Description

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of an Assistant Director or the Program Director, the Counselor provides support and assistance to clients at one of the Progress programs, all of which are housed in multi-level facilities.  Generally, the Counselor has primary responsibility for advocating for and responding to the treatment and rehabilitation needs of the program clients.  Specifically, Counselors perform the following functions:

I.          Essential Functions

1. Conduct intake interviews with prospective clients.
2. Orient new clients to the program and facility or, whenever possible, enable another client to orient a new client.
3. Respond to psychiatric and/or medical emergency situations throughout the facility in a professional, thorough, and timely manner, and do crisis intervention work with clients.
4. Assist clients in the evacuation of all floors of the facility in case of fire, earthquake, or other emergency.
5. Develop treatment plans with maximum client participation, and support clients' efforts to implement them.
6. Communicate appropriately with referral sources and other treatment personnel both within and outside the agency, exchanging information relevant to client treatment.
7. Complete all intake and discharge paperwork on assigned clients and maintain progress records on all clients.
8. Initiate and participate in discharge planning, so that clients can transition smoothly to the next level of care or the community.
9. Lead or co-lead day or evening group sessions, including house meetings or other activities, adhering to the schedule of fixed events, unless circumstances dictate otherwise.
10. .Assume primary case coordinating responsibilities for clients, as assigned.
11. Relay clinical and house-status information to other staff at shift changes, staff meetings, and at other appropriate times.
12. Monitor and record client medications, complying with program procedures.
13. Participate in meal planning and preparation at designated intervals, and encourage clients to become involved in these activities.  Counselors are to join program clients for all meals.
14. Attend and participate in staff meetings, supervision sessions, and case consultation meetings, as scheduled.
15. Consult with the Assistant Director, Program Director and the Program Consultant, as necessary, on such issues as case review, medications, group dynamics, etc.
16. Be responsible for the physical plant.  This includes investigating problems throughout the facility and performing minor cleaning, repair work, and other household tasks, and reporting more serious maintenance problems in a timely manner to the Assistant Director or Program Director.
17. Report any suspected abuse of clients directly to the appropriate agencies as outlined in policy and law and per the adult abuse reporting document signed upon hiring.
18. Promote the social rehabilitation philosophy among program staff and clients.
19. Must be able to work overnight, awake and alert shifts.
20. Comply with all applicable federal, state and local governmental laws and regulations, as well as all agency policies and procedures, including the code of ethics.
21. Perform other related duties as assigned by the Program Director.
22. Inform the Assistant Director or Program Director of any personal events and/or circumstances which may affect the ability to perform the proscribed job responsibilities and functions or to meet minimum qualifications.

II.         Functions Which May Be Accommodated For Persons with Disabilities Covered Under The "Americans With Disabilities Act"

1. Lead and/or participate in outings and other recreational activities planned for clients.
2. Shop for groceries and other household items with program clients.
3. Drive clients to treatment-related destinations.
4. Attend meetings, both programmatic and administrative, as a representative of the program, when assigned by the Assistant Director or Program Director.

Qualifications

TITLE:                                     COUNSELOR

ACCOUNTABILITY:              To Assistant Director or Program Director

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:         

• Bachelor's Degree in a mental health related field.  Experience may be substituted for the degree requirement, depending on nature and length of experience.
• Specific experience in residential treatment and/or knowledge of social rehabilitation is preferred.
• At least one year's experience in a community mental health program is preferred.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with staff, clients, and other providers both orally and in writing.
• Must, in the sole judgment of Progress Foundation, demonstrate good judgment and emotional stability.
• At all times must be able to negotiate several flights of stairs multiple times during each work shift, and must be able to lift and carry 20 lb. packages multiple times during the work shift.
• Must demonstrate ongoing clearance with the California State Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, allowing direct contact with program clients.
• Must maintain training certification and demonstrated capacity to perform basic First Aid and CPR.
• Basic word processing skills; maintain computer requirements of the City and County of San Francisco Community Behavioral Health Services.