Job Title: Fill In Counselor

Department: Clinical Program

Minimum Salary: $9.60/hour

Reports to:  Lead Counselor

FLSA status:  Non exempt

Position summary and general purpose:  Work as a strong team member to provide consistent supervision, behavior management, and treatment implementation for clients.

Role qualifications:

1. Bachelor of Science in a human services oriented discipline.

2. Minimum of 21 years of age.

3. Minimum of one-year experience working with at-risk youth, prefer this experience having been in a residential setting.

4. Demonstrated ability to serve as a representative of the agency, and thus converse professionally and knowledgeably with clients, their families, licensing, referral agents, local care providers, law enforcement and the public at large.

5. Flexibility in work hours to accommodate program needs to include evening and weekend hours.
    

Position Responsibilities:

1. Development and Implementation of Client Services:

   1. Reports significant treatment information and program business to on-coming shifts.

   2. Assists in the supervision and support of interns, volunteers, and work-study students assigned to program.

   3. Maintain client records in the agency’s computerized database system (OSCAR).

2. Direct Care:

   1. Provide effective behavior management by the following:

      1. Establishing and enforcing rules and expectations for client behavior.

      2. Confronting and redirecting negative behavior of clients and acknowledging and reinforcing positive behavior choices.

      3. Determine reasonable consequences for inappropriate behavior.

      4. Responding therapeutically to argumentative/angry statements and behavior from clients by remaining objective, setting limits, monitoring and directing the progression of an incident and avoid becoming personally engaged in conflict with a client.

      5. Avoiding power struggles with clients such as persistent discussion or arguing to try and convince a client to make a choice the counselor desires.

   2. Perform daily supervision of basic maintenance and housekeeping chores by clients to ensure good standards of health and sanitation.

   3. Assist and participate in recreational activities as scheduled.

   4. Develop, implement and evaluate psycho-educational groups for clients as scheduled.

   5. Provide one-on-one sessions with clients as needed.

   6. Accompany clients to all activities and meetings scheduled within the community and maintain appropriate client behavior expectations.

   7. Chart daily progress of each client towards treatment goals using the DAP format.

   8. Documenting all incidents, positive and negative, following the proper procedures of assigning consequences, notifying program staff, notifying significant others and following any protocol dictated by the type of incident in order to meet licensing standards and regulations.

   9. Provide transportation of clients to appointments within the community as scheduled.

   10. Provide classroom assistance and supervision, as needed, to include tutoring to students, grading papers, preparing assignments, making copies and acquiring records.

3. Professional Relationships and Representation:

   1. Represent the agency, in word and action, in a manner that conveys professionalism, consensus of department and treatment team; support the agency mission and treatment philosophies, and regard for agency policies and procedures. (PPPM-Section 4.A.2.e.)

   2. Role model to clients an appropriate demeanor, appearance, language, and communication. (PPPM-Section 4.A.1.g.)

   3. Give precedence to professional responsibilities over personal interests at all times. (PPPM-Section 4.A.2.d.)

   4. Treat with respect the findings, views, and actions of all colleagues, and use appropriate channels to express judgement on these matters. (PPPM-Section 4.A.2.d.)

   5. Work within the bounds of professional protocol, in all manner of speaking. (PPPM-Section 4.A.2.f.)

4. Complete other duties as assigned.

Essential functions:

1. Work as a strong team member to provide consistent supervision, behavior management, and treatment implementation for clients.

2. Effectively represent the mission and purpose of Turning Point.
    

Supervisory responsibilities: None

Physical demands and work environment:

1. Ability to do occasional lifting of up to 40 pounds (physical).

2. Ability to use computerized database system for documentation and record keeping (visual).

3. Ability to communicate with clients, families, referral agents and other professionals in person, by telephone and by email (verbal, visual, hearing).

4. Ability to climb stairs to access clients at all times in the buildings (physical).

5. Ability to operate a motor vehicle in order to transport clients (physical, visual).

Revised: 3/2005
Replaces: Fill-in 2004