RTC-Child Care Counselor 1 to 1

Leake & Watts Services Inc•Yonkers, NY

38d•Onsite

About The Position

Founded as an orphanage in 1831, Rising Ground has been at the forefront of evolving community needs. Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 72,000 individuals annually. We do this through 101 programs across 138 sites, throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity is shown not just through our work with supported persons but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve. Rising Ground is headquartered in New York City. The 1:1 Child Care Counselor provides direct care and support to children and adolescents in the residential treatment center setting. This role involves helping clients address emotional, behavioral, and psychological challenges while fostering a safe, nurturing environment. The 1:1 counselor works closely with a multidisciplinary team to implement treatment plans, monitor progress, and support the overall therapeutic goals of the center.

Requirements

High School Diploma/GED required.
A safe driving record as determined by NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
Experience Minimum of 5 years of experience in a residential treatment or special education setting, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or management role.
Experience working with children or adolescents with emotional, behavioral, or developmental disabilities in a residential, educational, or therapeutic setting.
Strong understanding of state and federal regulations governing residential treatment programs and special education services.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills, with the ability to work effectively with students, families, school personnel, and external agencies.
Ability to manage complex cases, implement treatment plans, and provide crisis intervention when necessary.
Commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and therapeutic environment for all students.

Responsibilities

Maintain constant line-of-sight supervision of the assigned youth at all times, including transitions, meals, hygiene, recreational activities, and programming.
Support youth in following structured daily routines, promoting independence and positive behavior.
Accompany youth on community outings or school-related activities when required, ensuring safety and supervision.
Collaborate regularly with clinical and residential team members to ensure consistency in approach and awareness of youth's triggers, coping strategies, and treatment goals.
Prevent elopement and ensure youth remain in designated areas unless properly authorized to leave.
Promptly notify Supervisor, AOD, or clinical team of any incidents, behavioral escalations, or safety concerns.
Assist with de-escalation and crisis prevention using TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention) principles and trauma-informed practices.
Implement behavior support plans, safety protocols, and individual coping strategies.
Document all interactions and observations on required logs, including 1:1 daily tracking sheets, incident reports, and shift notes. Ensure all relevant documentation is completed accurately and submitted in a timely manner.
Remain fully alert and engaged-no unauthorized phone use, distractions, or sleeping while on duty.
Ensure youth does not leave the designated area or campus without proper authorization.
Follow assigned schedule and communicate promptly with supervisors about changes or emergencies.
Complete shift sign in sheet and sign
Monthly 1:1 supervision (individual or group)
Required training related to 1:1 supervision and safety
Family treatment conferences and other relevant interdisciplinary meetings, as needed
Arrive at work on time, respecting other shift workers and programmatic needs.
At all times, model the appropriate dress, speech and behavior for residents. This includes dressing professionally or in designated work uniforms/dress code if prescribed.
Professionally representing the agency when speaking with parents, community members or other stakeholders.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with adolescents and staff; Respond to all requests in a professional and courteous manner.
Respect the privacy of all individuals and maintain client confidentiality as prescribed by law and in Agency policies.
Assume the expected role of the treatment team and maintain collaborative relations with members.
Maintain and promote a cooperative, harmonious, teamwork environment within the workplace. Maintain and promote an atmosphere of dignity and respect in line with the philosophy and policies of Rising Ground.
Become knowledgeable of all RTC policies and procedures; modeling, training and actively supervising the use of each.
Attend all mandatory or recommended staff development workshops/trainings.
Show organizational commitment which includes understanding and actively supporting the mission, policies and procedures protecting the integrity of the Agency.