveniles in detention.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and ExperienceA combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:
All levels: Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of college course work (Job-related experience may be substituted for the required education).
In addition to the above:
Juvenile Services Officer I: No additional experience.
Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. Apply for this position at governmentjobs.com/careers/slocountyca. Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.
An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.
Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at hr@co.slo.ca.us. Confidential inquiries are welcome.
For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.
THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS
An initial application screening and assessment will be conducted to determine if candidates meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
A mandatory written exam (online) and Physical Agility Test (PAT) will be administered for all those who meet minimum qualifications. Those who pass BOTH the written and physical agility exam will advance to next steps, as defined by the department.
Finalists will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before being hired by the Probation Department.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have taken this exam with another agency in the last year, you may be eligible to utilize your score to waive the written exam portion of the recruitment process. Please contact Miranda Wall at mewall@co.slo.ca.us to determine eligibility.
Physical Agility Test (PAT):
The PAT consists of four events. Each event is scored as a pass/fail and has time limitations. You must pass ALL four events below to move forward in the recruitment process.
BODY LIFT: This event is meant to represent lifting someone who has attempted to hang themselves. It requires supporting the weight of a hanging lifelike dummy weighing approximately 150-lb. All stress/slack must be continuously off the rope/chain from which it is suspended for 30 seconds.
BODY DRAG: This event is meant to represent dragging someone who is physically incapacitated. It requires lifting and dragging a lifelike dummy that is lying on the ground and weighs approximately 150-lb. The dummy must be dragged 30 feet. This event must be accomplished in 30 seconds or less.
WEIGHTED AGILITY RUN: This event will require you to walk briskly or jog through a 150-foot zigzag barrier course. This course will consist of three sharp turns. At the 75-foot mark, you will pick up a 20-lb weighted object and carry it back through the course. This event must be accomplished in 30 seconds or less.
550 YARD RUN: This event will simulate a long distance run without obstacles. This event must be accomplished in 3 minutes or less.
Since the events involve running, you can prepare for the test by practicing both short sprints and longer runs. The 550-yard run is equivalent to about two city blocks up and back. The other two events involve upper body strength. It is possible to condition yourself for these by doing push-ups and pull-ups.
PLEASE NOTE: You must be able to work a variety of shifts including irregular hours, weekends and holidays.
Officers are on a "3 – 12" schedule. They work 3 twelve hour shifts one week with four days off and then 3 twelve hour shifts and 1 eight hour shift the next week. This equates to 14 shifts a month. The facility is continually open, so officers are assigned to shifts around the clock, including weekends and holidays. Shifts are assigned based on the needs of the facility and staff seniority.
PEACE OFFICER REQUIREMENTS
Must meet minimum peace officer standards as specified in California Government Code Sections 1029 and 1031.
Personal History Statement - Peace Officer Form 2-251:
All applicants that are invited to department interviews will be required to complete, sign, and return a Personal History Statement (PHS) directly to the Probation Department. More details and instructions will follow after the final filing date with a status of your application. The personal history statement form can be accessed at https://post.ca.gov/Forms under the Background/Hiring section.
Medical Exam:
All candidates will be required to take a pre-employment medical examination. The pre-employment medical examination will include a vision and hearing test, pulmonary function test, chest x-ray, and treadmill stress test.
Polygraph/Psychological Exam:
The polygraph examinationwill measure the accuracy of information given during the background investigation process and is part of the background investigation. The psychological examination will include the administration of psychological tests, an assessment of psychological factors, and an interview with a County-designated Psychologist.
Background Check:
To accept a position with the Probation Office, you must successfully complete a Background Investigation. Below is a partial list of offenses or issues that may disqualify you from successful completion. Please review the below list:
Issues that arise during the investigation process will be assessed, and judgement 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. The results of these examinations and the background investigation shall be confidential and shall not be available to the candidate or any unauthorized individuals for review.
Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.