Juvenile custodial officers (JCO) are role models with broad life experience who encourage and motivate young people to turn their lives around for the better. At the same time, they ensure the safe custody of the young person and the security of the community.
The Department of Corrective Services is committed to reducing the number of young people who re-offend and return to detention centres. A career as a JCO provides rewarding opportunities for personal growth, career satisfaction and making a real difference to the lives of young people.
Successful JCOs come from a range of professional and cultural backgrounds. Many formerly worked as trades people, in the defence forces or in other welfare roles. Some have high level academic qualifications while others finished school before graduating. The key is that all JCOs share the ability to make a positive difference to the lives of young people in custody – most of whom have had negative experiences while growing up and fractured educational opportunities.
What does the job involve?
Juvenile Custodial Services division manages young people between 10 to 18 years of age and supervise every aspect of their life during his or her time in custody. They are responsible for the safety, security, care, wellbeing and developmental needs of these young people. JCOs are role models for young offenders. They encourage and motivate young people to make positive choices and to build the foundations for better lives after their release back to the community. JCO’s have a real opportunity to reduce re-offending by young people and, through this, help develop a stronger, safer community.
A JCO’s work includes a wide range of duties and responsibilities. As part of their day-to-day work, they are required to:
- engage with young people through structured programs, education and recreation
- address re-offending patterns through teaching life skills to young people
- open and close locked doors and gates, and operate bolts on cell doors
- respond to alarms and security codes, and answer phones
- operate hand-held two-way radios
- write reports such as incident and observation reports
- control and, when necessary, restrain disruptive detainees
- apply resuscitation and first aid in emergencies
- drive a manual escort vehicle
- escort detainees to external activities, such as medical appointments.
What are the pay and conditions?
Benefits:
Juvenile Custodial Officers have a high level of responsibility. To attract suitably qualified people, excellent conditions of employment are offered. These include:
- employment security
- excellent training resulting in a nationally recognised qualification
- rewarding career as a juvenile custodial officer
- career development opportunities.
Shift work
Juvenile Custodial Officers are required to work on a shift basis within a planned roster system. This includes work at night and on weekends and public holidays. Most shifts are 12 hours resulting in 10 shifts worked in every 21-day roster. There are also some Monday - Friday non-shift positions.
Salary
Salary commences at $47,082 for a first year JCO with annual increments. JCOs engaged as shift employees receive a 19% commuted allowance .
Salary packaging
A range of benefits can be included in salary packaging.
For further information contact Smart Salary on 1300 554 489 or visit www.smartsalary.com.au
Additional incentives
JCOs employed in the Pilbara region who are allocated Government Regional Officers Housing (GROH) receive rent free accommodation.
JCOs employed in the Kimberley region who are allocated Government Regional Officers Housing (GROH) receive subsidised accommodation.
Leave
- Annual leave – 4 weeks and one week additional leave if stationed north of the 26th parallel south
- Personal Leave (cumulative) – 98.8 hours (incorporates sick leave and carers’ leave)
- Personal Leave (non-cumulative) – 15.2 hours
- Parental Leave (paid) – 14 weeks
- Parental Leave (unpaid) – 52 weeks
- Grandparental Leave (umpaid) – 52 weeks
- Ceremonial/Cultural Leave
- Part-time Employment
- Long Service Leave – 13 Weeks (upon completion of 7 years continuous service)
- Purchased Leave – up to 10 weeks purchased leave in a calendar year (reduced salary over 52 weeks).
Uniforms
A quality uniform is supplied by the Department and must be worn on duty. It includes trousers, shirts, jumpers, weather jackets, footwear, hats and belts, shorts for men and skirts for women.
Who are we looking for?
To be an effective Juvenile Custodial Officer you need to be willing and able to devote time and energy into helping young people. It is essential you have a real interest in people and strong leadership skills. The ability to relate to people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and to treat all young people fairly and consistently in a non-judgemental way are also extremely important attributes. Specific attributes a Juvenile Custodial Officer should possess include the ability to:
- Model positive behaviour
- Be alert and observant
- Work effectively under pressure
- Think calmly and clearly
- Use initiative
- Be dependable and reliable
- Accept responsibility
- Work as part of a team
- Demonstrate strong communication skills and prepare clear and accurate written reports
- Follow orders when required.
Eligibility, assessment, selection and appointment processes
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible to apply for the position of Juvenile Custodial Officer you must:
- be an Australian citizen or have permanent resident status
- have an unrestricted C-class (manual) driver's licence (must not be on P-plates)
- be prepared to undergo criminal history screening and a Working With Children (WWC) check. There are certain offences and or associations that can disqualify your application.
Assessment and Testing requirements
Applicants must successfully complete all assessments used in the selection process to be placed in the Appointment Pool and considered for employment. These assessments include:
- eligibility and identification checks
- employment profile assessment (including literacy and aptitude testing and personality questionnaires)
- employment profile interview with departmental psychologists
- selection panel interview
- medical assessment
- fitness test
- criminal history screening (this is undertaken by the Department following receipt of applications – applicants are not required to obtain a police clearance)
Appointment and Offer of employment
Successful applicants will be placed in the Juvenile Custodial Officer Appointment Pool and will be considered for employment as vacancies become available.
Placement in the Appointment Pool does not guarantee an offer of employment.
Entry Level Training Program and Probation
Successful applicants are offered a fixed term contract to complete a 12-week training course as part of a 12 month Entry Level Training Program, during which they are required to satisfy specific entry, training and performance requirements. This program consists of:
- A 12-week training program at the Training Academy in Perth, during which the trainee Juvenile Custodial Officer is required to demonstrate specific skills, knowledge and performance requirements. During this phase, trainee JCOs receive training in senior first aid; communication skills, cross cultural training, conflict management, writing skills, offender management, young offender programs, security and emergency procedures, communicable diseases and responding to medical emergencies.
- A 9-month detention-based probationary period, during which the trainee JCO is required to demonstrate the competent application of specific skills and knowledge across both detention centres. This will take the form of various formal and informal assessments conducted on-site. Trainee Juvenile Custodial Officers are required to collate and submit a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate ongoing competency during this phase.
Trainee JCOs are subject to ongoing performance assessments throughout their training period. Trainees who successfully complete the training and assessment requirements will be awarded a nationally recognised qualification, Certificate III in Correctional Practice.
How to apply
The Department regularly conducts recruitment campaigns for Juvenile Custodial Officer vacancies.
Additional information is available in the Juvenile Custodial Officer - You just don't give up do you? recruitment brochure.
Contact details
DCS Recruiting
141 St Georges Terrace
PERTH WA 6000
Telephone: (08) 9264 9599
Contact Community and Youth Justice
Last Updated: 9-Nov-2009
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