FT or PT Milieu Counselor

MID-FAIRFIELD CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER INC•Norwalk, CT

5d•$17 - $23•Onsite

About The Position

Mid-Fairfield Community Care Center is seeking a Full or Part-time (20-25 hours) Bachelors Level milieu counselor (bilingual Spanish/English preferred) for their Prospects Extended Day Treatment (EDT) Program. Staff working in the EDT Program will receive training and certification in the following therapeutic models which are used regularly and are trained both off-site and on-site. These include: Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), Therapeutic Drama, Project Joy, Medication Administration and Risking Connection. The Milieu Counselor co-facilitates children's therapy groups, works 1:1 with children ages 5-12, supervises children who are transported to and from program, and collaborates with parents, families and schools. This position is ideal for individuals looking to learn more about the mental health/social services field or those who are seeking to work and gain experience while they are in school.

Requirements

Must demonstrate the following competencies:
Diversity and Inclusion: Employees must make every effort to:
Treat others with respect
Practice cultural humility
Elicit and welcome different points of view
Integrity: Act ethically with honesty and consistency regardless of the situation. Employees must make every effort to:
Be accountable for his or her own actions
Make decisions based on what is better for the families and employees
Build and maintain trust among co-workers and our families
Uphold honesty in all actions
Excellence: Commitment to deliver outstanding practices in both managing the organization, service delivery, and collaborating with partners. Employees must make every effort to:
Utilize data and research to provide the highest quality of care
Regularly participate in professional development to stay abreast of most recent and progressive practices
Promote continuous quality assessment and improvement
Communication: The ability to express oneself clearly and professionally both in writing, conversations, and in nonverbal communication with others.
Oral Communication
Fluent speaker
Speak clearly and in an organized manner that can be easily understood
Express ideas concisely and respectfully
Summarize or paraphrase his/her understanding of what others have said to verify understanding and prevent miscommunication
Hold herself or himself accountable for pitch, speed, tone and volume of voice while speaking
Show understanding of professional and cultural implications of body posture, stance, gestures, proximity to listener, facial expressions and appearance
Written Communication
Write clear and concise sentences devoid of grammatical and spelling errors
Tailor writing style to the audience of the message
Write in a respectful and tactful manner
Must be able to demonstrate:
Strong crisis assessment skills of an acute population
Proven ability to follow clinic protocols as well as making independent decisions in the best interest of the families and children
Computer skills, including MS Office; familiarity with electronic health record systems a plus
Comfortable working in a fast paced environment within a multi-disciplinary team
Availability to work evenings
Responsibilities to be able to function in a high stress job
Proven ability to manage conflict appropriately
Knowledge of basic group skills
Basic negotiation skills
Ability to delegate tasks, responsibilities, etc.
Excellent time management skills
BA / BS degree preferred, preferably in a mental health-related major
Minimum 2 years experience working with children and families, preferably in a residential, IOP or milieu-based setting
Familiarity with mental health diagnosis, treatment and service systems
Verbal and written fluency in English required
Experience and competence working with individuals and families from culturally diverse backgrounds required

Nice To Haves

Spanish (Preferred)
Additional compensation offered for obtaining Divers License that allows for driving the van to transport the children to and from the program.

Responsibilities

Primary Counselor for approximately four children within their assigned rooms.
Complete daily process notes and Individualized Crisis Management plans for assigned cases.
Facilitate groups and activities for clients in assigned room.
Provide crisis intervention as clinically indicated.
Implementation of the behavior modification/level system.
Monitor absences and with consultation with the Clinician; a plan for addressing these absences will be developed in a timely manner.
Notify program staff, the school and family if a child is not in program by 3:30 p.m.
Be aware of psychiatric appointments and remind the caregiver of the meeting time.
Notify the Clinician and Director should a psychiatric or medical emergency occur, if a client discloses abuse, expresses suicidal/homicidal ideation or intent to elope.
Complete incident reports documenting restraints, critical incidents or injuries within 24 hours and give to the Director for review.
Attend and be prepared for individual and room supervision.
Obtain Public Service License within 6 months of date of hire. Costs involved in obtaining the license will be reimbursed in full by the agency.
Participate in treatment reviews, clinical rounds, team meetings and internal and external meetings as scheduled.
Maintain school contact and solicit weekly updates regarding academic and behavioral progress for assigned clients.
Assist in discharge planning by helping the Clinician and family determine appropriate recreational program.
Complete other duties as assigned.