Paraprofessional Counselor (Tuesday-Friday, 4pm-12am; Saturday, 8am-4pm)

Location: Percy Village

Non-Exempt, Union position reporting to the Residential Manager.

About the role

Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center is a non-profit organization providing comprehensive mental health services for children, adolescents, transitional aged youth, and adults with mental illness in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Paraprofessional Counselor is part of a multi-disciplinary team that supports, supervises, and provides residential services to adults ages 18-59 diagnosed with chronic and persistent mental health disorders.

Responsibilities

• Maintains communication with team members throughout the shift to ensure coverage and offers assistance where needed.
• Facilitates client transportation as needed.
• Adheres to client/visitor sign-in/out procedures, contraband protocols, and rounds protocols, including accurate completion of all required documentation.
• Responds to incoming calls on evenings and weekends.
• Conducts random security checks of premises and buildings at least hourly throughout shift.
• Conducts client rounds per designated timeframes (e.g., hourly, Q30 minutes, 1:1), adheres to monitoring protocols, and accurately completes all rounds documentation.
• Assists with weekly room checks for clients as directed by the Supervisor and accurately completes and submits all required documentation.
• Reports safety hazards, maintenance, and housekeeping needs to the Residential Manager.
• Observes and records clients’ behavior and activities throughout the facility, documenting via shift summary and reporting during shift exchange.
• Participates in shift exchange when on shift.
• Immediately reports any unusual or concerning behaviors or activities to their supervisor or designated supervisor.
• Prompts clients to complete activities of daily living (ADLs), including hygiene, laundry, and linen changes.
• Prompts clients to comply with medication schedules, meals, groups, and other scheduled appointments/activities.
• Monitors and supports clients in taking prescribed psychotropic medications and ensures accurate recording of emergency medications.
• Takes, records, and reports client vital signs (e.g., body temperature, blood pressure) when needed.
• Participates and assists in investigations of events requiring regulatory agency reports (e.g., CCL, DMH, DSH) or internal agency reporting to QI/EOC/HR.
• Responds appropriately to emergency or problematic situations (e.g., enacts on-call notification procedure, notifies supervisor, staff, administration, police, fire department, ambulance, or paramedics as needed).
• Provides behavioral interventions, including crisis intervention and verbal de-escalation techniques (e.g., CPI).
• Collaborates with the team to encourage clients to engage in treatment, comply with House Rules, and establish discharge goals.
• Conducts themselves as a role model for clients, consistent with Gateways’ rules of conduct.
• Participates in Paraprofessional Counselor meetings, in-service trainings, and other scheduled meetings.
• Assists the treatment team in arranging emergency transportation for psychiatric and medical emergencies.
• Maintains an objective, professional relationship with clients at all times.
• Participates in all required trainings, including use of equipment (e.g., AED, vital signs monitors, panic alarm).
• Performs other additional tasks within the employee’s scope of practice as directed.