Accountability Specialist at Volunteers of America Chesapeake and Carolina's (V in Baltimore, Maryland

Job Description:

Reporting to the Assistant Director, Resident Services, the Accountability Specialist (ACS) primary responsibilities include coordinating resident approved movement schedule with case managers, monitor resident on GPS devices assigned to Home Confinement and job site.  ACS will install GPS on resident monitor resident movements while on home confinement, social pass, treatment, employment, or other authorized community activities to ensure compliance with the Bureau of Prisons Community Re-entry guidelines. Monitoring shall include unannounced visits to residents’ homes, pass locations and places of employment; telephone verification of residents’ scheduled locations; and appropriate documentation of contacts in the resident file and other tracking records. The ACS provides guidance to the facility on resident whereabouts outside the facility. ACS coordinates monitoring activities, document any violation, master tamper alarm, conduct investigation. The employee will report to the Assistant Director Resident Services.  

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Install GPS devices on resident and monitor resident’s movement, home confinement, job , treatment site, etc.


• Coordinate with case managers to and develop implementation resident schedule to ensure compliance with Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and America Corrections Association (ACA) guidelines, in home confinement, pass, employment, or other authorized community activity.


• Coordinate job-site visits with the Employment Placement Specialist, ensuring that the schedule of visits is appropriate and reasonable.


• Implement community-based monitoring based on the approved monitoring plan, and as mandated by ACA, VOACC and the funding source.


• Conduct home detention site visits according to a standard checklist, and coordinate with Control Center staff to verify each resident’s authorized located and schedule.


• Maintain accurate monitoring inventory of GPS devices, records site visits, home confinement, telephone contacts, GPS tracking alerts and incidents and monitoring documentation weekly and ensure they are properly filed in the Secure-Manage (SM) under each resident log


• Report any deviation from resident’s authorized community activities to the Program Director/designee, and complete disciplinary incident reports accordingly.


• Coordinate and conduct initial meeting with the resident and their family members to complete orientations to home plans and visits to the resident’s release address.


• Maintains and demonstrate working knowledge of ACA requirements, VOACC policies and procedures and operational procedures, as well as, contractual obligations established by the funding source.


• Perform functions related to the Center Disciplinary Procedures as directed.


• Drive on company business to perform residential and employment site visits and transport clients as required.


• Participate in Program Review Team Meetings weekly and attend staff meetings and other VOACC work-related meetings and functions as directed.


• Participate in the provision of pre-service and in-service training for staff as directed.


• Prepare weekly, monthly or other periodic reports as required in the performance of position duties.


• Participate in 44 hours annual training as mandated by the ACA, VOACC, and funding source, and maintain certification in CPR/First Aid.


• Represent the program to the public, community agencies, and funding sources, professionally and appropriately.      


• Assist in ensuring the facility's compliance with the American Correctional Association's standards for accreditation/Prison Rape Elimination Acts (PREA)


• Perform other duties as assigned. 

EFFECT ON END RESULTS:

• To improve residents’ community-based programming, accountability, public safety


• To facilitate and monitor residents' participation and successful completion of the program.


• Reduce resident escape and master tampering alert.


• To enhance residents’ successful transitions to life in the community. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• The ability to safely operate a motor vehicle to transport oneself, consumers, and program supplies as necessary.


• The physical ability to travel to assigned locations, stand, stoop, bend, reach, pull, push, lift, grasp, climb, talk, see, hear and perform basic and light home maintenance activities, and operate office equipment.


• Operating office equipment requiring continuous or repetitive hand/arm movements.


• The ability to remain in a sitting position for extended periods of time.


• Occasionally, ability to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

OTHER DUTIES:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

REQUIREMENTS

• High school/GED certificate required. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in criminal justice, psychology, sociology, Human Services, or a related field preferred.


• Minimum of three (3) years of experience counseling or supervising adult inmates in a correctional setting or One (1) year as a probation filed officer


• Experience handling facility and inmate disciplinary procedures, investigation, hearing, and compliance guidelines.


• Experience applying standard inmate progressive sanction assessment


• Experience conducting investigations and conducting evidential hearings in a correctional setting, court, or probation hearing.


• Working knowledge and purpose of GPS monitoring procedures, activities, and responsibilities of Accountant Specialist which includes, trends of GPS utilization in rehabilitation of criminal offenders, ability to analyze facts and testimony and reach a sound reasonable conclusions and present clear and concise Incident report/investigation of residents rights, applicable law, appeal right and hearing proceedings


• Excellent ability to interpret and apply BOP and facility rules as well as grievance process, understand resident files, and pertinent facts from the case records and make independent, fair, and impartial application of judgments under stressful conditions


• Ability to use computer, terminal, cell phone to communicate with resident and understand due process and its significance in GPS and disciplinary process, read and interpret GPS tracking and navigation system.

• Ability to develop effective working relationships with the person served population, be self-motivated and able to motivate others,


• Strong interpersonal and communication skills are a must due to the extensive collaboration and networking that is required in the field.


• The ability to multitask and function within a non-traditional work environment. 


• The ability to be a self-started and work independently with limited supervision at times. 


• Must have a high level of compassion and respect for persons with special needs;

• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Power-point, Outlook Email, and other systems i.e. electronic time punches, electronic medical records etc.


• Bilingual in any language a plus. 

Salary: