JTDC - Assistant Team Leader

JOB TITLE: ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER
DIVISON: RESIDENT DAILY LIFE
LOCATION: JUVENILE TEMPORARY DETENTION CENTER
11OO S HAMILTON
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60612
GRADE: 19
SALARY: $77,218

Company Overview

The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) provides safe and temporary housing for youth ages 10 – 18 with pending legal action in the Cook County Courts. The JTDC is dedicated to providing its youth with leadership, structured care, and supervision through a balanced approach of creative programming and services that teach responsibility, accountability, and sensitivity. Each member of the JTDC staff is actively encouraged and supported in pursuit of creative participation, personal well-being, and professional development.



 
As the largest juvenile detention center in the nation, the facility contains five major departments and various offices consisting of 600+ employees who serve an average daily population of 280+ residents.

The Assistant Team Leader is a JTDC middle manager with one level of professional staff under his/her administrative direction or management, and who will assist in leading a JTDC Unit consisting of forty-eight (48) to fifty-four (54) residents and thirty-two (32) subordinates. 

  Typical Duties

• Monitors work schedules of all assigned unit staff to ensure accountability within the assigned Unit.
• Assists in the planning of all monthly Unit meetings with assigned Team Leader, Youth Development Specialist(s), and Recreational Specialist(s) to review JTDC initiatives, policy and procedures, program scheduling, and other related requirements/expectations.
• Participates in Quality of Life reviews of all Unit programs/services to promote accountability of required conditions of confinement, resident scheduling, record keeping/documentation, etc.
• Provides critical analysis of Unit activities to the Team Leader related to incidents, resident rule violations, resident grievances, use of behavior management continuum, etc. and to identify trends and characteristics and to make adjustments where appropriate.
• Participates in various operational and program committees and recommends new policy/program initiatives that contribute to the JTDC mission, goals and core values.
• Evaluates work of assigned Unit staff and develops strategies to improve accountability and work performance.
• Initiates corrective actions (where necessary) proportionate to non-compliance and or performance issues and mediates disputes that promotes reconciliation and professional growth and development.
• Identifies training that is responsive to the continued professional development of staff.
• Establishes and ensures clear expectations regarding compliance with all policy/procedure for all staff in the assigned Unit.
• Develops methods to advance the effective and efficient communication of JTDC policy and promotes feedback and analysis from assigned staff that promotes collaborative decision making and problem solving process.
• Provides constructive individual feedback to supervisory and line staff that promotes support/understanding of the JTDC mission, goals, and new initiatives.
• Provides constructive individual feedback to supervisory and line staff that promotes support/understanding of the JTDC mission, goals and new initiatives.
• Leads by example and establishes an environment that promotes P rofessionalism A ccountability C ommunication T eamwork (PACT).
• Completes an approved 80-hour course of study/training related to youth in juvenile confinement within six (6) months of employment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Management, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Social Work, or other human services related field AND at least two (2) years employment in youth detention, corrections, and/or community residential services, with at least one (1) year of employment that required direct and continuous supervision of juvenile offenders OR
• A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Social Work, Education or other related Human Services field AND at least three (3) years employment in youth detention, corrections, and/or community residential services, with at least two (2) years of employment that required direct and continuous supervision of juvenile offenders.
• United States citizenship.
• 21 years of age at the time of application submission.

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• Highly accountable, reliable, and prompt, with a strong work ethic.
• Flexible, creative, proactive, and effective under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to effectively understand and communicate in English (verbally and in writing).
• Demonstrates proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrates skills in database creation and maintenance.
• Bilingual communication skills preferred.

Physical Requirements
[ This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements.]

• Ability to move desks, beds and other furniture to conduct security checks.
• Ability to step up on elevated surfaces, such as beds or stools, to conduct room searches.
• Reaching, bending, and stooping to perform security checks, housekeeping and other tasks.
• Extended periods of walking throughout the facility.
• Ability to physically restrain residents, including the ability to manage weights of 75lbs. to 200 lbs. when restraining adolescents.
• Ability to effectively communicate (hear and respond) 10 codes through the intercom/radio transmission monitoring system.
• Lifting and carrying containers for meals, laundry bags and other items weighing up to 35 lbs.
• Must be able to be mandated or work overtime based on departmental needs.

Working Conditions

• Exposure to resident behavior problems that may include physical acting out and require safe physical management skills.
• Exposure to residents with complex mental health issues and/or disorders.
• Exposure to youth with various states of cleanliness and hygiene.
• Exposure to various health related conditions or residents of a communicable nature which requires precaution and adhering to medical instruction.
• Exposure to communicable diseases of youth.

Hiring Requirements

• Illinois residency obtained within 90 days of date of hire.
• Pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check including but not limited to LEADS, CANTS, and professional references.
• A result of negative from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Child Abuse Registry.
• Must pass required and nationally recognized written examination(s) for direct care and supervisory positions.

• Meet additional minimum requirements for eligibility established by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC).
• Open availability including weekends and holidays; ability to work the hours necessary to maintain the operation of the facility.
• Must pass Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) screening requirements.

In response to Congress enacting the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) , the Department of Justice (DOJ) developed national standards for federal, state and local correctional agencies. The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center as it is a zero-tolerance policy prohibits all forms of sexual abuse, sexual harassment from staff members, interns, volunteers, and contractors and any form of resident sexual misconduct between residents.  

Benefits Package

• Information concerning the benefits for this position can be found at the Circuit Court of Cook County Employment Opportunities Page . 

This position has an Administrative Office of the Illinois Court (AOIC) requirement , if an offer of employment is extended to you, you will be required to show immediate proof of AOIC Certification. If you are AOIC certified please upload your letter, and if not please move forward with completing the Administrative Office of the Illinois Court certification application. Link is below.

Employment | Probation/Court Services (illinoiscourts.gov)

THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
It is the policy of the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants for employment. No person is to be discriminated against in employment because of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.