Position: FT - The Life Skills Counselor (AAI) ($20.50 - $22hr).
Location: Harrisburg / (Dauphin County)

Are you looking for a rewarding career where you can positively impact the lives of youth and their families? Look no further! We are currently hiring for the position of Life Skills Counselor. Join our team and enjoy various benefits and opportunities that make this job truly special.

Why Should You Apply for the Life Skills Counselor?

• Flexible scheduling: We understand the importance of work-life balance.
• An extensive orientation program to ensure a smooth onboarding process.
• Competitive compensation package with paid time off (PTO) to promote work-life balance.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage, including prescription benefits.
• Enroll in our 401(k)-retirement plan and enjoy a company match to secure your financial future.
• Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage for peace of mind.Take advantage of our pre-tax spending accounts (Health Care and Dependent Care FSA).
• Health and wellness programs to support your overall well-being.
• Referral program where you can earn rewards for bringing talented individuals to our team.
• Tuition reimbursement program to fuel your professional growth.

Essential Functions of the Life Skills Counselor

• Successfully engage youth/client in developing and implementing their individual goal and/or transition plan using positive youth development, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate frameworks.
• A minimum of 50% of the working hours will be spent providing quality in-person goal planning, instruction, and case management services according to the youth's/client's identified level of service.
• Ensure up-to-date paper & electronic client records in compliance with program, county, state, and federal regulations and private grant requirements as applicable.
• Maintain a caseload of 18-25 youth and ensure 17 hours per week of face-to-face client services are provided. (Case load may increase depending on staffing pattern)
• Complete all paperwork on a timely basis including intake, goal plans, case notes, quarterly reports, execute all required assessments.
• Meet with the youth/client according to program requirements to model and practice independent living skills with youth/client, including, but not limited to: academic and career planning, permanent relationships/mentoring, housing/household maintenance, priority setting, money management, and health and wellness.
• Represent the program and agency in a professional manner and maintain positive community relationships in a proactive manner.
• Be the primary liaison contact and provide regular ongoing case coordination with community contacts such as: referral/funding sources, children and youth agencies, landlords, probation, school personnel, employers, court and doctor's offices.
• Participate in on-call rotation as required by the program area or county requirements.
• Address and report any crisis or critical incident as defined by agency and/or county, state or federal regulations according to the agency's formalized practice and protocols.
• To attend both external and internal agency training and workshops; complete and pass all required training hours and annual training as set forth in the funder and licensing regulations.
• To participate in regularly scheduled supervision with your direct supervisor and be prepared to discuss youth, caseload, documentation, questions, concerns and general duties.

Other Duties

• Understand and adhere to Valley Youth House policies, practices and procedures.
• To attend and actively participate in team and agency meetings.
• Due to the nature of the workflow and level of responsibility, this individual maintains a flexible schedule, which may go beyond a forty-hour work week. Must be available to work evenings/nights and on rare occasions weekends, to meet with youth and families as needed.
• Travel as required to meet responsibilities using one's personal vehicle or agency vehicle if available.

Qualifications:

• They will possess a minimum of an associates degree in social work or a related field with 5 years experience or a BS/BA in social work or a similar degree in human services as well as one year of related experience in the field
• They will never have been convicted of any prohibited criminal or child abuse offense.
• An individual with the ability to identify with and adapt to the goals and philosophies of the independent living program.
• Possess sound judgment and knowledge of adolescent development and behavior.
• Display organizational skills and be highly adept at managing multiple tasks and assignments.
• Successful team members are creative thinkers, are flexible in their approaches to people and projects, and are capable of working with diverse groups of the population.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license including vehicle insurance and inspection on any vehicle used for daily work and transportation of clients.
• Must receive a passing score on annual motor vehicle clearance to be eligible to operate agency vehicles.
• Should have excellent navigation skills and driving proficiently in order to meet with youth in the community, their homes, & placement locations for weekly in-person visits, and provide transportation to youth when necessary or required.
• Ability to transport youth to, as well as attend in-person IL Groups a minimum of 1x per week till 7PM and assist in transports to/from groups. Attendance will be required for virtual groups as needed.
• Ability to attend a minimum of 10 cultural events per year with clients (including transportation to and from the event). Cultural events may be held at night, on weekends or include overnight supervision of youth attending camps through Valley Youth House, the State or other approved entity.)
• Ability to navigate stairs is highly preferred (as some locations are not ADA compliant.
• Proficient in computer knowledge & skills (i.e. Microsoft Windows software); familiarity with the operations of external databases and Google Suite is desired.
• Commitment to Social Justice
• Effectively work with people from diverse backgrounds in reducing cultural and socio-economic barriers.

Physical Requirements for the Life Skills Counselor:

• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing. X Occasionally
• Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds. X Occasionally
• Ability to navigate stairs is highly preferred (as some locations are not ADA compliant. X Occasionally
• Moving from one worksite to anotherX Constantly

If you are passionate about positively impacting the lives of youth and their families and meet the qualifications listed above, we would love to hear from you. Please apply now to join our dedicated team of Life Skills Counselors!
More details about the position! Click Here!