Hello:  My name is John Adair and I have over 23 years of experience working within the Michigan Department of Corrections.  My current position, as a Resident Unit Supervisor involves the following activities:

• Selects and assigns staff, ensuring equal employment opportunity in hiring and promotion.
• Coordinates activities by scheduling work assignments, setting priorities, and directing the work of subordinate employees.
• Evaluates and verifies employee performance through the review of completed work assignments and work techniques.
• Identifies staff development and training needs and ensures that training is obtained.
• Ensures proper labor relations and conditions of employment are maintained.
• Maintains records, prepares reports, and composes correspondence relative to the work.
• Maintains prisoners’ treatment and case history files and records, prepares reports, and conducts correspondence relative to prisoners and work. Makes referrals to counselors or housing unit managers for special counseling or therapy. Conducts routine counseling (under general supervision) for an assigned caseload of prisoners, and provides assistance to counselors in the areas of group therapy or special programs, as required.
• Directs housekeeping efforts and ensures housekeeping practices are up to standard. Ensures prisoners are informed of housekeeping responsibilities for their own area and that daily inspections, etc. are done.
• Assumes the responsibility of the housing unit on the shift opposite the Resident Unit Manager or during any absence of the Resident Unit Manager.
• Performs as the authorized liaison and signs for all supply requisitions originating from the housing unit. Manages budget assigned to his/her units for supply requisition.
• Ensures that physical plan deficiencies are referred to maintenance. Maintains a maintenance request log that details the plant problem, date of referral, date of repair, staff who repaired the problem, and the number assigned to the specific request.
• Interviews prisoners in preparation for classification review reports. Compiles routine adjustment reports from other staff in preparation for the parole eligibility report.
• Responds to prisoner grievances. Serves as a member of the Unit Disciplinary Committee.
• Performs the security and custodial duties of the Corrections Officer when necessary. Provides assistance in the preventing of escapes, fights, drug abuse, and other violations of facility rules.

Michigan Department of Corrections does employ social workers in limited numbers but as you can see by the previous position description, I am required to perform a number of duties that may otherwise be performed by a social worker if one were available.