Definition

Provides treatment counseling and supervision for severely emotionally, behaviorally and psychologically disturbed children and adolescents in a psychiatric hospital setting serving mental health and forensic admissions.

Typical Work

As a member of a multi-disciplinary team, assist in the formulation, coordination and implementation of individual treatment plans and community placements;

Conducts orientation programs for new patients assigned to a cottage;

Facilitates psychoeducational, process groups, and community meetings;

Assists certified staff in facilitating the educational program;

Coordinates all activities/routines for a group of three to five patients daily. Attends case reviews and functions as an advocate for assigned patients;

Communicate with family members weekly providing them with behavioral updates and treatment plan progress;

Participates with clinical staff in therapy with patients and their families;

Participates in the coordination of discharge planning including meeting with representatives of the RSN, community resources, and designated care providers including family members, foster parents and/or group care providers. Participates in follow-up care and patient treatment service;

Assist children, adolescents and parents in the development of appropriate social skills, to include the development of problem-solving and decision-making skills;

Observes ongoing behaviors and prepares treatment plans, written reports, records, charts, per Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and Healthcare Finance Administration standards. Monitors, documents and reports patients progress. Provides extensive documentation of incidents involving violence, sexual activity, scopes 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 diffuse dangerous and/or assaultive situations utilizing early intervention and de-escalation techniques per Professional Assault Response Training (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;

Transports patients to and from appointments and activities in the community ensuring patient and public safety;

Assists in training and mentoring of new counseling staff and volunteers;

Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of: basic child growth and development.

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.

Legal Requirement(s)

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.

Desirable Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree with emphasis in Social Sciences, Education, Recreation, Psychology or related field.

OR

Two years of college with emphasis in Social Sciences, Education, Recreation, Psychology, or related field and two years of social service experience.

OR

Equivalent education/experience.

Class Specification History

New class: Effective 1-24-75
Revised definition: 6-10-77
Revised definition and minimum qualifications: 7-1-99
Revised minimum qualifications: 2-11-2000
Revised minimum qualifications: 3-12-2004
New class code: (formerly 56070) 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.