Senior Counselor

Position Summary

The Senior Counselor provides comprehensive, short-term, home-based services to families involved with the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The Senior Counselor supports families in strengthening safety, stability, and functioning with the goal of preventing out-of-home placement. This role will provide training/supervision to advance your skills in engagement, assessment related to overall-child well-being, and intervention implementation.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Develops case management plans or plans of care and provides direct case management services and/or coordination of care specific to each assigned client and/or family (biological, foster and/or other caretakers as indicated), including interventions necessary to increase the probability of treatment completion, build on strengths of the client and/or family and to improve life functioning.
• Submits and reviews documentation as defined by program.
• Provides front line crisis support to individuals and/or families in the program by phone, in-home and/or in the community as needed based on initial assessment of the presenting concerns and program practice parameters.
• Problem solves by interpreting and adapting guidelines in the field and reviews situational details and assessment with supervisor for a second opinion and consultation.
• Makes decisions based on interpretation of the data presented and/or refines the methods and techniques used.
• Uses judgment to interpret and adapt program guidelines/procedures based on specific concerns/needs/problems presented by client/family.
• Determines the processes and methods to follow based on assessment of the client/family presentation and their strengths; takes a course of action from varying alternatives to provide client/family centered support and care.
• Provides group, individual and/or family counseling to clients with appropriate supervision and coordinates treatment phases with both internal and/or external service providers and/or family supports as appropriate.
• Maintains records of counseling, coordination of care, child and family team meetings and/or case management activities for reporting and tracking purposes and completes all documentation for client medical records in accordance with documentation timelines and in compliance with Medicaid, licensing and other regulatory requirements/agencies as defined by program.
• Demonstrates knowledge of basic psychopathology, crisis theory and other behavioral health concerns, and primary intervention modalities relevant to target population (e.g., skill building, safety planning, parenting skills, and high fidelity wraparound care).
• Serves as a key member of a multidisciplinary team and works collaboratively with DCF, schools, and community providers.

Education And Experience/Qualifications

• BA/BS degree in Psychology, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling or related field is required.
• Previous experience working with client population with mental health and/or co-occurring substance use disorders.
• Effective time management, strong verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Valid Drivers License is required. Safely operates vehicle in the community, based on program needs.