DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICER II (TREATMENT AND COUNSELING) LA County

Essential Job Functions

• Conducts individual therapy to address issues including stress, substance abuse, and family dynamics following developed treatment plans for purpose of modifying behavior and to improve pro-social and vocational skills.
•  Conducts daily group therapy following evidence-based practices using cognitive behavioral interventions to improve the psycho-social functioning of youth.
• Conducts psychotherapy in order to alleviate or decrease mental health symptoms.
• Conducts family therapy as part of the treatment plans to enhance family communication and increase positive family dynamics.
• Provides crisis intervention counseling to minors to deescalate potentially harmful situations and/or high-risk behaviors.
• Motivates and encourages minors to engage in scheduled activities and schoolwork utilizing the principles of motivational interviewing.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, modifying plans and diagnoses as necessary.
• Consults with other professionals to discuss therapies, treatments, counseling resources, or techniques to ensure the effectiveness of the minor's treatment plan.
• Acts as the treatment team leader and facilitates weekly team meetings.
• Ensures minors health, hygiene, and personal needs are met in consultation with the nurse, medical doctor, and the housing unit staff.
• Records services in accordance with the Department of Mental Health standards for behavioral health services in the Integrated Behavioral Health Information System.
• Develops treatment plans for the individual and family.
• Writes progress notes on and documents sessions.
• Transports minors to courts or other locations on an as needed basis
• Drives single vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 pounds as needed.

Requirements

SPECIALTY REQUIREMENTS:
A Master's* Degree in Social Work, Social Welfare, Psychology, Counseling, or Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from an accredited college.

Appointees must either be currently licensed or pursuing their licensure in their area of specialty with the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners or the California Board of Psychology. 
 
LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job related essential functions. Appointee must obtain a California Class B Driver License within 90 days of appointment.
 
PHYSICAL CLASS:
4- Arduous: This class involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. It includes those positions that occasionally demand extraordinary physical activity such as those in Safety positions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
 *In order to qualify and receive credit for any college such as a Master’s degree or higher, you must indicate on the job application and attach a legible copy of the official diploma or official transcripts, or official letter from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization and degree awarded with Registrar's signature and/or school seal with your application at the time of filing in NEOGOV or within 7 calendar days from the last day of filing or your application may be rejected.  We do not accept password-protected documents.  Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.
 
Candidates must meet the qualifications for designation as a Peace Officer within the Probation Department, including, but not limited to:
 
 1) No Felony Convictions
 2) Citizenship - Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law. Applicants will be required to submit their documents during the background process.
 3) At least 21 years of age at the time of appointment
 
Appointees will be required to meet State-mandated CORE training requirements as defined by Standards for Training in Corrections (STC), within one (1) year of appointment, per STC guidelines.
 
Positions to this class will be required to possess a certificate of completion of a 40-hour introductory training course on the laws of arrest under Penal Code Section 832 and Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).
 
WORK CONDITIONS
California Penal Code 830.5 states that Probation Officers are peace officers whose authority extends to any place in the state while engaged in the performance of the duties of their respective employment and for the purpose of carrying out the primary function of their employment or as required under Sections 8597, 8598, and 8617 of the Government Code. The authority and expectations of probation officers extends to:
 

1. To conditions of parole, probation, mandatory supervision, or post release community supervision by any person in this state on parole, probation, mandatory supervision, or post release community supervision.

2. To the escape of any inmate or ward from a state or local institution.

3. To the transportation of persons on parole, probation, mandatory supervision, or post release community supervision.

4. To violations of any penal provisions of law which are discovered while performing the usual or authorized duties of the officer’s employment.
5. (A) To the rendering of mutual aid to any other law enforcement agency.

As Peace officers, under the authority cited above, sworn Probation staff may need to address an escape, maintain supervision needs or quell illegal activity. Such duties may involve physical use of force, including restraining youth and/or adults.  Therefore, any Probation Peace Officer position duties must include the ability to perform physical restraints on any person under probation, mandatory supervision, or post release community supervision (i.e., Field or Institutions).
 
For more information regarding California Penal Code Section 830.5 please click Here
 
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
A thorough background investigation will be conducted, which may include, but is not limited to, the following:

 1) Live Scan and Criminal Records Check
 2) Polygraph Examination or Computer Voice Stress Analyzer Test.
 3) Psychological Examination
 4) Medical and Drug Screening Examination
 5) Credit Check
 6) Physical Agility Examination
 
Candidates who are found unsuitable for employment will be removed from the eligible list pursuant to Civil Service Rule 6.04, including but not limited to the following:

• Who is addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors or narcotics or habit-forming drugs;
• Who is guilty of conduct not compatible with County employment, whether or not it amounts to a crime;
• Who has been dismissed or has resigned in lieu of discharge from any position, public or private, for any cause which would be a cause for dismissal from County service; or whose record of employment has not been satisfactory in the County service, or with any other agency or firm;
• Who has abandoned any position in County service or been absent from duty without leave of absence duly granted;
• Who has a made material false statement or who has attempted any deception or fraud in connection with this or any other civil service examinations;
• Who refuses to execute the oath as prescribed by law;
• Who refuses to be fingerprinted;
• Who refuses to take or fails to pass the prescribed medical examination

EXAMINATION CONTENT
This examination process will consist of a multiple choice and/or simulation assessment(s) weighted 100% assessing:

• Written English
• Following Instructions
• Numerical Calculation
• Achievement
• Professional Potential
• Responsibility
• Teamwork

Applicants must meet the Selection Requirements and receive a passing score of 70% or higher in order to be placed on the eligible register.
 
MULTIPLE-CHOICE AND SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.
 
TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS
Applicants who have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their responses automatically transferred to this examination.

This examination contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test responses may be transferred.
 
TEST PREPARATION
Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. An interactive Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at http://hr.lacounty.gov/. Please click on "Find A Job" and then "Job Search Toolkit." Test preparation information is located under the "Employment Test Assistance" section.
 
You can also access test preparation for the computerized portion of the test by going to https://www.shldirect.com/en-us/practice-tests/. While the guides will help you prepare for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary.
 
NOTE: All notifications, including invitation letters, will be sent electronically to the email address provided on your application. Please add the below email addresses to your email address book and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

• [email protected]
• [email protected]   
• [email protected] 
• [email protected]    
• [email protected]

It is your responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence. Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or rescheduling of a test component.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION  
Applications will be processed on an as-received basis the names of candidates receiving a passing score in the examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months.
 
VACANCY INFORMATION
The resulting eligible register for this examination will be used to fill vacancies located in the Los Angeles County Probation Department.
 
 AVAILABLE SHIFT
 Any
 
APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION
Applications must be filed online only. We must receive your application BEFORE 5:00 p.m., PT, on the last day of filing. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.
 
Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the 5:00 p.m. PT, deadline. You may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.
 
Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the requirements to qualify, as listed on this job bulletin. Provide any relevant job experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected.

Martin Rivera