New York State Department of Civil Service Announces Examinations Open to All Qualified Individuals

Supervisor, Inmate Grievance Program Trainee

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before June 16, 2007, you must be a qualified employee of the NewYorkState Department of Correctional Services and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55‑b/55-c service as an employee of the New York State Department of Correctional Services AND have a bachelor's degree.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before March 16, 2007, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

Upon successful completion of the 12-month training program as a Supervisor, Inmate Grievance Program Trainee, you will automatically advance to Supervisor, Inmate Grievance Program, without further examination, at a salary of $47,556.

An appointee's performance in the trainee position and in prescribed training and development programs will be observed and evaluated. The prescribed training and development program will include extensive on-the-job training and carefully designed and monitored work experience. An appointee not meeting required standards can be terminated at any time after the initial eight weeks and before completion of the traineeship. An appointee will be placed on leave from their permanent title and will revert to that title if they do not successfully complete the traineeship.

Qualifying Experience for Appointment from the Eligible List

After one year of the service described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

Notes

1. This examination has special minimum qualifications in addition to the usual "time in service requirement." If you are filing on the Internet, please list your degree online. If you are applying on XD-5 Application Card, you must list your degree on the Application Card.
2. Your degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the NYSEducation Department as following acceptable educational practices. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the UnitedStates and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. You must pay the required evaluation fee. If you are applying on the Internet, you must mail the independent verification of equivalency to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, Albany, NewYork, 12239, Attention: S2DMS.

Important

Incumbents must travel to nearly every area of the correctional facility, including general population and Special Housing Units. The Inmate Grievance Program office is located in an area which is readily accessible to the general inmate population.

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Duties

As a Supervisor, Inmate Grievance Program Trainee, you would be responsible for coordinating, supervising, and enforcing the inmate grievance program from the facility level, and when necessary, through the additional appellate process. This requires direct one-to-one and group contact with inmates. You would inform the inmates and facility staff of legal mandates concerning inmate grievances and provide them with training regarding the program. You would also ensure that all necessary information regarding an inmate's grievance is available for consideration by the facility Superintendent and respond to questions regarding the legitimacy of grievances under this program. You would inform the staff and inmates of changes in the program's policy and procedure.

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Understanding and applying the Inmate Grievance Program's rules and guidelines, including reporting tabular data – These questions test for the candidates' ability to read, understand and apply written and tabular materials. Candidates will be provided with reading materials detailing rules and procedures concerning the Inmate Grievance Program and be required to answer questions about the Program rules and guidelines or to determine the appropriate action(s) to take in hypothetical situations presented in the questions. For some questions, candidates will be required to deal with material presented as a chart or table. ALL INFORMATION NEEDED TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE READING MATERIALS PROVIDED. No prior knowledge of that information is necessary to answer these questions.
2. Principles and practices of interviewing/investigating – These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in obtaining information from individuals through structured conversations, as well as fundamental concepts in the area of field investigation. These questions cover such areas as obtaining the cooperation of individuals involved in an investigation, preparing for the investigation and/or interview, investigative principles, interviewing principles and practices, behavior and attitudes of the investigator and others, gathering of data and evidence, and presenting the results of an investigation.
3. Preparing written material – These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime veterans' credits to your final passing score.

Credit for Seniority

Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof), excluding the first year of service.

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How To Apply

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

In addition, it is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to enjoy equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their applications. Further information is available from the Special Arrangements Unit of the Department of Civil Service at 518-457-2487 [press 2, then press 2] in the Albany area, toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2], or via TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) at 518-457-8480.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1].

Multiple Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

With the exception of written tests announced by New York City, if you have applied to take a written test announced by a local jurisdiction (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1], no later than two weeks before the test date, to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center.

Eligibility for Examination

To be eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.

S2/TC1 DMS-tmc
Issued: 3/30/07

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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