Milieu Staff, Children’s Crisis

About the role

Jefferson Center is committed to inclusivity and serving diverse populations. The Milieu Staff (Residential Counselors) provide milieu management, psychoeducation groups, and ensure safety for children/youth in the Crisis Stabilization Unit. The interdisciplinary team delivers brief 3‑5 day crisis stabilization treatment for youth with behavioral health issues, including depression, suicidal thoughts, trauma reactions, and family concerns, coordinating care and safety planning to support safe return home and to the community.

Responsibilities

• Provides milieu management, guidance, safety, stability, and direction to children/youth using a strengths‑based approach.
• Maintains acceptable attendance and punctuality; consistently at work on time.
• Interacts with children/youth and their families to provide guidance, safety, stability, and direction, including de‑escalating potentially dangerous situations.
• Acquires and maintains certification in Nonviolent Crisis Prevention and Intervention Training (CPI).
• Performs accurate and timely documentation (admissions, shift notes, discharges, inventories, screening of belongings, individual/group sessions, Medication Occurrences, Adverse Incident Reports).
• Monitors and documents client vital signs, physical condition, and behavior as needed; able to administer blood pressure assessments when a nurse is unavailable.
• Acquires and maintains certification as a Qualified Medication Administration Personnel (QMAP) and administers medications per QMAP standards.
• Acquires and maintains CPR/First Aid certification.
• Assists with planning, conducting, and supervision of patient activities (community meetings, groups, on‑site external meetings, family visitation, recreational activities, life skills).
• Facilitates or co‑facilitates psychoeducation groups.
• Assists team in coordinating treatment referrals for clients seeking ongoing treatment after discharge.
• Assigns and monitors clients completing residential unit chores (main areas, hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms).
• Collaborates with kitchen staff regarding meals and snacks.
• Practices OSHA safety standards and disposes of biohazard waste per OSHA.
• May assist in transporting admitted clients to hospitals, aftercare, or other approved services as directed; may be exposed to adverse weather during loading/unloading.
• Effectively responds to client needs and problems, initiates/maintains positive interactions, timely response to phone calls, email, and other requests.
• Adheres to all Jefferson Center Policies and Procedures.
• Remains sensitive to diverse cultural and situational needs of patients.
• Adaptable to staffing needs: may be deployed to another unit/team (adult or youth) during staffing crises or emergencies, as determined by leadership.
• Skill utilization: