Residential Counselor-LL532801

Residential Counselor

This is an entry-level direct care position assigned to community residences. Incumbents are assigned to shifts to ensure the provision of 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week coverage. Workers in this job category perform a wide variety of tasks related to the care, nurturing, treatment, education, socialization, habilitation, recovery/healing, safety, security, and support of adults diagnosed with mental illness and substance abuse disorder. These tasks focus on supporting, instructing, and assisting recipients of services to develop the skills needed to attain personal goals, live, be educated, work, and socialize successfully in the community environments of their choice and also in maintaining a safe, clean environment. In addition, workers also advocate for clients and support families or other caregivers in their efforts to assist these individuals.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions unless this causes undue hardship to the agency.

1. Throughout assigned shift performs regular inspections inside of the facility to ensure the safety of the consumers and residents, accountability of property, cleanliness of consumer rooms and common areas.
2. Immediately reports serious incidents, serious incident allegations, incidents, or sensitive situations to supervisors. Completes incident reports in accordance with Institute for Community Living policy.
3. Explains the types of services, recreational activities and other programs available to consumers and residents, instructs the consumer or resident in daily living skills, socialization skill enhancement and conflict resolution.
4. Executes emergency plans as outlined in the policy and procedure manual under the direction of the assigned supervisor and adheres to program policy on securing the safety and well-being of consumers/residents, staff and visitors requiring emergency medical care.
5. Assists and instructs individuals in attending to personal hygiene, grooming, nutrition and daily living; ensures that sufficient and appropriate attire is available.
6. Encourages and assists individuals to participate in physical, social, recreational, educational, and other rehabilitation goals to enhance the individual's recovery/healing, and draw individuals into fuller participation in the life of their family and community.
7. Reviews the staff communication log at the beginning of the work shift and makes entries in the staff communication log concerning security checks, crisis incidents, emergency situations, incident reports, or other essential elements of information designated by program management.
8. Observes the physical environment and performs housekeeping tasks as necessary to ensure the maintenance of a safe, clean, comfortable and healing environment for individuals.
9. Documents all significant behavioral responses in prescribed format; assist in crisis and emergency situations to protect the welfare of individuals, staff, and others.
10. Encourages and coaches individuals to participate in physical activities, exercise and athletic games, to promote physical well being; instructs and supports individuals in the performance of tasks such as shopping, meal preparation, housekeeping, transportation, and routine household operation and maintenance.
11. Accompanies and/or transports individuals to regularly scheduled or emergency visits to medical treatment facilities, and therapy sessions, as necessary and to social agencies, government offices, and social activities, such as dances, picnics, shopping visits, field trips to cultural and athletic events, and weekend activities, or other locations associated with the treatment or assistance of the consumer.
12. May assist in developing educational, vocational, and social skills within the framework of the individual's treatment/service plan. May lead skills development or activity groups with individuals and families, as appropriate.
13. Models appropriate interpersonal behavior and social skills.
14. May assist and supervise individuals in meal preparation, laundry and light housekeeping tasks;
15. May supervise activities of consumer workers in special tasks.
16. Participates in fire drills, performs headcounts, fire-watch and heat safety activities with other team members. Assists the clinical staff in accounting for residents/consumers. May assist in the filing of missing person reports on residents/consumers not accounted for in accordance with Institute for Community Living policy and procedure
17. Expected to comply with attendance rules and timekeeping procedures and to report to work as scheduled and/or required on a regular basis. Must have availability and ability to work beyond the normal schedule as needed.
18. Expected to participate in clinical case conferences, attend regular scheduled team and staff meetings and supervision; complies with all required in-service training, and staff development activities.
19. As assigned, provides monitoring of medications and makes appropriate medication administration form entries in accordance with the medication protocol. As assigned, assists consumers/residents who are on a monitored medication regime.
20. Observes individuals' behavior and specific responses to treatment and rehabilitation programs, support services and medication and reports observations orally and/or in writing, including computer entries, as instructed and in accordance with applicable audit and agency standards.
21. Other job related duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Basic knowledge of mental illness and serious emotional disturbances and substance abuse disorders.
2. Basic knowledge of treatment, rehabilitation, and community support programs as they relate to consumers/residents, families, and staff.
3. Basic knowledge of routine clinical procedures and medications.
4. Basic knowledge of techniques for identifying and preventing potentially violent behavior, including crisis management techniques.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

1. Ability to work with consumers/residents, families, and staff in a caring and respectful manner, and with due understanding of and consideration for cultural differences.
2. Serve as a role model to residents/consumers.
3. Ability to read and write at least at the secondary school level and to follow written and oral instructions.
4. Ability to complete written forms and reports in an accurate and timely manner, manually and by computer.
5. Ability to communicate effectively with staff, consumers/residents, families, and the public.
6. Ability to accompany or transport residents/consumers (Some assignments may require possession of a valid driver's license).
7. Ability to be empathetic and supportive to consumers, instructing, demonstrating, modeling, and encouraging appropriate behavior and skills.
8. Ability to secure and maintain certification for Standard First Aid and CPR.

Minimum Qualifications:

High school graduate or GED plus one year of related human services experience. Specialized training or education in human services may be substituted for experience. NYS driver's license may be required of some assignments.

This position description is a guide to the critical duties and essential functions of the job, not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands, and work environment conditions. Position descriptions are reviewed and revised to meet the changing needs of the agency at the sole discretion of the management.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.