Group Counselor - Part Time - Behavioral Health

About the role

As a Group Counselor at Hackensack Meridian Health, you will provide therapeutic and recreational group activities, leisure assessment, and group counseling services to assigned caseloads of patients. Flexibility and experience with latency and adolescent populations are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides therapeutic activities, leisure assessment, and counseling services to assigned patient groups, including psycho-educational groups focused on social and recreational skills, grief counseling, substance abuse counseling, creative expressions, stress management, coping skills, and physical activities.
• Completes the Group Counselor Assessment of the patient within 48 hours of admission.
• Provides a minimum of four therapeutic groups per day, an evening group one day per week, and weekend groups on assigned units.
• Participates in the Wellness Choices program to provide groups on other units.
• Adheres to the organization's health and safety requirements, as well as all Hospital, Federal, State, and Joint Commission requirements.
• Assesses patient learning needs, readiness, and barriers, and documents appropriately. Provides age-appropriate learning opportunities (individual and group) and documents teaching and outcomes.
• Provides educational materials tailored to the patient/family, considering age, educational level, culture, and disability.
• Takes the lead in unit preparations for holiday celebrations.
• Provides information to the treatment team regarding the patient's participation and progress in conducted groups.
• Develops a plan of care for the patient that reflects assessed needs, strengths, preferences, and goals, and stages in the recovery process.
• Attends multidisciplinary treatment plan conferences for assigned patients and collaborates with the treatment team.
• Completes documentation of patient progress toward achieving goals in weekly progress notes, treatment plan reviews, and transfer or discharge summaries.
• Participates in departmental meetings, unit meetings, in-services, and other meetings as requested.
• Maintains current knowledge in their field of specialization by attending continuing educational programs.
• Performs other duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 1 year of relevant work experience in a healthcare setting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms.

Qualifications (Preferred)

• Master’s Degree.

Pay

This non-exempt position has a starting minimum rate of $23.13 per hour ($24,055.20 annually). The posted rate is a reasonable good-faith estimate of the minimum base pay at the time of posting and may vary based on factors such as labor market data, experience, education, certifications, skills, geographic location, internal equity, budget, and grant funding. Some positions may also be eligible for shift differentials, performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions.

Benefits

Hackensack Meridian Health offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) employees, including:

• Health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid leave.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Retirement benefits.