Counselor

Summary

At Pace we transform girls' lives through academic and counseling programs based on a gender-responsive, strength-based, and trauma-informed framework. Team members create a safe place for girls to learn, grow, and heal. The counselor role provides prevention services to girls that includes social emotional support, intensive care (case) management, crisis counseling, and psycho-educational groups to girls. This position is aimed at helping girls decrease risk-related behaviors.

Required Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from four-year College or University with a Major in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health, Counseling, or a related field
• Minimum three years prior experience
• Knowledge of case management practices
• Excellent individual, group and family counseling and crisis management skills
• Proficiency in computer skills, database management and/or office software
• Current Florida driver’s license
• Preferred Master’s Degree; Major in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health, Counseling or a related field with a minimum of 1-year prior experience
• Knowledge of laws relating to children and families
• Experience working with at-risk youth
• Experience in working in a multidisciplinary team

Roles And Responsibilities

• Direct Care Services
• Increase girls’ resiliency and protective factors by improving relationships, increasing self-efficacy, and encouraging self-advocacy
• Assess and address needs and strengths through holistic assessment, goal setting, and care planning
• Utilize the Transtheoretical Model of Change, considering any history of trauma and leveraging girls’ strengths
• Provide bi-weekly counseling services to girls using guidance, support, collaboration, skill acquisition, and psycho-educational services
• Provide psycho-educational groups that are girl-centered, focusing on social-emotional and life skill development
• Provide monthly family support/counseling with caregivers to encourage girl progression in the change process and to work with natural supports
• Provide solution-focused counseling approaches toward the resolution of risk factors for substance abuse following the standards of the Florida Administrative Codes Chapter 65D-30
• Provide crisis intervention as warranted, including family support, peer mediation, classroom support, and the coordination of risk assessments
• Provide care (case) management services, including transportation services when needed, field trips and other extracurricular activities, maintain a safe environment in the program, collaborate with outside entities and community providers involved in girls’ care, make referrals as appropriate, and advocate for needed resources
• Partner with the academic team to ensure holistic, cohesive care
• Non-Direct Care Services, Care Planning, and Monitoring
• Participate in care review meetings for girls served and provide education to the care planning team using a multidisciplinary framework
• Collaborate with the intake team to support decision-making about program enrollment
• Document progress and complete assessments, screening tools, care plans and transition plans
• Contribute positively toward programmatic outcomes and with the collection of data to support the change process of girls

Other Duties As Assigned

• Must adhere to the Pace Center for Girls Values and Guiding Principles and upholds the ethical standards of the Agency
• Follows mission, values and principles, policies and procedures of the Pace Center for Girls

Availability

• Availability to work evenings and weekends as required to fulfill workload requirements

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics can be stressful, is fast-paced and requires alertness and flexibility.
• The noise level is usually quiet; however, noise can accelerate to moderate and high levels.