Human Services Care Counselor I/II - Spanish Speaking Required (Open and Promotional)

County of San Mateo (CA) • San Mateo, CA

119d

About The Position

The County of San Mateo's Human Services Agency is seeking qualified Human Services Care Counselors II to fill vacancies in the Children and Family Services branch. Children and Family Services deals with matters of child welfare, more commonly known as Child Protective Services, and provides services to vulnerable families, children, and teens with varying degrees of need. The current vacancy will report to Residential Services however Human Services Care Counselors may be assigned any of the assignments in the job classification. Applicants must be interested in and available to work any assignment based on agency need. This position will require Spanish-Speaking language skills. In the Residential Services assignment, counselors provide direct supervision, guidance, behavioral interventions, instruction, assistance, and direction to youth in a residential setting (temporary children's shelter and/or short-term residential therapeutic program). These young-people may have various level of needs, including high level mental health or developmental challenges. The residential program operates 24/7 and staff coverage is required for Day, Swing and Graveyard shift-schedules. Again, assignments may be interchangeable based on Agency and/or staffing needs and program coverage requirements.

Requirements

• Experience working in residential program with children experience trauma and/or abuse, and demonstrated ability to care for the children with a trauma-informed lens.
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the child welfare population, as well as demonstrated ability to respond to the population with a trauma-informed approach.
• Knowledge of parenting skills, family engagement techniques, trauma informed practice, crisis prevention and management of assaulted behavior.
• Experience dealing effectively with diverse youth, parents and private/public agencies and establishing rapport with children and their families in working towards effective goals and solutions.
• Excellent organizational and written/oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve in situations that require high-level critical thinking and independent judgement.
• Awareness of and ability to utilize proven and/or evidence-based tools, resources, techniques or skills to diffuse highly volatile situations.
• Spanish Speaking is required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary assigned counselor for the assigned shift and provide guidance to lower-level/relief staff.
• Supervise and direct individual children and groups as assigned.
• Assist in planning and directing a program of recreational and teaching activities.
• Ensure the performance of all household routines.
• Participate in daily group meetings intended to change behavior through evidence-based counseling techniques.
• Provide support and guidance to assigned children.
• Establish behavior modification programs with children involving individual contracts.
• Record information with regard to behavior of individuals and groups.
• Consult with parents, social workers, clinicians, school counselors, teachers, substitute care providers and other service providers/support systems.
• Prepare daily reports of children's behavior and prepare weekly behavior summaries to be used by the social workers and the Court.
• Admit children to the residential facility; and provide support during the transition.
• Follow all admission protocols; assure that medical attention is received if appropriate.
• Supervise visits between parents and child(ren).
• Dispense prescribed medication.
• Testify in Court regarding observed behavior of a child at the residential facility.
• Enter incidents in log, including any admissions or releases.
• Perform duties of Family Care Worker assignment.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees