State of Maryland

17

SKILLED SERVICE       BARGAINING UNIT: M

A DJS Residential Group Life Manager I is the first of two levels of managerial work providing supervision and guidance to youth residing in a facility operated by the Department of Juvenile Services.  The DJS Residential Group Life Manager I functions as shift commander for the entire campus.  Employees in this classification supervise DJS Resident Advisor Supervisors.

Employees in this classification receive managerial supervision from a DJS Assistant Superintendent Residential Facility or higher-level manager charged with directing the operation of the facility.  Employees may be 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 Residential Group Life Manager I is differentiated from the DJS Resident Advisor Supervisor in that the DJS Residential Group Life Manager I has supervisory responsibility for DJS Resident Advisor Supervisors and functions as shift commander for a shift of direct care staff for the entire campus while the DJS Resident Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level DJS Resident Advisors.  The DJS Residential Group Life Manager I is differentiated from the DJS Residential Group Life Manager II in that the DJS Residential Group Life Manager II oversees all services of the facility except administration and has supervisory responsibility for DJS Residential Group Life Manager I positions.

Plans, coordinates, supervises and evaluates the work of DJS Resident Advisor Supervisors and related staff;

Trains DJS Resident Supervisors;

Functions as shift commander for the entire campus;

Directs training programs for direct care staff; Briefs subordinate supervisory staff and other shift commanders on activities and incidents from prior shifts, staffing and personnel changes;

Briefs subordinate supervisory staff on changes in facility or departmental policies;

Provides advice and guidance to DJS Resident Advisor Supervisors in observing and reacting to the behavior of residents and suggests methods of de-escalating 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;

Inspects the facility to ensure that security and safety are properly maintained and policies and regulations are consistently enforced;

Recommends and approves changes to the schedule of daily and weekly program activities;

Identifies DJS Resident Advisor training needs and advises appropriate personnel of additional training requirements;

Reviews incident and staff reports prepared or reviewed by DJS Resident Advisor Supervisors;

Investigates staff and resident complaints and recommends corrective actions;

May coordinate concessions or oversee youth accounts;

May recommend and oversee equipment, vehicle and building repairs;

May plan and coordinate staff training;

May review and approve or modify recommended behavioral sanctions;

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;

Knowledge of the principles of supervision;

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

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

Skill in training and planning the work of lower-level direct care staff;

Ability to organize and maintain a group living environment that 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 high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Four 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 education and certification requirements are 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 possession of an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice or the social or behavioral sciences from an accredited college or university or sixty credit hours from an accredited college or university, including 15 hours in criminal justice or the social or behavioral sciences for one year of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute possession of a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice or the social or behavioral sciences from an accredited college or university for two years of the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Correctional Officer classifications or Correctional Officer specialty codes in the Miscellaneous Occupations field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience. 

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 not assigned to a bargaining unit as indicated by the designation of S (supervisor), M (manager), T (agency head), U (Board or Commission member), W (student), X (Used by agency or excluded by executive order), or Z (confidential). 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 therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

September 14, 2018

Director, Division of Classification and Salary