Life Counselor

Communities In Schools of San Antonio•San Antonio, TX

About The Position

The Life Counselor provides counseling and case management services to opportunity youth facing obstacles to personal success. The role is part of the NXT-Level Center, a multi-department City of San Antonio and nonprofit collaborative, and requires maintaining clinical counselor licensure. An LPC-Associate or LMSW in this position must receive supervision from a clinical supervisor approved by the applicable Texas state licensing board. The Life Counselor delivers individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, intake and assessment, trauma-informed services, and case management. The role helps participants navigate services and pursue re-entry into academic tracks, post-secondary education, employment, or training. It collaborates with Life Coaches, NXT-Level partners, outside agencies, businesses, volunteers, and interns to coordinate support and opportunities for youth. The position also supports program operations, grant and contract compliance, reporting, partner coordination, file and data maintenance, budgets, and administrative requirements. The employee maintains required licensure through professional development and clinical supervision and follows CIS-SA policies, procedures, and core values.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or a related field.
Three years of experience in a related field.
LPC, LMFT, or LCSW; or current licensure through the relevant Texas state board; or LPC-Associate or LMSW on a clinical supervision plan and receiving clinical supervision.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Knowledge of client groups and issues related to the program area.
Proficiency with computers, including word processing, databases, spreadsheets, email, and internet use.
Experience with at-risk populations and cross-cultural environments.
Ability to demonstrate empathy toward clients, their challenges, and viewpoints.
Experience identifying barriers to success, developing practical solutions and action plans, providing support, and advocating for resources for at-risk populations.
Ability to set priorities, manage multiple responsibilities, meet deadlines, and work with minimal supervision.
Ability to communicate effectively to understand needs, convey information, and collaborate on solutions.
Adaptability to diverse work environments, frequent changes, and varying leadership styles.
Experience working with youth and young adults.
Willingness to follow the CIS-SA model, adapt to client and system changes, and coordinate in a collaborative team environment.
Maintain confidentiality and professional and ethical behavior in all interactions and interventions.
Reliable transportation.
Ability to pass a criminal history background check.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual ability in Spanish and English.
Experience collecting and analyzing data to inform decision-making and intervention strategies.
Knowledge of social service resources that support social, emotional, and academic needs.

Responsibilities

Provide individual and group counseling to targeted participants and crisis intervention during critical situations.
Conduct intake and assessment for each opportunity youth, including use of the ACEs Assessment tool.
Assess participants and create Individual Service Plans (ISPs) to provide or coordinate services that support academic re-entry, post-secondary education, employment, or training.
Provide case management services connecting opportunity youth with community resources that meet their assessed needs.
Develop and implement individual and group trauma-informed services addressing each youth’s assessed needs.
Collaborate regularly with Life Coaches to gather recommendations, share participant updates, and identify individuals who may benefit from Life Counselor services.
Monitor and document participant progress toward counseling and case management goals, and evaluate program effectiveness.
Ensure adherence to contractual and grant provisions and assigned budget requirements; implement, manage, and report information for assigned grants and projects.
Meet contract obligations by obtaining a qualified caseload and achieving goals by prescribed deadlines; maintain program quality and submit required reports accurately.
Keep abreast of program developments and communicate updates, successes, and pertinent information to the NXT-Level Site Lead.
Broker services with outside agencies, businesses, volunteers, and interns; support partner case management and maintain strategic collaborations with businesses, universities, and community organizations.
Coordinate and communicate with partners to support collaboration and integrated services; orient volunteers and community partners to CIS-SA and NXT-Level program policies.
Coordinate in-kind donations for participant needs and program activities.
Follow documentation policies and procedures; collect forms, demographic information, and other required data; document services and ISPs in the approved database.
Establish and maintain accurate, complete, and current youth files, and obtain service sign-in sheets in accordance with program procedures.
Manage timecards, attend required meetings and trainings, complete program reports, plan expenditures, and maintain budgets.
Maintain required licensure through relevant professional development and clinical supervision, and attend required CIS-SA Clinical Supervision sessions.
Exhibit CIS Core Values: Passion, Compassion, Collaboration, Optimism, and Adaptability.