Group Counselor I - Extra Help

About the role

The Group Counselor I is a trainee and first working level in the Group Counselor class series. They are assigned tasks of a well-defined nature and work under close supervision in a learning capacity.

Responsibilities

• Maintains living and supervision standards as defined by the Board of State and Community Corrections Title 15 Minimum Standards for Juvenile Facilities.
• Maintains the cleanliness, security and safety of the facility at all times.
• Performs admitting and releasing operations and completes the necessary booking and record work.
• Registers and stores personal belongings; checks for marks, bruises and infection; outfits detainees with clothing; and instructs on institution regulations and routines.
• Supervises detainees and visitors during visitation periods; transports and supervises detainees to other locations where their presence is required.
• Prepares and maintains all required treatment records, reports, memorandums, forms, logs, letters, and other documents related to the detainees' attitudes, behavior, appearance, interests, skills, progress, and needs.
• Reviews and assists in developing detainee's care plan; refers and ensures detainee receives appropriate services through contracted County and community-based organizations.
• Attends and participates in multi-disciplinary meetings and/or briefings to acquire, solicit or share pertinent information as required.
• Meets with individuals and counsels a small assigned group for detainees to gain insight into themselves in relationship to family, peers, and adults.
• Observes the conduct and behavior of a group of detainees and maintains safety at all times.
• Keeps the group occupied with pro-social activities and may impose corrective sanctions when necessary.
• Orients detainees to the program and detention-behavior and enforces the rights of detainees; reports the more severe behavioral concerns to the supervisor.
• Learns to conduct rehabilitative programming for detainees, based on evidence-based practices, such as anger management, gang awareness, drug awareness, employment searches, college application, health realization, building positive pro-social skills, culinary skills, parenting skills.
• Supervises detainees in a school setting; assists and encourages detainees to attend and to participate in the classroom.
• Attempts to modify anti-social behavior and assists detainees in adjusting to an institutional environment by counseling individuals and groups on personal problems, such as relationships with peers, family, adults, school difficulties, and employment opportunities.
• Teaches, models and encourages good manners, sportsmanship, and proper attitudes towards work, play, citizenship, employment and education, counsel upset and disturbed persons.
• Learns to plan, develop, instruct and supervise recreation and leisure time events and activities for detainees to facilitate change in anti-social behavior and attitudes.
• Collaborates with other County departments, the public, families, schools, law enforcement agencies, and representatives of community-based organizations, and other outside agencies.
• Recognizes signs of health problems, suicide risk, assaults, etc., and takes appropriate action to protect the well-being of detainees.
• Renders first aid as needed.
• Makes arrests; appears in court to testify; may be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required.

Requirements

• Completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter college units.
• A citizen of the United States or a permanent resident who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship.
• Possession of a valid California Driver's License prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.
• Possession of current CPR/First Aid certificate prior to appointment.
• No felony conviction and/or a conviction outside of California that would be considered a felony in this State.
• Pass a complete background investigation.
• Successfully complete the training requirements prescribed by the California Penal Code 832 (PC 832 Core Course) within one year of appointment or vacate position.
• Successfully complete the training requirements prescribed by the Standards and Training for Corrections (Juvenile or Adult Corrections Officer Core Course) within one year of appointment or vacate position.

Knowledge

• The cultural groups present in Santa Clara County.
• The general emotional and behavioral patterns of detainees and the causes of crime and delinquency.
• Leadership techniques for directing or supervising work or leisure time activities.
• General principles of working with groups and individuals.
• First aid practices.
• Acceptable general health care and housekeeping methods.
• Security, inspection, and safety measures necessary in a secure facility.
• English language usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Personal computers and common office applications.

Ability

• To ensure safety and security of detainees and staff in the facility.
• To maintain firm discipline in a fair and tactful manner.
• To prepare concise reports.
• To cope with hostility and aggressive behavior.
• To model and maintain positive and pro-social behavior.
• To establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• To communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• To aid in the rehabilitation of detainees.
• To organize, instruct and supervise structured recreational and housekeeping activities appropriate to a detention setting.
• To counsel both groups and individuals.
• To complete training in the application of physical/mechanical restraint techniques.