TENTATIVE

Occ. Code 8602725

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

          Parole Services Program Specialists develop, direct, coordinate, and evaluate comprehensive programs of rehabilitation services for clients within the Department of Corrections and Community Supervisions (DOCCSs) Community Supervision operation (formerly the Division of Parole), within a given region of New York State.  Incumbents also align those programs of rehabilitation services to the priorities and intentions of DOCCS and of New York State.  Positions in this series are located within DOCCSs Community Supervision/Parole operation.  Positions in this series typically are in the non-competitive jurisdictional class.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

          Assistant Parole Services Program Specialists are responsible for assisting the development and coordination of comprehensive programs of rehabilitation services to clients within the DOCCS Community Supervision operation (formerly the Division of Parole).  Incumbents represent the Parole Services Program Specialists in negotiations and meetings; ensure that Parole Officers maximize service referrals to community programs; and assist in program and contract development and in contract compliance.  An Assistant Parole Services Program Specialist may serve as an overall assistant to a Parole Services Program Specialist within a given, defined region of the State; or may specialize in one or more service areas, as determined and defined by DOCCS; or do both, as the case may be.  Specific area of specialization may include but are not limited to mental health services; sex offender management; general re-entry services; or other areas as identified by DOCCS.

          Parole Services Program Specialists, under the general supervision of a Regional Director of Parole Operations and with the assistance of Assistant Parole Services Program Specialists, are responsible for developing, directing, coordinating, and evaluating comprehensive programs of rehabilitation services to clients within the DOCCS Community Supervision operation (formerly Division of Parole), within a given region.  Their primary emphasis is to work with Parole Officers in assisting the parolee with rehabilitative services in such areas of employment, education, housing, physical health, mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, and family counseling.  Incumbents are required to provide leadership and initiative in program development and direction, which will assure the community supervision mission is fulfilled to parolees, by creating linkages between parole supervision, case management, and comprehensive service delivery.

RELATED CLASSES

            Parole Officers, under the general supervision of a Senior Parole Officer, guide and direct an assigned caseload of releasees, determine their compliance with the conditions of parole, and maintain all information for each case within the agencys computer systems.  Incumbents have substantial contact with the public, other law enforcement officials, and social service agencies. 

            Senior Parole Officers are first-line supervisors primarily assigned to area field offices and work release programs.  Incumbents supervise, assess, and evaluate a unit of Parole Officers; and perform such front line tasks as enforcing the policies and procedures of the agency, issuing parole warrants, and making recommendations to revoke parole or pursue alternatives.

            Supervising Parole Officers usually function as the top administrative officer and manager of parole operations within a specified geographic area or defined bureau.  Incumbents are responsible for supervising all parole staff within their territory; plan and implement programs; direct the activities of line staff and subordinate supervisors; ensure that agency policies and appropriate practices are followed.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

          ASSISTANT PROLE SERVICES PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Assists the Parole Services Program Specialist, and the DOCCS Community Supervision operations central office, in assessing the client services needs of the parolee population and the availability of community resources to address those needs.  Develops and makes available to staff resources and training concerning client services.

·       Monitors, analyzes, assesses, and seeks to match and align client needs and the available services.  Identifies gaps and barriers to same.

·       Provides technical assistance to regional staff to facilitate the identification of potential vendors and to solicit vendor interest.

·       Represents the Parole Services Program Specialist (including but not limited to in negotiations and meetings).

·       Seeks to establish linkages and liaison relationships on behalf of the Parole Services Program Specialist.

·       Provides the Parole Services Program Specialist with assessments and reports of deficiencies in the availability or feasibility of client services.

·       Keeps professional staff informed of program services.

·       Ensures that professional staff maximizes service referrals

·       Monitors levels of service referrals.

·       Serves as special consultant and resource person to line professional staff in all matters relating to providing client services to parolees.

·       Assists in developing an agency-wide program to ensure that all staff members are familiar with the criteria and admission procedure of all residential and nonresidential drug and alcohol treatment facilities.

·       Advises the Parole Services Program Specialist of any deficiencies in the availability or feasibility of client services and proposes plans and strategies to remedy those problem areas.

·       Maintains an appropriate level of knowledge (especially when a particular area of services, such as mental health or sexual abuse treatment services, is at issue).

In conjunction with Community Supervision management, and supervisory staff and client service agencies, assists in developing and implementing expanded programs for parolees.

·       Assists in developing programs targeted at the special needs of inmates and parolees based upon identified need areas.

·       Assists with development of a network of relationships with institutional pre-release centers in the State.

·       Helps to develop a referral system to transitional facility programs in the State.

Assists in developing and implementing contracts for program services.  Assures service providers compliance with contract requirements.

·       On behalf of the Parole Services Program Specialist, negotiates program design and scope of services to be provided by contractors.

·       Oversees programmatic development and monitoring of contracts.

·       Screens referrals to contracted programs.

·       As needed and assigned, conducts on-site reviews.

·       As needed, proposes methods to bring programs into compliance with contract requirements; or recommends adjustment or cancellation of service delivery, and follows up as needed and required.

·       Coordinates activities between Regional and Central Operations Administration and Counsels Office concerning the submission review and approval of drug treatment proposals and contracts.

          PAROLE SERVICES PROGRAM SPECIALIST

In the assigned region, provides support and oversight to all professional staff regarding reentry services.

·       Establishes performance targets.

·       Assigns work to, supervises, evaluates, rates the performance of, assesses the training and development needs of, and where necessary provides training, supervision, and appropriate guidance to subordinate staff, in relation to services, the provision of services, serious casework problems, and other related issues as may arise.

·       Ensures that staff members are conversant with the needs of the client population and are knowledgeable about available and accessible resources.

·       Arranges for and monitors the emergency provision of reentry services to parolees with special needs or problems.

·       Performs as liaison with Bureau Chiefs and other DOCCS Units to coordinate activities among line staff, to provide a unified and cohesive support network for the client population.

Assesses the needs of the regions parolee population and the availability of community resources to address those needs.  Develops and makes resources and training concerning covered services available to staff.

·       Monitors the characteristics of the inmate and parolee population within the assigned geographic area.  Monitors the full range of public and private support services available in the various communities within a region on a continuous basis.

·       Analyzes and assesses the match between client needs and the availability of services, identifying gaps in service and barriers to service delivery.

·       Identifies and utilizes appropriate forums to promote improved delivery systems and close gaps in services.

·       Represents the Regional Director in negotiations and meetings.

·       Performs liaison duties, and fosters ongoing, long-term relationships with, the professional criminal justice community within the assigned region.

·       Completes assessments and reports of deficiencies in the availability or feasibility of services for the Regional Director.

·       Proposes strategies to remedy the problem areas and to meet current and projected needs of parolees being supervised within a region.

·       Negotiates uniform referral protocols with reentry services designed to facilitate their availability to parolees, and develop current Resource Directories for staff for each area office.

·       Ensures that professional staff maximizes service referrals to community programs.

·       Serves as a consultant to professional staff in all matters relating to the provision of covered services to parolees.

·       Ensures that all staff is familiar with the criteria and admission procedure of all treatment facilities within the region.

·       Arranges informational training programs to inform staff and parolees about reentry services available in the region, and to teach staff and parolees how to access services.

·       Assists in the development of draft policies, procedures and guidelines related to Reentry issues.

·       Identifies the need for potential providers of contract program services.

In conjunction with DOCCS management, supervisory staff, and service providers, develops and implements new or expanded programs for parolees supervised within the region.

·       Develops and implements or assists in implementing (including as needed having a role in funding, budgetary, or service delivery issues) programs targeted at the special needs of inmates and parolees.

·       Ensures parolees access to appropriate programs and services.

·       Establishes and maintains relationships with institutional pre-release centers, service providers, the criminal justice community, local officials, and other parties as need be, in the region.

·       Provides Offender Rehabilitation Coordinators with direction and support in order to increase inmate involvement in pre-release programming and to identify areas where additional program development is needed.

·       Provides information and training as required in institutional settings to inmates.

·       Develops a referral system to transitional facility programs in the region.

Develops, implements, and assures compliance with the requirements of contracts for reentry services or other services to parolees within the assigned geographic area.

·       Negotiates program design and scope of services to be provided by contractors.

·       Coordinates and oversee the development of contracts for reentry services.

·       Participates in the development of Requests for Proposals, Requests for Information, and the like, and performs associated tasks, including developing mailing lists.

·       Screens referrals to contracted programs.

·       Develops and implements a mechanism to conduct regular periodic programmatic monitoring of all contract reentry services, and oversee contract monitoring to ensure contract compliance and to address violations.

·       When needed, takes action needed to bring non-compliant programs into compliance, including recommending the adjustment or cancellation of service delivery.  Follows up as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

          Assistant Parole Services Program Specialist

Non-Competitive: a bachelors degree; and four years of full-time professional employment experience in a criminal justice agency or a social services agency with direct responsibility for the development and coordination of the provision of multiple treatment programs and services in the area of housing, employment, mental health, substance abuse, or family counseling designed to rehabilitate persons with serious social casework and criminal histories.  A masters degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, Psychology, or Black or Hispanic Cultural Studies may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

          Parole Services Program Specialist

Non-Competitive: a bachelors degree; and six years of full-time professional work experience in a criminal justice or social service agency with direct managerial oversight and supervision of the development and administration of treatment programs and services in such areas as housing, employment, mental health, substance abuse, or family counseling designed to rehabilitate ex-offenders under community supervision or individuals with serious social case work problems.  A masters degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, Psychology, or Black or Hispanic Cultural Studies may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

Date:  11/15

NOTE:  Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent, and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.