Residential Counselor

Primary Function

To participate as a team member in creating and maintaining an environment that will enable youth to develop and maintain positive changes in attitude, values, and behavior through a community-based group home model.

Responsibilities and Job Expectations

• Maintain a high standard of childcare during coverage, including appropriate documentation of each shift.
• Oversee the physical care of the facility's youth, their development of acceptable habits and attitudes, providing behavior support and intervention, and helping youth meet their goals and objectives as outlined on their service plan.
• Provide a positive example and be a positive role model at all times.
• Build positive, caring relationships with youth.
• Model high personal and professional standards in interactions with residents, families, agency workers, and fellow staff members.
• Work towards annual goals for personal, professional and educational development.
• Assist in training new personnel.
• Organize and facilitate group activities.
• Facilitate medication dispersal and medical visits.
• Assist in constructing and implementing individual service plans for students.
• Participate in appropriate and ongoing supervision and staff development training.
• Assist in organizing, scheduling, and leading a wide range of group activities and community service projects.
• From time to time, may be asked to work in a group home other than the regularly assigned group home.
• Perform other duties as requested by the facility's residential Program Director.

Core Competencies and Experience

• At least six months of experience working with children with mental health diagnoses, to include children in residential care, juvenile corrections, or other clinical settings, preferred.
• Successful experience and demonstrated competence in working with youth in a group home or other residential setting, preferred.
• Open to giving and receiving professional feedback.
• Knowledge and understanding of cultural diversity and the impact of various socioeconomic characteristics on our youth.
• Must demonstrate sensitivity to Elk Hill's service population's cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Knowledge of professional boundaries and an ability to role model appropriate behaviors to youth.
• Working knowledge of group dynamics and a basic understanding of psychiatric diagnosis.
• Ability to provide sound documentation during routine shift coverage.
• Strong relationship skills with the youth being served as well as with professional colleagues.
• Ability to work effectively with others, including but not limited to the treatment team and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to be flexible in work hours.
• Ability to support constructive family contact and involvement in community activities as appropriate.
• Ability and willingness to work towards a QPPMH certification.
• Sense of humor.

Credentials and/or Education

• High-School Diploma or equivalent - preferred.
• Must have up-to-date certification in the facility's Behavior Management Program and have the willingness and ability to apply such skills as needed and/or required in the day-to-day interactions with youth.
• Must have up-to-date certifications in approved courses for CPR/First Aid.
• Must have a valid certificate in an approved medication aide training class.
• Maintain valid driver's license and good driving record, preferred (note- those who do not have a valid driver's license or an approved driving record will not be allowed to drive on behalf of Elk Hill).

Physical Requirements

• Good physical health and remain current with annual TB screening and other certifications.
• Ability and willingness to physically perform all functions of the facility's Behavior Management Program.
• Ability to traverse inside and outside of the property including uneven terrain.
• Periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

Travel Requirements

Periodic transportation of a client as needed or required.