State of Maryland

A DJS Case Management Specialist II Community is the intermediate level of work providing case management services to juveniles in a community setting.  Employees in this classification implement and coordinate the delivery of services and treatment plans for juveniles on informal supervision, probation supervision, after-care supervision, detained pending trial or disposition, or committed to the Department of Juvenile Services.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from a DJS Case Management Specialist Supervisor, DJS Case Management Program Supervisor or other designated administrator.  Employees may be assigned to work evenings and weekends and may be subject to call-in based on staffing needs.  Employees may be required to travel throughout the State to attend court proceedings, visit homes, schools, community based services and juvenile residential facilities.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The DJS Case Management Specialist I, DJS Case Management Specialist II and DJS Case Management Specialist III are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The DJS Case Management Specialist I learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The DJS Case Management Specialist II performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The DJS Case Management Specialist III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision. 

In Community Settings:

Screens complaints and allegations by law enforcement agencies and citizens, assesses the juvenile’s actions, needs and prior history and determines appropriate course of action, such as formal court proceedings, informal supervision, dismiss with warning or disapprove case for insufficient evidence when designated as an intake officer;

Conducts pre-disposition investigations, conducts classification and placement assessments, prepares reports for the court and recommends whether adjudicated juveniles should be placed on probation, in a day program, or committed to a residential facility;

In Residential Settings:

Reviews facility placement requests, obtains required educational and psychological records and documents, reviews case file, assesses the juvenile’s needs and prior history, and determines if the juvenile’s acceptance to a specific juvenile facility residential treatment program is appropriate when designated as an intake officer;

Reviews case files including pre-disposition investigations and social history, prepares screening and placement reports and records, assesses juvenile needs and develops appropriate action plans for treatment, behavior modification or services while in the facility;

In Both Settings:

Provides case management services to juveniles in a community or residential setting by implementing and coordinating the delivery of services and treatment plans for juveniles on informal supervision, probation supervision, after-care supervision, detained pending trial or disposition, or committed for placement in a secure or non-secure facility;

Develops, modifies or reviews Treatment Service Plans and may participate in treatment team review meetings that identify the juvenile’s needs, treatment objectives and services, behavior modification goals and release or after-care planning; 

Applies screening and assessment tools to determine appropriate course of action and documents juvenile case activities in an automated database system;

Conducts orientation interviews with juveniles to explain terms and conditions of supervision, probation, commitment or detention, explain behavioral modification goals, processes and procedures and implement treatment services;

Consults with parents, legal guardians, attorneys, court administrators, judges and masters, police, public and private agency personnel to obtain or clarify information, explain procedures and expectations, and coordinate treatment services;

Conducts group and individual behavioral modification counseling sessions for juveniles, such as, anger management and victim awareness, and provides advice and assistance to juveniles concerning employment, living conditions, recreation, finances and other interests or concerns;

Monitors juveniles’ activities for compliance with terms and conditions of informal supervision, probation, after-care supervision or residential placement and evaluates juveniles’ progress and prepares reports;

Attends in-service training courses to keep abreast of current juvenile treatment and behavior modification theories, principles, techniques and practices and to maintain certification;

May act as a liaison to community organizations to develop and coordinate after-care plans and services for juveniles;

May serve as a child advocate responsible for investigating and resolving grievance complaints filed by juveniles in residential facilities;

May prepare and present testimony for court proceedings in the adjudication and disposition of juvenile cases;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of case management techniques, methods and procedures of the juvenile services system;

Knowledge of the laws, regulations, policies and procedures of the juvenile services system;

Knowledge of the processes and procedures of the juvenile court system;

Knowledge of the principles, methods, techniques and practices of behavioral modification and treatment of juvenile anti-social patterns of behavior;

Knowledge of the public and private resources addressing juvenile service needs in the areas of residential and non-residential treatment, behavior modification, education, employment, health, detention and law enforcement;

Skill in interviewing juveniles and family members to obtain and clarify information and explain procedures and expectations;

Ability to apply screening and assessment tools to identify juvenile needs, behavior modification goals, appropriate treatment services or after-care planning;

Ability to evaluate juveniles’ treatment progress and compliance with terms and conditions of informal supervision, probation, after-care supervision or residential placement;

Ability to conduct group and individual behavioral modification counseling sessions for juveniles;

Ability to prepare accurate, comprehensive and complete legal documents, correspondence, reports and narratives;

Ability to use computer systems to maintain case records, identify problems, produce reports and access informational resources;

Ability to observe and interpret behaviors of juveniles with patterns or histories of unacceptable social behavior;

Ability to maintain confidentiality of juvenile case material and related information;

Ability to testify in court proceedings;

Ability to communicate effectively with juveniles, parents, legal guardians, court administrators, judges and masters, attorneys, law enforcement personnel and representatives from public and private organizations.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: One year of experience providing case management services to emotionally or socially maladjusted, delinquent, victimized or exceptional juveniles in a community or residential setting.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute possession of an Associate of Arts degree in the social or behavioral sciences or criminal justice from an accredited college or university and two years of experience providing direct services to children in a community or residential setting for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute possession of a Master’s degree in the social or behavioral sciences or criminal justice from an accredited college or university for the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Social Services classifications or Social Services specialty codes in the Social Science, Psychology and Welfare field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

1. Candidates appointed to positions in this classification must obtain and maintain certification by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission.

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

3. Employees in this classification that are employed at DJS Youth Centers may be required to complete a Board approved medication technician training program and possess a valid Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) certification as a Medication Technician.

1. In accordance with the Correctional Services Article, Section 8-209 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Maryland Correctional Training Commission shall establish the minimum qualifications for probationary or permanent appointment of a Department of Juvenile Services employee in a mandated position. These requirements are listed in detail in the Code of Maryland Regulations 12.10.01.04, general regulations of the Maryland Correctional Training Commission, and include:

    U.S. Citizenship or Resident Alien status

    Must be at least 21 years of age

    A thorough background check, including fingerprinting and drug testing

    An oral interview, and

    Physical and psychological examinations.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit H, Public Safety and Security classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.   An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.