The Classification Counselor 2 provides professional classification guidance with the responsibility of placing incarcerated individuals in the least restrictive custody designation, while meeting the need to provide for the safety of the public, staff, visitors, and offenders. The Classification Counselor 2 further supports the agency’s mission to improve public safety by collaborating with community resources and stakeholders to promote successful transition of offenders into the community.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
Manage a caseload of adult criminal incarcerated individuals:
- Investigate all information available for each arriving incarcerated individual, and determine their documentation and programming needs.
- Screen incarcerated individuals for job assignments to ensure community safety for incarcerated individual referred to community work crews, Department of Natural Resources crews, and sustainability crews. .
- Conduct PREA Risk Assessments and single cell assessments to ensure proper housing and safety of offenders.
- Administer Risk Assessment tools.
- Collect information to complete facility plans, criminal history and risk management tools to determine needs.
- Prepare and submit Incarcerated Individual release plan.
- Counsel and inform incarcerated individuals regarding community resources and problems they might encounter in their transition to work release, parole, or release. Work with internal and external entities to facilitate incarcerated individual re-entry into the community.
- Enforce court ordered conditions and impose DOC conditions.
- Participate in Risk Management/multi-disciplinary teams.
- Maintain communication with incarcerated individuals to assist with attorney calls, child custody/support hearings with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and courts, and family contact through crisis/emergency situations.
- Regularly review and update incarcerated individual plans and programming needs.
- Arrange translator services.
- Evaluate incarcerated individuals for early release.
- Monitor incarcerated individual programming and behaviors.
- Exercise sound judgment, aligned with Department policy, in decisions concerning sanctions, treatment, and education referral.
Provide effective communication and documentation
- Write correspondences, infractions, and incident reports.
- Provide clear, concise, and consistent communication with staff, incarcerated individuals, and stakeholders.
- Prepare violation reports to include recommendations for sanctions, custody placement to ensure the safety of both offenders and staff.
- Participate in meetings.
- Testify before courts, boards, and classification or disciplinary hearings.
Navigate and maintain multiple electronic technologies and hard copy files.
- Record, access, update, and retrieve incarcerated individual-related information from agency database.
- Maintain electronic and hard copy incarcerated individual file to accurately reflect current incarcerated individual status.
A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and one year of social service or corrections experience.* A Master’s degree in sociology, psychology, social work, criminology, or closely related field will substitute for the year of required experience.
OR
Satisfactory completion of two years of college (60 semester or 90 quarter credits) and three years of experience in adult corrections, juvenile corrections, rehabilitation or social casework.
OR
One year as a Classification Counselor 1 in Washington State service to include, at a minimum satisfactory completion of two years of college (60 semester or 90 quarter credits).
- Note: Corrections experience is defined as the focus of work dealing directly with incarcerated individuals a majority of the time.
In addition to at least one of the above, this position requires:
Ability to:
Write clearly, factually, and concisely.
- Analyze and interpret data, weigh the risks, and make decisions or recommendations to address staff and incarcerated individual needs.
- Identify and address incarcerated individuals behaviors/needs.
- Organize and prioritize work.
- Apply conflict resolution skills.
Observation – Observe and strategize personal action based on environmental conditions and human behavior.
Technology – Learns and utilizes computer-based applications in the performance of job duties.
Stress Tolerance – Remains calm and rational while handling difficult situations to include, but not limited to: volatile, threatening or other crisis/emergency situations; expertly intervenes in response to threats.
Professional Standards – Knows and applies relevant law, policy, procedure and practice; adheres to established productivity standards and timelines; identifies own training needs and proactively seeks training opportunities.
Adaptability – Incorporates new information into an existing framework of understanding; accepts changes and supports the Agency through changes in law, policy and procedure.
Preferred/Desired Qualifications:
Ability to work independently.
Rapid problem-solving ability.
Ability to provide and receive constructive feedback/criticism.
Vision: Working together for safer communities.
Mission: Improving public safety by positively changing lives.
Our Commitment: To operate a safe and humane corrections system and partner with others to transform lives for a better Washington.
DOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.
COVID 19 Vaccination Requirement
Pursuant to Emergency Proclamation 21-14, all Washington State executive branch employees, on-site contractors, and volunteers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18th, 2021. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 Vaccination as part of the hire process for all positions within our agency. If you have questions about this requirement, please contact the recruiter listed in the supplemental information section at the end of the job announcement.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Please include a minimum of three (3) professional references with your application. A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates. **Please note: Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.
- A background check including criminal record history will be conducted prior to a new hire. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
- Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply.
- We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws. A pre-employment drug test may be administered as part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, will be disqualified from consideration.
- Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is an aerosol pepper spray made available as a means of self-defense and/or de-escalation. Applicants with sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
- Animal care projects are a common component of most Washington State prisons, including dog and cat programs. Applicants with animal sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
- Tuberculosis (TB) is a priority health issue for DOC employees. The successful candidate may be required to provide valid proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days from the date of hire. When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment will also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.
- This position may be represented by a bargaining unit.
What We Offer:
As an employee of the Department of Corrections, your work-life integration is a priority. Washington State employees are offered one of the most inclusive and competitive benefits packages in the nation. Besides comprehensive family insurance for medical, dental, and vision, these perks also may include:
- Remote/telework/flexible schedules (depending on position)
- Up to 25 paid vacations days a year
- 8 hours of paid sick leave per month
- 11 paid holidays a year (12 in 2022 for Juneteenth)
- Generous retirement plan
- Flex Spending Accounts
- Dependent Care Assistance
- Deferred Compensation and so much more!
For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email [email protected]. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
Source: Indeed.com
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