YCCS Lead Mental Health Counselor

YCCS (Youth Community Crisis Stabilization) is a short-term residential treatment model for children ages 4-17 in need of acute crisis stabilization. The Lead Mental Health Counselor is an employee within Acute Care Services. They work as part of the programs’ treatment team, establishing open and effective communication and support among co-workers. The Lead Mental Health Counselor is directly responsible for running the routine of the milieu and delegating duties and tasks related to the supervision of clients, the coordination and execution of their treatment plans, assisting in crisis stabilization and adherence to policy and procedures of the agency and program.

Child and Family Services recognizes the power in Diversity and believes that Equity is a Human Right.

Full-time - Mix of 1st and 2nd shift, including weekends/holidays

HS Diploma/GED $20.50 per hour / Bachelor's Degree $22.00 per hour

$1 per hour Language Differential! (eligible languages include: Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish or ASL)

Qualifications:

• High School diploma required. Experience providing milieu support to youths; peer certified and/or recovery coach staff preferred.

Responsibilities:
The following responsibilities are not meant to be all inclusive and may be adjusted to meet the agency’s needs.

• Provide a comfortable youth and family friendly environment conducive to recovery and stabilization
• Assist in the development of treatment planning that specifies goals and actions to address the medical, social, therapeutic, educational, and other strengths and needs of youth
• Participate in the development and implementation of behavioral plans and crisis/safety plans
• Assist in facilitating youth admissions and discharges
• Facilitate/co-facilitate recreational groups and wellness activities including physical exercise, nutrition, yoga, meditation, and mindfulness
• Provide opportunities for and supervision as appropriate for phone/virtual interaction between youth, guardians, and approved contacts while youth is at the program
• During waking hours perform 15 min checks of youth while in their bedrooms
• During sleeping hours perform 30 min checks of all youth
• Utilize Massachusetts Behavioral Health Access (MABHA) website to update daily capacity as instructed, use website to locate other services for youth in assisting with aftercare planning and referrals
• Interact therapeutically with youth and maintain visual supervision/monitoring of youth as indicated
• Utilize verbal de-escalation skills, planned ignoring and redirection to encourage youth to utilize self-soothing skills and increase ability to self-regulate
• Utilize physical intervention as a last resort and within the agency guidelines. Employee may be required to physically manage youths, if necessary, using methods and techniques approved and certified through the YCCS Program. All YCCS employees need to complete the program’s de-escalation and physical management certification training.
• Work effectively and professionally with youths and collaterals, such as family members, state agency personnel, other agencies, and professionals
• Perform basic household duties and meal preparation
• Work collaboratively within Acute Care Services staff to cross train and provide coverage as needed.
• Maintain regular and timely attendance, including mandatory monthly staff meetings and trainings
• Can move readily from task to task as well as move quickly in responding to emergencies
• Possess excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Promote high staff morale and team atmosphere within department
• Adhere to the agency’s policy regarding confidentiality
• Ability to work within a culturally diverse and inclusive environment
• Strong problem solving and decision-making abilities
• Communicate with youths in a manner which promotes their growth, human rights, and integration into the community
• Cross-trained in the policies, procedures and working with adults on ACCS to assist as needed with programmatic needs
• Supervision of Mental Health Counselors:
• Delegate shift tasks and duties
• Assure that shift duties are complete
• Oversight of Mental Health Counselors on shift including coaching on performance
• Participate in Clinical Team Meetings/Rounds
• Participate in Lead Mental Health Counselor meetings
• Update communication log and incoming Lead with unit happenings
• Call for coverage for call-outs
• Facilitate or designate staff to facilitate groups when clinical staff are not available
• Train new Mental Health Counselors

Cultural Competency Qualifications

• Awareness of personal attitudes, beliefs, biases, and assumptions about others
• Knowledge of the various dimensions of diversity, including gender, race, and ethnicity
• Acknowledging that people from other cultural groups may not share the same beliefs and practices or perceive experiences in the same way
• Cultural knowledge of key populations that will be served to address disparities in service delivery
• Demonstrates positive attitudes towards cultural differences by showing respect and openness towards people whose social and cultural background is different from one's own
• Demonstrates skills for communication and interaction across cultures, including the ability to recognize and manage personal behaviors, moods, and impulses to create an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming climate within the agency

Benefits:

• Benefit eligible at 20 hours
• Medical – Harvard Pilgrim/Health Plans - 75% employer paid for full-time employees
• Dental – Delta Dental
• Vision - Eye Med
• 12 sick days per year (accrued monthly); 2 personal days per year
• 10 paid holidays
• 401K – CFS matches first 1% at 100%; 2%-6% of annual earnings are matched at 50%
• Tuition reimbursement – Up to $1,500 per calendar year
• FREE Clinical Supervision towards licensure & Professional Licensure reimbursement (LICSW, LMHC)
• FREE CEU's and Trainings- up to 1,000 trainings available!
• Flexible spending accounts – save on medical expenses and dependent care!
• 100% Employer paid Life Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Long Term Disability and AD&D
• Mileage Reimbursement of .62 cents/mile & Employee Discount Program
• FREE Employee Assistance Program and AbilitiCBT Mental Health program for employees & their family

Child and Family Services, Inc. values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages applicants from the BIPOC, LGBTQ , AAPI, Hispanic, Latinx and Veteran communities to apply for employment. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, gender, sex,( including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy) disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.50 - $22.00 per hour

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $1,500