Juvenile Court Counselor

Job Code: 32001116
Salary Grade: NC09
Revision Date: 11/2023

Class Concept

Work in this class involves providing case management services, counseling, and supervision of adjudicated, undisciplined, or delinquent juveniles to assure compliance with court ordered dispositions. This position assesses the needs of juveniles and their families to develop and implement treatment plans to comply with court orders. Position will monitor their progress by visiting the home or facility where the juvenile resides, schools and communicating other human service agencies providing services to the family. Additionally, this position provides transitional and post-release supervision and coordinate support services to facilitate community re-entry to continue treatment needs.

This position may be responsible for: evaluating complaints against juveniles to determine whether to divert the complaint or to initiate court action; conducting in-depth risk and needs assessments, and family social histories to develop treatment and sanction recommendations for disposition. The Juvenile Court Counselors' recommendations match the risk and needs of the juvenile and family with services which have been found to be effective best practice or evidence-based practices to address key life domains. Positions recommend or issue secure custody orders in compliance with local Judicial District Administrative Orders. Juvenile Court Counselors serves as an officer of the court by issuing and serving court orders and documents, to apprehend and secure physical custody of juveniles.

The position participates, on a rotating basis, to provide emergency on-call after-hours response services for juveniles in need by making decisions to arrange transportation of juveniles in need of secure or nonsecure custody. Positions participate in and lead interagency and multidisciplinary planning by coordinating team meetings to implement a comprehensive and coordinated array of effective services. Positions maintain extensive court records and documentation in a statewide online juvenile database.

Recruitment Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Intermediate knowledge of juvenile laws, statutory guidelines, procedures, and requirements, and social agencies and community resources relevant to the program and client needs
• Thorough knowledge of adolescent development and family, group, and juvenile delinquency dynamics and intervention techniques
• Thorough knowledge of a wide range of behavioral, socioeconomic, and psychosocial problems and their treatment
• Ability to establish rapport with juveniles and families
• Skill in assessing juvenile/family strengths and dysfunctions, and an understanding of the psychosocial, behavioral, and psychological aspects that contribute to these issues
• Skilled in crisis intervention and the application of counseling techniques and principles
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with juveniles and families, as well as civic, legal, social organizations, school, and court personnel
• Ability to impartially analyze information, communicate clearly and concisely, and plan and execute work to effectively manage workload

Minimum Education and Experience

Master's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and one year of experience in counseling or working with the juvenile/family client population and/or related human service case management experience; or Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of experience in counseling or working with the juvenile/family client population and/or related human service case management experience.

Necessary Special Requirements

Applicants for positions designated as Juvenile Court Counselors are subject to and must meet the hiring and training standards established by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, as defined in Title 12, Chapter 9 of the NC Administrative Code, by the statutory authority of GS 17C. (12 NCAC 09B.0116 Minimum Standards for Juvenile Court Counselors and Chief Court Counselors)