DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICER III (#SU8 )

$45.68-$57.31 hourly / $7,918.00-$9,934.00 monthly / $95,014.40-$119,204.80 yearly

Under general direction, to serve as a unit supervisor responsible for supervising, training, scheduling and evaluating the work of a group of subordinate probation officers; and/or to perform the most difficult, complex and specialized probation casework; direct and supervise subordinate group supervisors and/or Probation Aides;  to serve as a member of the Department's supervisory team; and to do other work as required.

This is the first line supervisor and super-journey level class. Incumbents in this class either serve as a unit supervisor or perform the most complex, difficult and specialized casework. Incumbents in this class may be appointed to serve as a Deputy Supervising Probation Officer III responsible for supervising, training, scheduling and evaluating the work of a group of probation officers. Incumbents are expected to rotate within the various assignments and to serve as the division director in the absence of the Probation Division Director. Positions in this class may travel within the State and work a nontraditional work week. Incumbents are required to annually complete mandated Standards and Training for Corrections program requirements. Employees must complete the Supervisor Core Training as mandated by the Corrections Standards Authority within the first year of hire.

This class is distinguished from the next higher class of Probation Division Director in that the latter is responsible for planning, organizing and directing the work of a division of the Probation Department.

Plans, assigns, trains, reviews and evaluates the work of Deputy Probation Officers, paraprofessional and clerical support staff engaged in pre-sentence dispositional investigations, juvenile and adult supervision, juvenile placement, work furlough, electronic surveillance, specialized intensive casework and other probation services; supervise the Pre-Trial Services Unit;  establishes performance standards, provides models, examples and resource materials for subordinates; provides consultation and guidance to peers and staff to solve difficult casework problems; implements new programs, grants or specially funded projects; prepares and updates procedural manuals; develops procedures and forms; serves as a member of the Department's supervisory team; may serve as an Assistant Division Director in their absence,  as assigned;.; reviews and edits complex court investigative reports; conducts the most complex and difficult dispositional or pre-sentence investigations of adults and juveniles, prepares evaluations of the offender and the circumstance of the offense, and makes determinate sentencing and other recommendations focusing on protection of the community and rehabilitation and potential behavior modification of the offender; in conjunction with direct service providers, writes treatment plans for offenders in the areas of medical, mental health, employment, education and substance abuse; assesses the effectiveness of treatment plans and keeps direct service providers apprised of progress or problems; serves as an information and referral source for offenders; assesses children and families for risk factors that could lead to out-of-home placement; provides placement prevention services; places and monitors wards in out-of-home care; composes and dictates complex reports and correspondence for the Courts; manages a difficult and complex specialized caseload, domestic violence, electronic surveillance and other probation services; keeps abreast of changes in the laws and regulations and makes appropriate changes to work processes; assists in planning and implementing intra-departmental workflow, and policy and procedural changes; coordinates work with other professionals such as social workers, psychiatrists, therapists, district attorneys, public defenders, educators, medical specialists and others; serves as a departmental representative at community meetings, committees and task forces; explains and interprets department programs and policies to the public; evaluates units' systems and operations and recommends and assists in implementing automated systems; attends meetings and conferences; inputs, accesses and analyzes data using a computer.

Thorough Knowledge of:

• Probation casework objectives, principles and methods;
• Fundamental principles of human behavior, psychology and defense mechanisms;
• Operations and interrelationships of the criminal justice system;
• Federal and State laws, regulations and procedures governing the criminal justice system;

Working Knowledge of:

• Interviewing, counseling and crisis intervention principles and techniques;
• Causes of social problems, including delinquency and crime;
• Public and private community resources available to probationers;

Some Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of supervision and training. 

 
Ability to:

• Train, plan, assign, review and evaluate the work of subordinate staff;
• Interpret, explain and apply Federal and State laws, regulations and policies governing probation program operations;
• Manage a complex and difficult caseload;
• Prepare, review and edit complex court reports and case files;
• Gather and analyze complex investigative materials;
• Implement new programs, prepare procedures, forms, manuals and resource materials;
• Serve as an internal consultant, liaison and trainer to other professionals and organizations;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, clients, community agency representatives and others;
• Effectively represent the Probation Department at interdepartmental meetings and on task forces, commissions and committees;
• Interview persons from diverse socioeconomic, cultural and educational backgrounds to obtain confidential and sensitive information;
• Assess, through observation, the possible presence of substance abuse or mental health problems, and make the appropriate referrals;
• Manage a heavy workload while working under pressure of deadlines;
• Successfully work with upset, antagonistic or manipulative offenders, probationers and their families;
• Effectively use community resources;
• Use dictating equipment, physical restraints, drug testing devices and radios;
• Write clear, concise and objective reports;
• Prepare and maintain accurate records, case files and statistical reports; Evaluate, recommend improvements and assist in implementing sections' automated systems and record keeping requirements;
• Input, access and analyze data using a computer. 

Training and Experience

Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these knowledge and abilities would be:

• Two years of experience performing responsible probation casework duties comparable to a Deputy Probation Officer II in Santa Cruz County. 
• Employees must complete the Supervisor Core Training as mandated by the Corrections Standards Authority within the first year of hire.  

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• License/Certificate Requirements: Upon hire possess valid California Class C Driver License.
• Complete mandated Standards and Training for Corrections Program requirements.
• Fingerprint/Background Investigation: Ability to pass a full background investigation to meet provision of Government Code 1029, 1029.1 and 1031.
• Fingerprinting required. Mentally and physically capable of performing the classification’s essential functions as summarized in the typical tasks section of this job specification.