As shift charge, directs the staff team and programming for severely emotionally, behaviorally and psychologically disturbed children and adolescents in a psychiatric hospital setting serving mental health and forensic admissions.

As shift charge directs, assigns, and monitors work of Psychiatric Child Care Counselor 1’s (PCCC1), provides input for evaluations, on-shift orientation and trains and monitors staff performance, provides feedback to the cottage supervisor to complete the evaluation and competency assessment tool annually;

Has decision-making authority on shift when the team is not in agreement, consults with administrative and medical staff on-call when needed;

May assume shift charge duties on other cottages in the absence of a shift charge;

Is responsible for ensuring adequate staffing and calling in intermittents if necessary;

Acts as a liaison to other departments, i.e., school staff, and recreation department;

Orients, supervises workstudy students, interns and volunteers;

Provides direction to PCCC’s in the management of assaultive behavior, using Physical Assault Response Training (PART-R) specified de-escalation techniques and hands-on interventions;

Check that logs, charting, Incident Reports, and forms are completed;

Approves off-campus activities during shift;

Monitors attendance records for shift staff, collect leave slips and overtime requests;

Assists patients and parents in the development of appropriate communication skills, to include the development of problem-solving and decision-making skills. Conducts an orientation program for new patients assigned to a cottage;

Facilitates psychoeducation, groups, process groups, and community meetings;

Observes ongoing behaviors and prepares treatment plans, written reports, records, charts, per Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and federal Healthcare Finance Administration standards. Monitors, documents and reports patients’ progress. Provides extensive documentation of incidents involving violence, sexual activity, and injury to residents in accordance with Children Administration’s mandate;

Maintains security of cottages through defined monitoring procedures including safety checks and contraband searches. Intervenes in crisis situations to defuse dangerous and/or assaultive situations utilizing early intervention and de-escalation techniques per PART-R. With treatment team members, physically contain/restrain and monitor out of control and violent patients;

Initiates and leads recreational activities on and off campus, teaching group interaction skills and promoting awareness of personal interests and abilities;

Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge of: basic child growth and development and group process.

Ability to: relate to a broad spectrum of emotionally, socially and behaviorally disturbed children and adolescents; function as an integral part of a team, deal with stressful situations in a positive and nonpunitive manner; be aware of the possibility of highly volatile situations and be able to intervene in crisis situations quickly and appropriately, plan and supervise both on and off campus activities.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

A Bachelor’s degree with a major study in Social Sciences, Education, Recreation, Psychology or related field and one year of social service experience. 

OR

Two years as a Psychiatric Child Care Counselor 1.

New class: 1-24-75
Revised definition: 6-10-77
Revised definition: 5-28-86
Revised definition: 5-13-94
Revised definition and minimum qualifications: 7-1-99
Revised minimum qualifications: 2-11-2000
Revised minimum qualifications: 3-12-04
New class code: (formerly 56080) effective July 1, 2007.
Base range salary adjustment adopted 6/30/2017, effective 7/1/2017.
Base range salary adjustment adopted 5/17/2018, effective 7/1/2018.