Intensive Home Based Services I Counselor Bilingual - Clinical Care

JOB SUMMARY: The Intensive Home-Based Services (IHBS) Counselor primarily has responsibility for working with children in their home, out-of home placement, and school environment. The IHBS Counselor works with children and their families to provide a large variety of services ranging from behavior management, behavior modification, transportation, respite care, school aid, crisis intervention, self-help skill building, vocational training and other services as needed to provide “whatever it takes” to make a successful and permanent placement for the child, The IHBS Counselor’s duties are coordinated by the CFS/IHBS Coordinator. IHBS Counselor is part of the Child and Family Team and will assist other team members as needed to provide services to families or assist with case management or developing plans for the family. The IHBS Counselor will attend Child Family Team meetings regularly, will actively participate in the CFT process, assisting the facilitator whenever is appropriate, and will document interventions/services.   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education IHBS I: High school diploma or equivalent required. IHBS II: Associate degree in Mental Health, Human Services, or closely related Field. IHBS III: Bachelor’s degree in Mental Health, Human Services, or closely related Field.   Experience IHBS I: Three (3) year experience with severely emotionally disturbed children and/or families. IHBS II: Two (2) year experience with severely emotionally disturbed children and/or families.   IHBS III: One (1) year experience working with severely emotionally disturbed children and/or families. License or Certification Valid California Driver’s License.   Other Qualifications Required Ability to relate to children with severe emotional disturbances and their families. Assist TEAMMATES in meeting the LA county contract requirement of 24/7 response services, including but not limited to initial face to face contact, crisis intervention and problem resolution in person or via phone during scheduled hours, after hours and weekends for assigned and team clients. Demonstrated understanding of barriers to community functioning and indicated rehabilitation interventions. Ability to perform clear, concise and timely documentation. Ability to drive to and from client’s homes and the community in personal vehicle. Demonstrate ability to make appropriate linkages to community resources, especially related to the Mental Health, Education, Medical, and Social Services fields.   Specialized Skills Ability to interact and communicate both verbally and in writing with severely emotionally disturbed children or adolescents and their parents, foster parents, caregivers, schools, other staff, county agencies, other health care and social services providers and the public in a professional manner.  Ability to serve as a family advocate while keeping child safety a priority. Demonstrated ability to visually and audibly screen for risk behaviors and needs of clients. Demonstrated computer skills and ability to document progress notes within a data base. Demonstrate the ability to develop and maintain positive relations with County agencies, health care facilities, and other county partners as needed. Demonstrate understanding of laws and regulations affecting behavioral health clinical care. Demonstrate the ability to articulate to team members and supervisor his/her observations. For Bilingual designated staff: ability to perform all duties listed herein in English and the designated threshold language (e.g. Spanish); Performs language translation and cultural consultation as assigned by Supervisor.   ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Attends and actively participates in Child Family Team Meetings, included but not limited to charting, completing CFT Matrix & Action Grid, updates, brainstorming and behavioral support as needed. Provides behavior management/behavior modification, skill-building, vocational training, school observations, school aide, crises intervention, self-help skills building and case management/linkage to services such as respite care and transportation. Perform simple evaluations and outcome measures describing level of psychosocial impairment, physical health, self-care, potential support network, adequacy of living arrangements, financial status, employment status and potential training or educational needs. Monitors child’s/youth’s progress at home, school, work, and other areas and assist with providing appropriate motivational support. Assists caregiver in managing child’s unstructured time by providing resources and teaching behavior management skills. Assists CFT in working with child/families, representatives of referring agencies, and other relevant parties (in-house and external) developing the capacity to meet needs and obtain long term self-sufficiency as determined. Assists in preparing children and adolescents for lasting and successful housing, vocational, educational, and treatment experiences. Provides on-call telephonic and on-site emergency response to children and families to provide support and assistance in problem resolution. Ability to assist TEAMMATES in meeting all LA County contract requirements related to enrollment, service provision, and disenrollment within all stipulated timeframes and guidelines.   OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Actively participates in the agency’s and SBHG’s Total Quality Management and Continuous Quality Improvement systems which support compliance with Joint Commission and other accreditation standards as applicable. Participates in TQM activities as requested including CQI subcommittees, probes, peer review, audit and/or tracer activities. Facilitates Child & Family Team Meetings and completes required or requested documentation such as flex funds and incident reports, in the absence of Facilitator. Assists in maintaining on-going relations with County agencies, health care facilities, network agencies, placement centers, schools and other resources necessary to affect the continuum of care for children in the community. Documents child and Family’s behaviors and responses to interventions, interactions. Attend all necessary meetings, trainings as required by Supervisor or Director. Reports to Supervisor immediately if IHBS Counselor suspects a child is in danger. Maintains visual awareness of child’s physical and psychiatric limitations and ensures the safety of child at all times when in the presence of the child. Attends school and recreational activities with child/family as needed.