Position Summary:

Under the direction of the Program Supervisor or Supervisor on Duty, the Residential Counselor is responsible for the daily care and supervision of agency clients and living conditions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Residential Care Engagement

• Ensures all youth are given opportunities for therapeutic experience through trauma informed interventions
• Builds rapport with youth through consistent positive interactions
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  Residential Counselors will receive training and become proficient in the following areas of engagement with clients: Active Listening, Life Space Interview (LSI), Caring Gestures, Activities, Hurdle Help, and Boundaries.

 Crisis Management

• Residential Counselors will receive training and become proficient in the follow areas of Crisis Management: Prompting, Redirection, Proximity, Planned Ignoring & Positive Attention, Time-Away, Directive Statements, Touch Control and Physical Containment.

  Milieu Management

• Residential Counselors will receive training and become proficient in the follow areas of Milieu Management: Assessment of facility for hazards, general condition of milieu and overall cleanliness; Supervision of youth, Schedule adherence, and Structuring environment.

 Program

• Residential Counselors will receive training and become proficient in the follow areas of Program: Participating in youth plan development, demonstrate use of Safety Plan and Needs & Services Plan, facilitates program requirements, encourages youth to improve, facilitate and support all youth behavior support plans and program schedule of events.

Documentation

• Residential Counselors will receive training and become proficient in the follow areas of Documentation:  Accurately and professionally complete Incident Reports, Law Enforcement forms, shift logs, dorms logs, point’s sheets, contracts, inventories, search logs and all other dorm documentation. Emails completed using professional language and formats.

Professionalism

• Residential Counselors will receive training and become proficient in the follow areas of Professionalism: arrive to work on time, adheres to agency and CCL requirements for mandatory meetings, demonstrates training concepts in the milieu, follows directions from supervisors/managers, observes chain of command, accepts supervision, uses agency protocols and resources, communicates positively with CRH employees and CRH affiliates, represents CRH professionally outside the organization.
• Responsible for creating a favorable group climate in which the child’s safety, emotional nurturing and healthy development are of primary concern.
• Responsible for the hour-by-hour care, safety, supervision, protection, guidance, and discipline of the group as a whole and for each child as an individual.
• Responsible for meeting the health and personal hygiene needs of minors under their care (report any medical concerns to medical staff, provide supplies and direction for proper standards of personal care, etc.).
• Maintain discipline and group control at all times, reporting any unresolved conflicts to a supervisor in a timely manner.
• Pro-act and check in with the children frequently to prevent crisis situations. After an incident has occurred, follow-up and process with the child to prevent further crisis situations and complete any necessary documentation.
• Serve snacks to the clients in coordination with other staff, per approved menu. Maintain a pleasant and cheerful mealtime atmosphere, and dine with the children during mealtimes, modeling appropriate behavior, table manners, etc.
• Ensure that children are properly dressed for various occasions and see that their clothing is appropriately cleaned and maintained.
• Provide transportation for children as directed by a supervisor as necessary and in accordance with the agency transport policy.
• In collaboration with the Recreation Department, structure recreational/craft activities to enhance each child’s social and physical development.
• Performs routine household duties, including but not limited to: vacuuming, dusting, laundry, cleaning bathrooms, making beds, cleaning and organizing closets, etc.
• Supervises the chores and work project of children.

Other Duties

• Must be familiar with, and have the ability to carry out, all emergency/disaster plans.
• Accountable for reporting building and equipment damage and/or unsafe conditions and initiate action to correct any unsafe conditions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Ability to work varied hours including nights, weekends, and holidays. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

• Required
• BA/BS Degree, or Child Development Teaching Permit
• or 12 semester units of Early Childhood Education (ECE) units, Adolescent Development units, Foster, and Kinship Care Education and at least 100 hours of experience working with youth
• or valid certificate as an Alcohol Counselor, Drug Counselor or Alcohol and Drug Counselor and at least 100 hours experience working with youth
• or valid Vocational Training certificate, credential or documentation demonstrating experience as a trade journeyperson who instructs children in vocational skills and at least 100 hours experience working with youth
• or previously employed as a staff or volunteer at a group home or shortterm therapeutic center for at least one year.

Licenses, Certifications, Registrations:

• Must possess a valid California Driver’s License.  Must be able to meet the Agency’s fleet rules and be eligible to drive for business.  The Agency’s insurance carrier reserves the right to exclude applicants based on their driving record.
• Must have a clean driving record.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must pass First Aid certification course before start of employment. Certification can be completed through the Children’s Receiving Home.
• Must pass CPR within the first six weeks of employment
• Must pass Bloodborne Pathogens and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) certification courses offered through the Children’s Receiving Home within the first three months of employment.
• Must maintain TCI, CPR, First Aid and BBP Certification throughout employment.
• Must complete online Mandated Reporter Training within first week of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Other Abilities:

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret documents such as client safety/treatment plans, assessment materials and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write professional/clinical incident reports and correspondence.
• Must be competent in Microsoft Office Suite and Web Browsers.
• Ability to perform housekeeping tasks, including but not limited to, cleaning, washing clothes, ironing, etc.
• Skill to instruct, direct, counsel, and encourage individuals and groups of children.
• Ability to maintain discipline and group control in a therapeutic manner.
• Skill to communicate effectively in written and oral form.
• Skill to listen attentively to clients, co-workers, and supervisors.
• Skill to plan and organize multiple tasks at one time.
• Knowledge of child/adolescent development, and/or child psychology to identify and encourage age- appropriate behavior, as well as understand the client’s behaviors and reactions is preferred.
• Knowledge of basic mathematics, including addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication.
• Ability to relate with children in a nurturing and respectful manner.
• Ability to maintain a professional, confidential work environment.
• Ability to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries with children and families.
• Must be flexible, creative, and able to work effectively in crisis situations.
• Ability to work cooperatively with a culturally diverse client population and work force.
• Ability to work with community and outside agencies in a collaborative and cooperative manner.
• Ability to work effectively in a team, group, or individual setting.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand (75%); walk (75%); use hands (25%-75%) and talk and/or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms (75%). The employee is occasionally required to sit (25%); climb (0%-25%) or balance; stoop (25%), kneel (25%), crouch (25%) or crawl (25%). The employee must occasionally run (25%). The employee must occasionally lift (25%) and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. This employee may be required to walk or run off grounds (25%).