Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To enhance and promote community and victim safety through the assessment and effective case management of offenders on community supervision. To work collaboratively with justice partners and colleagues, including within the continuum of correctional interventions, in order to reduce recidivism and advance community safety and justice. To assist the Courts and Ontario Parole Board by providing informed, objective and professional information to support sentencing and parole decisions. To enable rehabilitation by supporting/guiding offender change efforts and providing meaningful interventions including enforcing conditions on supervision orders. To apply professional discretion and decision making processes that demonstrate integrity, are articulated, documented, and based on comprehensive assessment and current research. To deliver probation and parole services in a dynamic team environment grounded in principles of respect, safety, inclusion, equity, diversity, and accessibility.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Assesses, manages and supervises cases according to risk and need by:

• the application of assessment tools;
• monitoring and enforcing conditions of court orders (e.g., probation orders, conditional sentence orders, and orders of disposition) and parole certificates, reporting violations/breaches, and recommending and/or initiating corrective or enforcement action;
• assisting offenders in meeting and complying with the legal obligations of their community supervision orders, and responding to their criminogenic risks and needs through a variety of interventions including: program delivery and correctional interventions (individual or group facilitation), motivational interviewing, counselling, modelling pro-social behaviours, challenging antisocial attitudes/behaviours, liaising with and providing referrals to other agencies, and enforcement;
• conducting community visits with offender/collateral(s) as a method of validating information, enhancing offender assessments and supervision and to enhance community safety;
• providing an individualized case management approach that is guided by assessment, compliant with supervision policies, and involves ongoing evaluation of risk/need with the goal of reducing criminal behaviour and advancing pro social lifestyles;
• providing specialized supervision and case management of identified offender groups in accordance with Ministry policy (e.g., sex offenders, domestic violence offenders, and intensive supervision offenders);
• acting as a change agent and fostering attitudes that the offender is capable of change
• contacting victims to assist and promote their safety and to monitor offender compliance with legal requirements;
• gathering, maintaining and disclosing offender records/information per legislation and policy;
• monitoring offender compliance with conditions of supervision through approved methods of contact and communication;
• contacting and liaising with community and justice partners, actively supporting the continuum of correctional service, and addressing the diverse needs of offenders;
• performing specialized roles as assigned by the manager such as: Institution Liaison Officer (ILO), Court Liaison Officer (CLO), coordination of volunteers, and reporting centre duties;
• participating in case management review to ensure cases are supervised according to Ministry policy, procedures, and legislation;
• making informed supervision decisions based on research, consultation, policy, best practises, use of professional discretion, and documenting rationale;
• providing appropriate crisis intervention for offenders and victims;
• maintaining an accurate knowledge base of Ministry and community programs and services.
Assists the Court, the Parole Board, and other decision makers in determining appropriate dispositions or conditions of community supervision by:
• interviewing offenders, victims and/or collateral contacts for the purpose of gathering information to write reports, conduct accurate assessments, and develop effective supervision plans;
• gathering and analyzing documentation in order to write a report that aligns with Ministry policy and legislation;
• conducting investigations and preparing reports within expected timeframes to assist in sentencing including recommendations for conditions of community supervision;
• fulfilling the role of “officer of the court” with integrity and in a professional, and impartial manner that is consistent with the role, mandate, and authority of a Probation & Parole Officer (including demonstrating proper courtroom etiquette/attire);
• providing testimony in Court as required.
Delivers on OPS, Ministry, Divisional and local priorities by:
• responding to requests for information and assistance in accordance with legislation and Ministry policies;
• participating on committees (ministry/community), focus groups, providing public education, and acting as a community resource person in order to enhance community safety and services to offenders;
• preparing critical incident reports or file summaries as per policy ;
• being socially responsive and accepting, appreciating and valuing differences when working with offenders, justice partners, the community, and colleagues;
• participating in research projects, contributing to the evaluation, advancement, innovation, and promotion of professional service delivery to improve outcomes for offenders, victims, and communities;
• positively contributing and promoting the health, wellness and inclusiveness of the team environment including positively engaging in meetings, respectful and ethical behaviour, and working through conflict in a productive manner that promotes mutual interest, respect, and integrity;
• supporting OPS and Ministry diversity and equity initiatives including the ongoing development and application of cultural competence through participation in human rights and diversity related learning activities;
• proactively managing time and setting priorities to ensure completion of tasks in a professional, timely, and responsive manner;
• completing administrative tasks as required including maintaining paper and electronic case files and using applicable software programs/databases to deliver modern work processes;
• participating in ongoing professional development/learning opportunities including completion of Ministry and OPS courses.

Staffing and Licensing :

The job requires:

• completion of the prescribed Ministry PPO basic training program;
• Degree from an institution authorized by the province to grant degrees in one of the following disciplines: social work, psychology, sociology, and criminology or a degree from an institution authorized by the province to grant degrees and experience greater than five years in total, in a social services or correctional organization, in a role(s) that involves the formal assessment of human behaviour and the application of structured interventions aimed at supporting the changing of human behaviour. Please note that current PPO/POs or those who worked in the position between November 5, 2011 and November 5, 2013 are grandfathered under the previous degree requirement and will be considered to meet the mandatory requirement.
• minimum advanced level oral and written French in designated positions;
• regular travel in some locations, and in specified remote locations the ability to travel via air transportation and/or the ability to stay overnight
• completion of a criminal records check (e.g., Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC))

Knowledge :

The job requires knowledge of:

• current theories of social casework, sociology, psychology and criminology to prepare assessments, establish rehabilitative and community reintegration plans, conduct case management and counsel offenders;
• motivational interviewing methodology to assist offenders in meeting and complying with supervision orders, advancing a pro-social lifestyle and reducing criminal behaviour;
• the psychology of criminal conduct and behavioural/cognitive-behavioural interventions that address relapse prevention;
• social issues (e.g., addictions, mental health, domestic violence, victim issues, etcetera);
• individual and systemic forms of racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination in order to support informed and effective interpersonal relationships and service delivery
• the theories and practices of critical and conceptual thinking and inductive reasoning in order to analyze/interpret information, identify patterns/connections and recognize underlying issues, prepare reports, and to exercise professional discretion;
• the unique circumstances arising from or specific to Aboriginal heritage in order to research, outline and address this information in reports (e.g., Gladue-type reports) and during supervision of Aboriginal offenders
• conflict resolution theories/practice, safety planning, and risk management in order to work effectively and safely and to address community safety concerns;
• relevant legislation related to probation, parole, and correctional services in order to prepare Court reports, supervise offenders, initiate or conduct enforcement related action, and liaise with community and justice partners;
• provincial probation and parole programs, Ministry policies/practices, courts and legal practices in order to assess, supervise, counsel, and monitor offenders, write reports, conduct casework, and participate in the delivery of effective correctional interventions;
• OPS and Ministry directives and policies to contribute to the workplace in a positive manner;
• various technologies including computerized databases (e.g., offender management systems) and software (e.g., word processing, email, intranet) to input/retrieve offender data, prepare reports, and to maintain case documentation and statistics.

Skills :

The job requires:

• application of theory integrating it into practice in order to deliver effective correctional interventions;
• helping and motivational skills to assist offenders in a manner that recognizes his or her right to self-determination and ability to change, while achieving a balance with community safety;
• professional discretion, judgement, and decision making within the authority of the role recognizing the impact on the offender and others;
• acceptance, appreciation, and valuing of differences in order to deliver responsive probation and parole services and to work effectively and appropriately with colleagues, offenders, justice partners and the community;
• superior oral and written communication skills that consider the audience, address policy requirements, and demonstrate professionalism and a sensitivity to diversity, equity, inclusiveness and the individual needs of the offender, victims, and others;
• counselling and interviewing skills in order to conduct thorough assessments, develop case management plans and provide guidance and direction to offenders;
• respect for confidentiality, maintenance of professional boundaries, and compliance with related legislation and policy;
• initiative and skills to develop, use and evaluate ministry and community resources in order to make appropriate referrals and to advocate for and address offender needs;
• interpersonal skills, adaptability, and collaborative approaches to work within systems, positively navigate change, and manage relationships in order to appropriately supervise offenders and contribute effectively to the team environment;
• empathy and sensitivity to victims, offenders, and others;
• organizational and administrative skills to manage time and responsibilities, to work in a fast paced environment, and to meet the administrative demands of the position;
• facilitation skills to deliver correctional interventions individually and in group format;
• computer literacy and proficiency in order to deliver on modern work processes;
• initiative to engage in continuous learning in order to attain and refresh skills and knowledge of probation and parole service delivery and correctional interventions.

Freedom of Action :

• The job requires working within relevant legislation, provincial probation and parole policies and procedures, and service delivery frameworks, including confidentiality and conflict of interest requirements, Ministry policy (e.g., the MCSCS Statement of Ethical Principles), and broader OPS Polices (e.g., the Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy);
• Job requires autonomy and independent work with the application of professional discretion and accountability for decisions that can affect offender liberty and that have the potential to impact community safety.
• Quality assurance measures are in place and the manager ensures adherence to Ministry standards through regular auditing processes and case management reviews.
• Job requires consulting with the manager for advice, guidance and authorization as required, but particularly on complex or potentially contentious issues and/or matters governed by legislation.