State of Maryland

A DJS Resident Advisor Lead is the lead level of work providing supervision and guidance to youth residing in a facility operated by the Department of Juvenile Services by observing, interacting and assisting them with everyday life skills and advising them of appropriate alternative behaviors.  Employees in this classification assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level DJS Resident Advisors.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a DJS Resident Advisor Supervisor or from a designated administrator.  Employees are assigned to a regular shift but may be required to work other shifts, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.  Employees may be subject to call-in on a twenty-four hour basis based on staffing needs.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by 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 Resident Advisor Lead is differentiated from the DJS Resident Advisor II in that the DJS Resident Advisor Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level DJS Resident Advisors while the DJS Resident Advisor II performs the full range of duties under general supervision.  The DJS Resident Advisor Lead is differentiated from the DJS Resident Advisor Supervisor in that the DJS Resident Advisor Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level DJS Resident Advisors.        

When assigned to the Youth Centers:

Functions as a member of the treatment team for individual youth and provides input and information to the DJS Case Management Specialist for inclusion in monthly progress reviews;

Implements, helps to evaluate and recommends modifications to youth treatment plans;

Performs as a Certified Medical Technician (CMT) dispensing, recording doses and time of medication dispensed;

Notifies the Nurse on call of any situation that occurs;

Keeps the medications secured at all times;

Attends monthly treatment team meetings to offer insight on youth peer group development and make suggestions to optimize treatment team effectiveness;

Facilitates daily behavioral modification meetings in the absence of the DJS Case Management Specialist;

When assigned to Youth Centers or Facilities:

Assigns, reviews, approves the work of lower-level DJS Resident Advisors;

Trains lower-level DJS Resident Advisors;

Provides advice and guidance to lower-level DJS Resident Advisors in observing and reacting to the behavior of residents and suggests methods of de-escalating potentially harmful situations;

Reviews progress, incident and injury reports regarding assigned youth prepared by lower-level DJS Resident Advisors and forwards reports for review by supervisors;

Observes individual and group behaviors, determines when intervention or guidance is needed by the youth under his/her care and uses appropriate methods to intercept inappropriate actions and reactions and to de-escalate potentially harmful situations;

Promotes an environment conducive to learning helpful alternative behaviors by encouraging communication among youth and staff, guiding and critiquing group discussions, offering advice at appropriate junctures and serving as a mentor and role model for resident youth;

Monitors the behavior of youth and assists them in complying with daily and weekly schedules of attending classes, completing school assignments, sleeping, eating and performing personal hygiene tasks;

Records behavior observations and prepares progress and incident reports on assigned youth for review by supervisors;

Implements, helps to evaluate and recommends modifications to student educational and treatment plans and recommends behavioral sanctions to supervisors;

Inspects residence areas for safety, security and cleanliness and checks secured areas, outside doors and windows;

Attends in-service training on topics, such as crisis prevention, suicide prevention, emergency medical treatments, and behavioral modification models, to maintain knowledge of childcare needs, counseling methods and trends in the juvenile justice field and to maintain certification;

Assesses emergency and crisis situations, and makes appropriate contacts and referrals and provides interim emergency medical and other assistance until specialized assistance is available;

May be assigned to a cottage or dormitory post at night;

May accompany youth to community service activities outside the facility;

May order and distribute clothing and supplies;

May inspect and distribute mail;

Performs other related duties.  

Knowledge of the needs and problems associated with adolescent development process;

Knowledge of the physical, emotional and social needs of adolescents;

Knowledge of group dynamics;

Skill in interacting with agitated or overwrought youths in a calm manner to de-escalate combative behavior;

Skill in assessing and addressing potentially harmful or destructive behavior by youths and offering alternative responses;

Ability to assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level DJS Resident Advisors;

Ability to organize and maintain a group living environment which promotes positive growth of individuals and interactions between groups of adolescents;

Ability to communicate effectively with youth, their families, community service providers and other DJS staff.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: One and one half years of experience providing supervision and guidance to youth in a juvenile facility or juvenile services community program for at-risk youth.

Notes:

1. The above educational requirement is set by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission in accordance with the Correctional Services Article, Section 8-209, Annotated Code of Maryland.

2. Candidates may substitute successful completion of six hours of supervisory related training approved by DJS Human Resources for six months of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute education in criminal justice or the social or behavioral sciences at an accredited college or university at a rate of 15 credit hours for each six months of the required experience for up to one year of experience.

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

1. Candidates must be fully certified by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission prior to appointment as a DJS Resident Advisor II and are required to maintain certification while employed.

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.

3. Employees in this classification that employed at DJS Youth Centers must possess a Maryland Board of Nursing Medication Technician certificate in accordance with the Nurse Practice Act, Annotated Code of Maryland, Health Occupation Article, Title 8, COMAR Title 10, Subtitle 39, Chapter 04 - Medication Technicians.

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 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 State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

October 5, 2018