Family Counselor-Juvenile Residential

Juvenile Residential Counselor

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 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.