Correctional Counselor

State of Iowa•Rockwell City - 50579 - Calhoun County, IA

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Correctional Counselor performs a broad range of moderate to difficult professional case work involving incarcerated individuals. The role provides individual case management and group facilitation in social, behavioral, educational, vocational, and related program planning. Counselors help develop and implement evidence-based plans and goals for rehabilitation and gradual community reintegration, and perform related work as required. The position uses core correctional practices and behavioral techniques to support problem-solving and behavior change, provide positive reinforcement or corrective measures, and prepare incarcerated individuals for community reentry. Counselors explain supervision conditions, legal terms and documents, and institutional policies and procedures in ways suited to individuals’ learning styles, while supporting the attitudes and skills needed for a prosocial lifestyle. The role reviews relevant records and reports, assesses individual needs and circumstances, conducts and uses risk, need, and responsivity assessments, develops case plans, and manages information and data in the ICON computer system. As part of a multidisciplinary team, the counselor develops and supports treatment plans, shares observations with colleagues and treatment staff, consults on rehabilitative services, and documents case-management activities. The position also participates in disciplinary, classification, and pre-parole classification committees, reviews misconduct reports, and may recommend individuals for release. It attends and leads training classes and seminars, provides Training of Trainers, and supports continuous quality improvement for other staff as designated.

Requirements

Meet at least one minimum qualification: four years of full-time experience providing individual and group guidance and related counseling services in social, behavioral, educational, vocational, or related program planning; or performing correctional, law enforcement, or jail administration duties involving community reentry preparation, prosocial behavior modeling, or supervision of individuals in work assignments.
Alternatively, meet the minimum qualification through a total of four years of education and/or qualifying full-time experience, with 30 semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equaling one year of full-time experience.
Within a period after hire determined by the appointing authority, may be required to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and endorsements.

Responsibilities

Provide individual case management and group facilitation in social, behavioral, educational, vocational, and related program planning.
Develop and implement evidence-based plans and goals for rehabilitation and gradual reintegration into the community.
Participate in disciplinary, classification, and pre-parole classification committee meetings; review misconduct reports and determine outcomes in conjunction with the review committee.
Recommend incarcerated individuals for release based on behavior, attitude, and related factors, and ensure institutional committee procedures concerning rights, appeals, hearing notifications, and explanations of findings are followed.
Use core correctional practices and behavioral techniques to support problem-solving, behavior change, and preparation for community reentry.
Instruct incarcerated individuals on supervision conditions, legal terms and documents, policies, and procedures in ways suited to their learning styles.
Obtain and review pertinent records and reports, and assess individuals’ needs, capacities, education, family circumstances, behavioral problems, and aspirations.
Conduct and use risk, need, and responsivity assessments to develop intervention strategies and case plans.
Manage ICON computer-system information and data input.
As part of a multidisciplinary team, develop, implement, and support treatment plans for successful community reentry.
Observe incarcerated individuals’ behavior and interactions and communicate observations to coworkers and treatment staff.
Document observations to support effective case management and consistent application of change principles.
Consult with professional staff to structure rehabilitative services and activities, including treatment plans requiring special emphasis or changes.
Attend and lead training classes and seminars, provide Training of Trainers in programs, and provide continuous quality improvement to other staff as designated.