Mental Health Counselor - YCCS

The Mental Health Counselor is an employee within Acute Care Services. They work as part of the programs' treatment team, establishing open and effective communication and support among co-workers. The Mental Health Counselor is directly responsible for the supervision of youth, assisting in crisis stabilization, and providing therapeutic support and intervention towards individual treatment goals.


Child and Family Services recognizes the power in Diversity and believes that Equity is a Human Right.

$1 per hour Language Differential! (eligible languages include: Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish or ASL)

Child & Family Services carefully considers a wide range of factors when determining compensation including, but not limited to, prior experience, education, certification(s), license(s), skills and expertise, location, internal equity and other factors that are job related and consistent with business need. Our goal is to support, reward and compensate the entire individual. Depending on role eligibility, your offer may include a bonus or other incentives. Therefore, final offer amounts may vary from the amount stated.

SCHEDULE: MIX OF 1ST AND 2ND SHIFTS / 3RD SHIFTS AVAILABLE

Job Responsibilities & Essential Functions

• Provide a comfortable youth and family friendly environment conducive to recovery and stabilization
• Assist in the development of treatment planning that specifies goals and actions to address the medical, social, therapeutic, educational, and other strengths and needs of youth
• Participate in the development and implementation of behavioral plans and crisis/safety plans
• Assist in facilitating youth admissions and discharges
• Facilitate/co-facilitate recreational groups and wellness activities including physical exercise, nutrition, yoga, meditation, and mindfulness
• Provide opportunities for and supervision as appropriate for phone/virtual interaction between youth, guardians, and approved contacts while youth is at the program.
• During waking hours perform 15 min checks of youth while in their bedrooms
• During sleeping hours perform 30 min checks of all youth
• Utilize Massachusetts Behavioral Health Access (MABHA) website to update daily capacity as instructed, use website to locate other services for youth in assisting with aftercare planning and referrals
• Interact therapeutically with youth and maintain visual supervision/monitoring of youth as indicated
• Utilize verbal de-escalation skills, planned ignoring and redirection to encourage youth to utilize self-soothing skills and increase ability to self-regulate

• Utilize physical intervention as a last resort and within the agency guidelines. Employee may be required to physically manage youths, if necessary, using methods and techniques approved and certified through the YCCS Program. All YCCS employees need to complete the program's de-escalation and physical management certification training.

• Work effectively and professionally with youths and collaterals, such as family members, state agency personnel, other agencies, and professionals
• Perform basic household duties and meal preparation
• Work collaboratively within Acute Care Services staff to cross train and provide coverage as needed.
• Maintain regular and timely attendance
• Can move readily from task to task as well as move quickly in responding to emergencies
• Possess excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Promote high staff morale and team atmosphere within department
• Adhere to the agency's policy regarding confidentiality
• Ability to work within a culturally diverse and inclusive environment
• Strong problem solving and decision-making abilities
• Communicate with youths in a manner which promotes their growth, human rights, and integration into the community
• Cross-trained in the policies, procedures and working with adults on ACCS to assist as needed with programmatic needs

Physical Demands:

Employee may be required to physically manage youths, if necessary, using methods and techniques approved and certified through the YCCS Program. All YCCS employees need to complete the program's de-escalation and physical management certification training.

All 24-hour/Acute Care Services staff are considered essential. Essential staff are defined as personnel who are expected to report to work as scheduled, regardless of holidays and/or during any emergency situation and/or agency closing (i.e. inclement weather) to ensure the ongoing operations of the program.

Due to the type of work and client needs, this position may need to work beyond a forty-hour work week. Additionally, essential staff may be required to remain on shift or work an additional shift until relief staff are available.

For overnight positions, staff are required to stay awake for the entirety of their shift.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Travel Required

Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation that meets CFS Driver Policy. Occasional travel is required to provide services in different settings and to attend agency meetings, events, and trainings

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Education and Experience

A completed Bachelor's degree or High School diploma required. Experience providing milieu support to youths; peer certified and/or recovery coach staff preferred.

Cultural Competency Qualifications:

• Awareness of personal attitudes, beliefs, biases, and assumptions about others
• Knowledge of the various dimensions of diversity, including gender, race, and ethnicity
• Acknowledging that people from other cultural groups may not share the same beliefs and practices or perceive experiences in the same way
• Cultural knowledge of key populations that will be served to address disparities in service delivery
• Demonstrates positive attitudes towards cultural differences by showing respect and openness towards people whose social and cultural background is different from one's own
• Demonstrates skills for communication and interaction across cultures, including the ability to recognize and manage personal behaviors, moods, and impulses to create an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming climate within the agency

Benefits:

• Benefit eligible at 20+ hours per week
• Medical - Harvard Pilgrim/HealthPlans Inc.
• Dental - Delta Dental of MA
• Vision - EyeMed
• Wellworks for You (Employee Wellness)
• 2 weeks' vacation accrued over 1st year, 3 weeks after 3 years, 4 weeks after 5 years and 5 weeks after 20 years
• 12 Sick Days, 10 Paid Holidays, and 2 Personal Days per year
• Tuition reimbursement - Up to $1,500 per calendar year
• Professional Licensure reimbursement (LICSW, LMHC)
• Flexible spending accounts - save on medical expenses and dependent care!
• 401K - CFS matches first 1% at 100%; 2%-6% of annual earnings are matched at 50%
• 100% Employer paid Life Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Long Term Disability and AD&D
• 24-hour travel assistance, mileage reimbursement, discounted Healthtrax gym membership, and employee appreciation events!

Child and Family Services, Inc. values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages applicants from the BIPOC, LGBTQ+, AAPI, Hispanic, Latinx and Veteran communities to apply for employment. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, gender, sex,( including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy) disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.