Residential Counselor

Residential Counselor

The Residential Counselor is responsible for the implementation of the Community Residence or Permanent Housing Program by helping residents learn community life skills appropriate to their needs as recorded in their comprehensive service plan so that they may grow toward more independent lives. Major areas of responsibility include good customer service, providing and documenting services, and exercising good judgement in managing crises.

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provide case management services to all assigned residents.
• Implement individual service plans to assist residents in attaining rehabilitation goals.
• Offer instruction and service delivery in any of 11 different service categories through role modeling, guidance, training, assistance and support. Work with residents to attain skills of daily living, i.e. grooming, dressing, meal planning and preparation, taking medication, shopping, traveling, budgeting, maintaining health care, and engaging in social and recreational skills.
• Document all services and interactions in residents' case records and maintain the entire record by completing all required and associated documentation.
• Engage residents in regular discussions around their individual short and long-term goals and an evaluation of the services they receive.
• Provide ongoing counseling support to residents as needed.
• Draft the resident's comprehensive service plan, providing information regarding the resident. Facilitate the formal involvement of the resident in discussing the service plan. Present descriptive material in meetings or conferences relative to the recent functioning of the resident.
• Act as liaison for all other services needed by the resident and specified in the comprehensive service plan, which includes scheduling, follow[up, collaboration, referral or any other process necessitated by the client's service plan. Services include, but are not limited to: medical, psychiatric, dental, entitlement benefits, day programs, pharmaceutical, travel, emergency, financial, and legal.
• Manage incidents and intervene appropriately to minimize risk of potential harm to all. Notify the program's Manager and document events in the appropriate forms.
• Integrate care of residents with other agency staff as well as with other service providers.
• Attend all meetings as required by the Program, BOH Division, or as instructed by CCCS.
• Help with the maintenance of the environment consistent with the program's design and residents' needs.
• Where applicable, supervise medication distribution to residents and track such with shift and weekly counts.
• Where applicable, prepare meals for residents, by setting up, cooking, and cleaning up such.
• Escort clients into the community for medical, benefits, or other relevant appointments.
• Conduct bedroom and/or apartment inspections consistent with the program's requirements.
• Document significant building activities and/or information in the Communication Logbook.
• Ensure all building visitors provide identification and sign in the Visitor Log.
• Assist with conducting monthly fire drills.
• Assist in planning and carrying out recreational activities with residents.
• Follow all regulations and/or program guidelines outlined by the New York State Office of Mental Health.
• Adhere to personnel and residential policies and procedures as outlined in the CCCS Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual and BOH Policies and Procedures Manual, respectively.
• Perform other duties, consistent with the goals and objectives of the program, as assigned by the Program Manager and/or Administration.

This is a full-time position. Must be able to work flexible/shift schedule and be available for emergencies.

Working conditions and physical demands required:

The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Ambulate, remain in a stationary position, occasionally carry and move 10 pounds, ascend/descend stairs, place items above and below the head, and continually reposition during working hours.
• Exposure to routine cleaning products and household chemicals.
• Travel locally using public transportation, Traverse City streets, and be exposed to outside weather conditions while escorting clients.
• Assist clients in daily living tasks such as cooking, cleaning, packing, laundering, etc. requiring moving, transporting, positioning, using cooking utensils, and/or positioning objects.
• Work with clients who require consistent and comprehensive support.
• Work under potentially stressful conditions.
• Speaking and hearing sufficient to communicate effectively by phone or in person at normal volumes.
• Vision adequate to read correspondence, computer screen, forms, etc.
• Remain in a stationary position at a work station and use a computer approximately 20% of the time.
• Ability to sit and/or stand for long periods of time
• Good manual dexterity to operate computers.

Qualifications

Education and/or experience required:

• High School Diploma.
• Experience relevant to helping individuals with serious mental illness or similar population.

Skills, Licenses, and/or competencies required:

• Good judgment
• Strong customer services skills
• Ability to effectively manage time.
• Ability to keep program's Manager well-informed
• Ability to learn CPR/First Aid and maintain certification
• Ability to work cooperatively and patiently with others.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
• Willing to work flexible hours and be available for emergencies as needed.
• Ability to remain calm and focused in emergency situations
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and shift between responsibilities.
• Ability to effectively use Foothold AWARDS and Microsoft WORD.
• Ability to express thoughts clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work proactively, problem solve, and think critically and strategically.
• Ability to effectively respond to crises, and manage and minimize agency risk.
• Ability to work effectively with others and demonstrate conflict resolution skills
• Ability to appropriately assess and respond to situations, including ability to de-escalate residents