School Counselor

POSITION SUMMARY

Provide guidance and counseling services as required by the student’s IEP (individually and/or small and large group settings) to assist individuals in meeting their social-emotional and educational potential.  The School Counselor will work with families/legal guardians, outside agencies and school district personnel to provide consultation, transition planning, and educational services coordination.  The School Counselor serves as an integral member of the school team.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

·      Assists students with school enrollment, course selection and the scheduling process in order to meet relevant school district graduation requirements.

·      Process all student transcripts, quarterly/semester grade reporting, and IEP progress reports.

·      Facilitate transcript coordination at time of student intake and discharge.

·      Assists students in evaluating their aptitudes by interpreting individual standardized test scores and other relevant data; as a result of such an evaluation, the school counselor assists students in developing educational and career plans.

·      Gathers information from other staff prior to student staffing or IEP.

·      Completes IEP or other reports to be presented at staffing.

·      Gives verbal or written feedback of student’s progress and future goals and objectives at staffing.

·      Communicates with parents in a supportive manner providing them with special education related information.

·      Participates and contributes to in-service sessions and provides input and suggestions for future topics and directions.

·      Encourages the existence of student organizations that may assist with the accomplishment of personal and institutional goals.

·      Responsible for being knowledgeable about key issues in student’s present and past experience that may influence their actions and affect their learning abilities.

·      Adjusts and merges treatment and instruction accordingly.

·      Participates in continued performance quality improvement.

·      Communicating with parents/ guardians regarding attendance. Contacting parents/guardians the morning of absences to confirm attendance.

·      Other duties as assigned.

 EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

·      A Master’s Degree in a mental health/human services field from an accredited college (counseling, social work, psychology).

·      Current state licensure is required (ISBE Type 73, LCSW, LSW, LPC, or LCPC).

·      A minimum of 1-2 years experience in behavioral health, with experience in individual, family and group therapies, crisis invention and treatment skills preferred; must have strong clinical assessment skills, with majority of experience focused on the child/adolescent population preferred.

SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE

• Must possess a valid Illinois driver’s license. Ability to obtain an Illinois School Bus Driver’s Permit.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, with Jen School students, supervisors, coworkers, subordinates, support agencies, and a variety of internal as well as external consumers.
• Basic computer proficiency including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite of programs (ex: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Microsoft Outlook, Embrace IEP, Blackbaud LMS, Google GSuite, Microsoft Teams, Impero, and Adobe.
• Adheres to the policies and procedures of Maryville Jen School.
• Knowledge of Individualized Education Plan (IEP) eligibility, planning, instruction and service delivery processes.
• Knowledge of service delivery options and documentation of service delivery.
• Knowledge of individual, family, and group therapy techniques.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention procedures.
• Knowledge of clinical assessment skills.
• Knowledge of therapeutic planning and techniques.
• Skills in organizing and prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines.
• Skill in telephone etiquette.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Required to frequently sit, stand, bend, stoop, walk and drive for extended periods.  Ability to walk up and down stairs.
• Required to occasionally lift/move objects and/or youth weighing in excess of 40 pounds.
• Must possess the ability to provide physical restraint for students threatening to harm themselves or others.
• Must have the visual, hearing, and learning capabilities sufficient to perform the essential functions defined above.
• Must participate in physical education activities with the students and, if necessary physically interact (intervene) with students.
• Position requires frequent to continuous work on a computer which requires employee to possess the manual dexterity to operate equipment.