Career Counselor

Aleut Federal•Chicago, IL

10d•Onsite

About The Position

Job Corps is the largest nationwide no-cost residential career training program in the country and has been operating for more than 50 years. With a mission to “attract eligible young people, teach them the skills they need to become employable and independent, and place them in meaningful jobs or further their education,” the program helps eligible young people ages 16 through 24 complete their high school education, trains them for meaningful careers, and assists them with obtaining employment. The Job Corps has trained and educated over two million individuals since 1964. The Career Counselor reports to the CPP and Counseling Services Manager. Responsible for counseling students in all aspects of center life, e.g., personal and social development, vocational and educational training. Demonstrates ongoing commitment to preparing young people for the workforce by modeling, mentoring, and monitoring excellence in the eight Career Success Standards of workplace relations and ethics; information management; communications; multicultural awareness; personal growth and development; career and personal planning; interpersonal skills; and independent living.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree, including 15 semester hours of social services-related instruction.
One year of experience in a counseling capacity or related field.
Job Corps experience preferred.
Valid State driver's license in the state of employment with an acceptable driving record.
Ability to compose descriptive reports and use appropriate techniques to implement program activities.
Ability to verbally direct individuals and groups and remedy dysfunctional behavior.
Ability to intervene with students in crisis with aggression control/safe physical management restraint techniques.
Must complete mandated training courses.
Sound knowledge of counseling techniques.
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
Ability to effectively relate to the trainee population.
Ability to obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid certification.
The position requires the ability to operate office equipment.
In addition, individuals must be able to interact with team members and maintain an effective working relationship with all facility staff and departments.

Responsibilities

Demonstrates and abides by Aleut Core Values and operating principles.
Actively collaborates with all other departments to best meet the needs of each student.
Continuously assesses and evaluates those students assigned to them on both formal and informal levels. Assists students in continuing their education, entering into additional training, and connecting with community services necessary for a successful transition from school to work.
Documents at least two monthly student contact counseling sessions for minors and one for adult students. Encourage adult students to sign a permission form so the counselor can contact them on their behalf. Frequency is adjusted for students on probationary status or with a demonstrated need for more support.
ESP and PCDP reviews are conducted. Information is reviewed and updated as needed. This review is documented under established time frames in the PRH.
Assists students in setting short- and long-term goals, identifying strengths and career challenges, and resolving personal issues that affect career readiness.
Completes ongoing assignments by the Counseling/OCT Supervisors and all other program administrative personnel.
Submit written student reports/evaluations to outside agencies and referrals to mental health consultants, review boards, or at the Center Director's request.
Participates in joint sessions with resident advisors and the Center Mental Health Consultant. Review student records and complete special needs requests for Mental Health or additional specific counseling needs.
Co-facilitates small group social skills sessions, including employability skills, career success standards, and Aleut's Core Values.
Collaborates with residential staff at least once monthly. Contact frequency will change as directed or as individual circumstances require.
Develop a close working relationship with the Center's Mental Health Consultant.
Participates in all phases of Career Management Team decisions. Assesses students' transitional support needs and develops strategies to meet identified needs.
Provides training to center staff on related counseling techniques.
Participates in student orientation and development of employability plans for students.
Performs AWOL Retrieval tasks; grants and verifies Leaves and Passes per PRH and Center Director mandates; and enters appropriate information in CIS.
Tracks and manages projection data, updating it weekly to ensure students are moving as predicted in the shop. Works with the Academic Manager to identify and solve problems of academic concern.
Conduct intake interviews for new enrollees within 72 hours of onboarding.
OCT/CDS Counselors will routinely monitor their students' attendance as per department protocols, address conduct issues, arrange for staffing, and implement other interventions to address below-expected performance.
Is assigned Counselor on Duty for the weekends in a rotational order.
Provides counseling-related assistance to all other staff functions within the center.
Attends required staff training sessions.
Communicates and consistently models appropriate CSS and employability skills, including personal responsibility and computer fluency.
Maintains accountability of staff, students, and property and adheres to safety practices in all areas of responsibility.
Cultivates and maintains a climate in the center that is free of harassment, intimidation, and disrespect to provide a safe place for staff and students to work and learn.
Performs other duties as assigned.