Team Lead Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

Summary Job Description

The group leader is accountable for the physical and emotional safety of the environment. Additionally, the individual is responsible for leading the staff and resident teams utilizing the Tuckman model of supervision along with the MYSI standards (Eyes on, Ears on, Heart on). The individual is accountable for scheduling the staff team in a manner that supports an appropriate child to adult ratio and safety standards. Moreover, the team leader must collaborate with all services provides, i.e. Medical, Social Service, Q256 and all other providers.

About St. John’s 

Founded in 1826 as a home for orphaned children, St. John’s has evolved into a nonprofit social services agency providing residential care to New York City youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. We offer holistic, trauma-informed support to young people up to age 21.  

Our main campus in Rockaway Park, Queens, houses a Residential Treatment Center, Close to Home Non-Secure Placement programs, administrative offices, clinical services, and an on-site NYC Department of Education school. We also operate a Non-Secure Detention residence in Richmond Hill and Limited Secure Placement programs in Brooklyn and Staten Island.  

St. John’s is dedicated to helping youth heal, grow, and build the skills they need to achieve their goals and return to family or a stable, supportive environment as engaged members of their communities.  

Principal Responsibilities 

• Assign advocates to all residents upon arrival to the facility. 
• Facilitate no less than 5 therapeutic group meetings consistently
• Assist in the development of a comprehensive program schedule/activity plans w/site director. 
• Assist the Unit Manager in facilitation of weekly team meetings. 
• Coordinate all staff schedules two weeks in advance with final approval from site director. 
• Secure staff for all appointments, i.e. medical, court, probation, outside therapy, etc. 
• Meet with each shift bi-monthly for group supervision around strengths/challenges. Submit documentation of meetings within 48 hours to site director/NSP residential director. 
• Meet w/ NSP residential director bi-monthly; attend all meetings/trainings as assigned. 
• Ensure all shifts maintain a minimum of a 1 to 4. In the case the unit (on any and all shifts) is short staffed the group leader is required to fill in. 
• Support SCM trainings upon certification. 
• Collaborate with all services providers both internally/externally to meet needs of youth. 
• Support residents in working on treatment activities and petitioning for phase in a timely fashion. 
• Hold all shifts accountable (morning, evening, over-night Monday through Sunday) to follow the schedule and implement all activities as required.