The Juvenile Residential Counselor will effectively engage youth and families, helping them to maximize their strengths, build assets, and minimize weaknesses. Education / Experience Requirements: - Minimum of a Bachelor degree in social work, criminal justice, or related field.
- A minimum of two years progressive experience in providing services with youth and families.
Essential Functions: - Meets and counsels individual students as necessary.
- Conducts a minimum of two face to face monthly sessions with assigned families.
- Maintains routine telephone contact with families, referring workers and other stakeholders involved in the student’s treatment plan.
- Continually assesses the viability of assigned families to effectively provide nurturance and support for their son.
- Assists parents and student in identifying and resolving crises.
- Devises, implements and supports intervention strategies with families promoting successful reintegration and community based living.
- Arranges use of campus facilities and programs with families (e.g., visitation, family days, cabin visits, etc.).
- Helps family learn how to identify and deal with community service agencies.
- Interacts with referring agents through telephone contacts, personal meetings and correspondence.
- Represents agency in community contacts, IEP (Individualized Education Plan) committees, and court hearings for assigned cases during placement.
- Serves as primary case manager for assigned students through be regular communication with referring workers, other stakeholders, and providing documentation and testimony in court proceedings.
- Prepares reports and records according to the formats required by Highfields, MDHHS, referring courts, and/or the placing agency, and does this in a timely and accurate manner.
- Coordinates and implements a reintegration plan with students and families as they prepare to return to their community.
- Meet with family and other members of aftercare plan within two weeks after release, meet once per month thereafter.
- Be accessible and available by phone for crisis situations.
- Uses supervisor consistently and effectively as resource for increasing and improving job knowledge, job performance, and for resolving job-related issues.
- Participates in agency training as well as professional workshops and conferences to enhance job-related skills and adhere to agency policy.
- Effectively manages work time by setting priorities, making timetables and keeping appointments.
- Manages crisis situations, extended travel, last minute details.
Knowledge or Experience: - Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with people in various situations and circumstances.
- Must possess valid driver license and have a driving record acceptable to Highfields insurance carrier.
- Be able to handle the unpredictable hours of the position, including nights and weekends to accommodate families’ schedules.
- Shall be a person of good character who possesses the health, emotional stability, maturity and strength to carry out assigned duties.
- Ability to show sensitivity to the service populations’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
Travel Requirements - Travel to clients’ homes as needed.
- Must have/maintain a valid driver’s license with minimal driving infractions
**A high level of decision making is required in this position. 8 on a 10 points scale. **Physical Requirements of the job attached |
