Housing Counselor

**Salary**
- $18.95 - $30.41 Hourly**Location**
- Towson, MD**Job Type**
- NON MERIT**Job Number**
- NM.103 04-24**Department**
- HHS/COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES**Opening Date**
- 05/01/2024**Closing Date**
- Continuous**DESCRIPTION**

**BENEFITS**

**QUESTIONS**

Regular Schedule: 34 hours per week

A Non-Merit vacancy exists in the Bureau of Community Based Services, Department of Health and Human Services.

Non-Merit positions are not classified within the Baltimore County Government Classification and Compensation Plan.

Current and future vacancies occurring in this classification may be filled from the list of eligible applicants.

**Examples of Duties**:
Under general supervision, screens, evaluates, and monitors clients in a human services program, provides counseling and case management services as part of a treatment or rehabilitative plan, and makes referrals to other agencies or professionals.

**Example of Essential Duties**:

- Interviews clients to establish case history or reviews case histories of referrals in order to assess eviction prevention, rapid re-housing, or homelessness prevention needs.
- Assesses client needs and independently, or in consultation with a social worker or other licensed professional, develops an appropriate plan which may include referral of client to another agency or professional.
- Monitors and evaluates clients’ participation in service programs referred by case management.
- Provides continuing housing stabilization services, case management services, home visitations, crisis intervention and group facilitation of skill building.
- Places clients in housing, job or community service activities and resolves problems in job assignments as appropriate.
- Maintains detailed records of clients’ activities and provides statistical and narrative reports upon request.
- Follows up on referrals and acts as a liaison between clients, landlords, employers, and other community organizations.
- Prepares statistical and summary reports as requested.
- Creates and maintains landlord relationships.
- Conducts educational, community relations, prevention, and outreach programs.
- Attends meetings and training sessions.

**Examples of Other Duties**:

- Recommends and assists in implementing corrective actions related to problem area in overall program.
- May transport clients and make home visits.
- Performs other related duties as required.

**Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities**:

- Knowledge of the theories and principles of human behavior, growth and development, mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, and problems related to socioeconomic factors.
- Knowledge of modern individual, group, and family counseling techniques, diagnostic assessment, and basic treatment planning.
- Basic knowledge of community, human, and social services assistance programs.
- Knowledge of the organization and role of assigned program within the County and State human services structure.
- Knowledge of community resources and support group available to clients.
- Knowledge and understanding of applicable Federal, State, and local regulations, procedures, and guidelines including those of the courts and criminal justice system.
- Knowledge of County and departmental rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to performance of duties.
- Skill in conducting individual diagnostic/assessment interviews and formulating basic treatment plans.
- Skill on making appropriate referrals.
- Skill in handling hostile individuals.
- Skills in crisis intervention.
- Skill in individual, group, and family counseling.
- Skill in case management.
- Writing skill necessary to complete forms, medical records, case histories, and reports.
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Ability to conduct individual/assessment interviews and to formulate a basic treatment plan.
- Ability to make appropriate referrals.
- Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with others.
- Ability to appropriately handle hostile individual and those experiencing a crisis.
- Ability to interpret Federal, State, and local regulations, procedures, and guidelines for human services professionals.
- Ability to conduct educational programs for clients or for the community.

(NOTE: The duties and responsibilities listed above are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications for all positions in this class. They may not include all of the essential job functions of each position in the class. Each position may not be required to perform all of the essential job functions listed.)

**Qualifications**:
**Required Qualifications**

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in a social or behavioral science. (Experience as described in essential duties may be substituted on a year-for-year basis, up to a maximum of two years for the required education.)

**Licenses and Certificates**

Possession of a valid driver's license equivalent to a non-commercial, class C Maryland