Security Specialist II

COMPANY OVERVIEW

The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) provides safe and temporary housing for youth ages 10 - 18 with pending legal action in the Cook County Courts. The JTDC is dedicated to providing its youth with leadership, structured care, and supervision through a balanced approach of creative programming and services that teach responsibility, accountability, and sensitivity. Each member of the JTDC staff is actively encouraged and supported in pursuit of creative participation, personal well-being, and professional development.

As the largest juvenile detention center in the nation, the facility contains five major departments and various offices consisting of 600 employees who serve an average daily population of 280 residents.

Cook County offers outstanding benefits, including:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Pension Plan and Deferred Compensation Program
• Competitive Salaries
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time

JOB SUMMARY

The Security Specialist II will provide safe transportation for residents to court, hospitals, clinics, pre-placement visits, placements, and funeral furloughs and transport staff conducting off site county business. Distinguishing characteristics of this position include the requirement of a Commercial Driver's License.

Typical Duties

• Provides external transportation for court movement while ensuring the appropriate identification of residents, safe and humane application of mechanical restraints for routine use, adherence to adequate safety measures during transport, and safe transfer of custody to the Sheriff's Department or any other agency.
• Delivers all documentation of transportation of resident to the Records Department (i. e. court disposition and releases/transfer of custody) or the Supervisor in Charge, in the absence of Release Office personnel.
• Provides external transportation for the purposes of routine medical visits, pre-placement interviews, placements, funeral furloughs, and emergencies via ambulance.
• Transports staff conducting off-site county business.
• May assist with Security Specialist I duties when not engaged with primary duties.
• Adheres to the establish policies and procedures of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.
• Performs other duties as assigned in accordance to established post descriptions.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

Working Conditions

• Exposure to resident behavior problems that may include physical acting out and require safe physical management skills.
• Exposure to residents with complex mental health issues and/or disorders.
• Exposure to youth with various states of cleanliness and hygiene.
• Exposure to various health related conditions or residents of a communicable nature which requires precaution and adhering to medical instruction.
• Exposure to communicable diseases of youth.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Graduate or G.E.D.; Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, or any human service related field is strongly preferred.
• Must have a Class C CDL (Commercial Drivers License) with a P (Passenger) Endorsement.
• Highly accountable, reliable, prompt, able to assess a situation then call for additional assistance when necessary, and effective under adverse conditions and in emergency situations.
• 2 years' experience in a security guard capacity; institutional, correctional, or governmental experience strongly preferred.
• Highly accountable, reliable, prompt, able to assess a situation and call for additional assistance when necessary, and effective under adverse conditions and in emergency situations.
• United States citizenship.
• 21 years of age at the time of application submission.

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• Ability to distinguish basic colors/shades of colors; other visual requirements as specified by area equipment.
• Ability to distinguish regular/high pitched sounds, and disseminate source of sound.
• Highly accountable, flexible, and effective under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to build internal and external relationships and effectively understand and communicate in English (verbally and in writing).
• Demonstrates proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Bilingual communication skills preferred.

Physical Requirements

[This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements.]

• Ability to move desks, beds and other furniture to conduct security checks.
• Ability to step up on elevated surfaces, such as beds or stools, to conduct room searches.
• Reaching, bending, and stooping to perform security checks, and other tasks.
• Ability to possibly endure extended periods of walking throughout the facility.
• Ability to physically restrain residents, including the ability to manage weights of 75lbs. to 200 lbs. when restraining adolescents.
• Ability to effectively communicate (hear and respond) 10 codes through the intercom/radio transmission monitoring system.
• Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 35 lbs.

Hiring Requirements

• Illinois residency obtained within 90 days of date of hire.
• Pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check including but not limited to LEADS, CANTS, and professional references.
• A result of negative from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Child Abuse Registry.
• Must have open availability to work any shift at a 24-hour facility, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Must pass Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) screening requirements.