Counselor II

CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES•Turlock, CA

2d•$20 - $23

About The Position

As a Counselor II at a Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) facility, you support foster youth and young adults who have experienced significant challenges, trauma, and adversity. The role involves serving as a mentor, advocate, and positive role model while helping maintain a safe, supportive environment where children can heal, grow, and reach their potential. The Counselor II helps manage day-to-day facility operations when a supervisor is absent and provides supervision, protection, and care for children. The position delivers individual and group rehabilitation services, maintains client and facility records, supports planned activities, and helps children address individual and group needs. The Counselor II also contributes to facility upkeep, food service, housekeeping, transportation, crisis response, and coordination with facility supervisors, professional staff, team members, and outside agencies. Interventions must be trauma-informed, culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate, and consistent with each child’s needs and service and treatment plans.

Requirements

Meet at least one of the following: hold a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree; have two years of full-time experience or equivalent working with the population served; or have equivalent education or experience as determined by CDSS. Qualifying experience must be verified as paid or volunteer work involving direct supervision and care of the population served.
Before assuming duties, complete at least one hour of training specified in Section 87065.1(a), in addition to training required under Sections 87065.1(c) and (d).
Be at least 21 years of age.
Meet all state licensing and insurance requirements.
Pass DOJ, FBI, and Child Abuse Index clearances.
Hold a valid California driver’s license and have at least two years of driving experience.
Have a good driving record and provide a Department of Motor Vehicles printout.
Pass the LIC 503 Health Screening Report and obtain TB clearance.
Understand the needs of children served in a residential children’s setting.
Engage and develop rapport with children from diverse backgrounds and develop appropriate relationships with clients from various backgrounds.
Provide consistency and behavioral limits through relationship-based interventions.
Communicate effectively and solve problems collaboratively, including communicating with team members and outside agencies.
Learn and understand the needs of children served in a residential setting.
Apply the Reasonable Prudent Parent Standard as necessary.
Use crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and interpersonal communication skills.
Work effectively with staff and administration.
Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.
Successfully complete Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) post-testing coursework in emergency intervention and demonstrate hands-on competency in emergency intervention techniques, as required by CCL regulation 84802(g), Title 22.
Meet the physical demands of the role, including bending, kneeling, crouching, climbing, balancing, reading, writing, visually observing clients, hearing conversations, operating office equipment, sitting, standing, walking, reaching, handling objects, and frequently lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying up to 25 pounds.

Responsibilities

Manage the day-to-day operation of the facility in the absence of a supervisor.
Ensure children receive appropriate care and supervision in accordance with applicable laws, licensing regulations, and agency policies.
Supervise, protect, and care for children at all times, individually and in groups.
Oversee planned activities made available to children.
Maintain the general upkeep of the facility.
Provide mental health services, including individual and group rehabilitation services.
Write a progress note during each shift for each client.
Assist children in working with groups and handling individual problems.
Administer discipline and set behavioral limits consistent with trauma-informed care standards.
Record information about each child’s program, identify possible needs for additional professional services, and communicate findings to the facility supervisor and professional staff.
Assist with providing or accessing core services and support, daily activities, and emotional and social supports as needed.
Report to the Facility Supervisor and make recommendations to address identified problems.
Apply trauma-informed, culturally relevant, age- and developmentally appropriate interventions, techniques, and practices consistent with each child’s needs and service and treatment plans.
Maintain appropriate documentation.
Perform food service and housekeeping functions, including cooking, cleaning, and laundry.
Transport clients in company vehicles.
Participate in crisis intervention as necessary.
Complete incident reports as necessary.
Participate in staff meetings and training as scheduled.
Maintain records such as staff logs, medication charts, allowance records, and menus.
Perform other duties necessary to ensure the health and safety of children in the facility.