Intake Specialist

INTAKE SPECIALIST

Department: Community Corrections FLSA Status: Non- Exempt

Classification/Level: A3 Date: 02/2023

Under the direction of the Senior Intake Case Manager, the Intake Specialist conducts screenings on referred defendants, meets with, and explains all rules and conditions of supervision and completes an Indiana Risk Assessment System (IRAS) Interview for all new participants, and assists in other operations of the Intake Division as needed. This position is covered as defined by The Board of Commissioners of the County of Allen Employee Handbook.

Essential Functions

• Represents Allen County Community Corrections (ACCC) at the Allen County Superior and Circuit Court on a daily basis and files Home Detention Screening Reports in Felony Court.
• Conducts and/or oversees screening for defendants in the Allen County Jail who are currently incarcerated and awaiting sentencing.
• Reviews with the defendants all guidelines, rules, and regulations of the home detention program, ensuring paperwork is complete and signed.
• Determines location and persons the defendant wishes to reside with, contacting and scheduling a screening to review the guidelines, rules, and regulations of the home detention program prior to the defendant’s release from incarceration.
• Oversees or conducts group screenings for all defendants not incarcerated and persons wishing to reside with an incarcerated defendant. Ensures defendant and other persons in the household complete and sign all required paperwork.
• Prepares a file for each defendant, ensuring all information is accurate and all pertinent forms are included. Distributes the home detention guidelines, rules and regulations answering any questions.
• Completes an IRAS with each new participant within seven days of Intake in accordance with the standards and training set forth by the Indiana Office of Court Services.
• Assist with status paperwork for suspended cases to the appropriate agencies, advising the participant completed intake as ordered or failed to show for a scheduled intake.
• Acts as a liaison between ACCC and numerous courts, attorneys, and other officials, bringing concerns and questions to relevant staff members.
• Performs all other duties as assigned, including overtime as required.
  
  

Uses principles of evidence-based practices as a guide in interactions with program participants and in the development of department programs.Completes program participants intakes. Maintains current, accurate case files, including classifying participants according to risk based on IRAS results, recording defendant’s behavior and compliance with court’s order.Maintains current, accurate case files, including classifying participants according to risk based on IRAS results, recording defendant’s behavior and compliance with court’s order.

• Reviews all requests from participants to leave their residence or ACCC Residential Services Facility for approval or denial, using established pass guidelines. Contacts participants on a daily basis to notify if a request has been denied or approved and if approved the participant is given the exact times they are permitted to be away from their residence or ACCC Residential Services Facility along with any other special instructions.
• Investigates all pass and weekly schedule verifications received along with the electronic monitoring printout to ensure compliance and to verify the participant’s whereabouts are known during the entire time they were away from their residence or the ACCC Residential Services Facility; writes violation as needed for noncompliance and forward to the assigned case manager for disciplinary actions.
• Documents all pass requests, pass verification and schedule verification into the case management software (SRS) so that appropriate reports may be processed and the participant’s whereabouts can be tracked and verified in the future. Documents pass, schedule and job search information into the assigned database daily so that other staff has the pertinent information regarding the participant’s whereabouts to ensure participant compliance.
• Receives, organizes, and reviews all participant requests to be away from their residence as outlined in the Performance Pass Program. Staff pass with appropriate case manager or supervisor once a determination has been made for final approval or in cases where the requested location does not comply with stated guidelines. Notifies participant of approval or denial, enters pass request and verification, reviews verification and electronic monitoring printout for violations, writes any participant violations for non-compliance and forwards to assigned case manager.
• Returns phone calls to participants requesting information, requesting status information on submitted pass requests, request to leave their residence or the ACCC Residential Services Facility outside of the proper written notification time frame, and contacts other agencies regarding passes or issues that need immediate attention.
• Organizes and prioritizes all pass and schedule request received in a timely manner to ensure that Court appearances, medical and employment requests are processed immediately based on the date requested; determines which passes need immediate attention based on the date requested to leave, date submitted and location and reason requesting.
• Meets with participants on a daily basis for pass and schedule requests needing immediate attention such as court appearances, medical attention and employment requests, answer questions participants have regarding pass policies and requests.
• Performs orientation weekly for new participants to explain the pass and schedule policy and procedures in detail including requests to leave and job search passes, along with the appropriate way to complete requests forms and verification and the guidelines for requesting to leave their residence or the ACCC Residential Services Facility.
• Facilitate job search daily for participants who are unemployed or seeking other employment; approves times and locations participants are permitted while on job search; investigates verification; writes all violations as needed and forwards to the appropriate staff member. Enters job search attendance into SRS within approved guidelines and forwards required paperwork to the appropriate staff members.
• Access numerous computer databases to obtain information and verify and investigate pass requests and weekly schedule information.
• Manages the Resource Lab daily for those participants who are unemployed or seeking other employment. (Day Reporting Center only)
• Ensures that all participants who are scheduled to report to the Resource Lab are present and enter compliance or non-compliance into appropriate databases. Ensures that required paperwork is forwarded to appropriate staff members. (Day Reporting Center only)
• Effectively communicates with participants, family members and other agencies.
• Verifies participants work hours with employer before approving weekly schedule.
• Documents all approved weekly schedules into SRS case management software according to verified work hours.
• Documents information in the Communications staff database on a daily basis to ensure compliance in an accurate and timely manner.
• Reviews all approved pass requests with verification and Electronic Monitoring printouts/Residential Facility records to ensure compliance. Writes violations as needed and forwards to the appropriate staff member.
• Performs all other duties as assigned, including overtime as required.
• Uses principles of evidence-based practices as a guide in interactions with program participants and in the development of department programs.
• Must model Pro-Social behavior at times and in all places.
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, Criminal Justice, or related field
• One-year prior experience working in the criminal justice field or other human service.
• Ability to be certified in Indiana Risk Assessment System (IRAS) Tool Training/Application
• Knowledge of legal terminology and Court proceedings
• Ability to use Microsoft Office and job-related computer software and database programs.
• Knowledge of or ability to learn Indiana Department of Correction regulations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• The agency subscribes to the National Institute of Corrections’ Eight Principles of Effective Intervention (EBP), must be able to complete required Correctional EBP training programs and demonstrate competencies that focus on empirical recidivism risk reduction strategies.
• Ability to use a variety of standard office equipment.
• Knowledge of evidence-based principles and practices.
  
  

Difficulty Of Work

The Intake Specialist performs work that is restricted in scope, but of substantial intricacy when conducting screenings on referred defendants and explaining rules and conditions of newly accepted home detention participants. Judgment is needed in selecting the most pertinent guidelines.

Responsibility

The Intake Specialist is responsible for standardized practices when presenting guidelines, rules and regulations to defendants and persons residing with an incarcerated defendant regarding the Home Detention Program. Work is reviewed for adherence to instructions and soundness of judgment.

Personal Work Relationships

The Intake Specialist maintains frequent contact with other County employees, court personnel, defendants and their families and the general public regarding the Home Detention Program.

Working Conditions

The Intake Specialist works in and out of an office setting with frequent contact with potentially dangerous, violent, and abusive program defendants convicted of various misdemeanor and felony offenses. There is some standing and walking with frequent sitting. Some lifting of up to 40 pounds, bending, reaching overhead, and kneeling is required. Frequent mental/visual effort, attention to detail, detailed inspection, and typing are to be expected.

Supervision

None

Licensing

Valid Driver’s License

Immediate Supervisor

Senior Intake Case Manager/Court Liaison

Hours

40 hours/week as assigned; Tues-Friday 7:00am - 4:30pm, Saturday 10a-2p. Some evening and weekend hours; overtime as required

Please complete the application accurately and thoroughly. A resume is optional. Remember to save and submit your application. If applying for multiple positions, submit a separate application for each one. You'll receive an email confirmation once your application is received. Due to the high volume of applications, further communication will only occur if you're selected for an interview.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO). Accordingly, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, age, disability or medical condition, national origin, and veteran status, and all other categories protected by federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. Reasonable accommodations for persons with a known disabling condition will be considered in accordance with State and Federal Law.