Associate Correctional Counselor I

City of New York•East Elmhurst, NY

About The Position

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is an integral part of the City’s evolving criminal justice system, participating in reform initiatives and strategies aimed to move the City towards a smaller jail system without compromising public safety. The DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for our employees, visitors, volunteers and people in our custody. Importantly, safe jails enable DOC to provide people in custody with the tools and opportunities they need to successfully re-enter their communities. The DOC operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs with more than 7.500 diverse professionals and knowledgeable experts. The Programming & Community Partnerships seeks motivated candidates for the position of Correctional Counselor (Associate Counselors I). The ideal candidate will be responsible for providing social services, implementing and facilitating rehabilitative and behavioral modification treatment programs for adult and young adults detained or sentenced in the NYC correctional system.

Requirements

ALL CANDIDATES MUST BE PERMAMENT IN THE TITLE OF ASSOCIATE CORRECTIONAL COUNSELOR I OR MUST HAVE TAKEN THE EXAM ASSOCIATE CORRECTIONAL COUNSEL - 51274
A four year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and five years of satisfactory full-time experience providing direct counseling, guidance, crisis-intervention or informational and referral services, to inmates of a correctional facility, substance abusers or a similar client population; or
Education and experience equivalent to "1" above. Thirty (30) semester credits from an accredited college will be considered equivalent to one year of the required experience. However, all candidates must have a four year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and at least two years of experience as described in "1" above.

Nice To Haves

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of correctional staff;
Ability to exercise independent judgment, prepare written reports and documents;
Knowledge of counseling techniques, behavior modification and intervention techniques;
Ability to mentor and provide positive interaction, guidance and leadership to adult inmate populations;
Excellent writing, communication, inter-personal, analytical, research, problem-solving, and organizational skills;
Knowledge and understanding of effective supervision and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

Interact daily with justice-involved individuals in designated housing areas and general program areas.
Maintain program performance information for justice-involved individuals involved in group or 1:1 programs.
Attend justice-involved council meetings and assist in facilitating group discussions.
Assist justice-involved individuals with requests related to incarceration, transfer to another correctional institution or upon release to the community.
Assist inmates with deescalating conflicts;
Counsel and assists justice-involved individuals in group or 1:1; and provides emotional support, guidance, and/or referral to mental health and/or other staff to resolve problems and issues.
Interview justice-involved individuals to identify problems/issues and gather information to be used in determining case management or group work effectiveness.
Confer with uniform and non-uniform colleagues, provides information, and recommends modifications and/or adjustments to treatment plans as necessary.
Provide correctional and guidance counseling as well as information and referral services;
Assist in the planning, facilitation and monitoring of correctional programs;
Implement rehabilitative and behavioral modification programs and services;
Enforce behavioral modification programs and facility rules;
Document inmate treatment progress, group interactions, and positive inmate behavior;
Attend training sessions, workshops, and staff meetings to improve knowledge, skills, and abilities;
Complete Department mandatory in-service trainings.
Motivate inmates to maintain general sanitation and hygienic living quarters;
Perform related duties as assigned.