Unit Counselor

Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Unit Counselor performs a wide variety of tasks related to the care, nurturing, treatment, education, socialization, habilitation, recovery/healing, safety, security, and support of residents. The Unit Counselor interacts directly with the residents and assures that all areas of the facility are clean and functioning as required.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: List all essential job duties. (To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with a disability to perform the essential duties unless this causes undue hardship to the agency.)

• Participate in or conduct orientation for new residents.• Responsible for helping to meet the program needs of residents and developing the spirit, values and culture of the neighborhoods. • Responsible for all communication to residents regarding program processes and activities.• Participate in planned interventions with residents as directed, including the use of Motivational Interviewing.• Provide social support to residents, including verbal assistance to help residents to help themselves with regard to day-to-day life in the residence.• Provide residents on both a group and an individual basis with transportation for housing placement, service appointments, recreational, or other service plan related purposes as appropriate.• Assists with meal-related activities such as warming up food as required, serving it and performing clean-up activities. • Document neighborhood activities and interactions with residents as directed.• Participate in crisis intervention activities as needed • Participate in management and supervision meetings. • Participate in required trainings.• Immediately reports serious incidents, allegations of abuse, incidents, or sensitive situations and completes incident reports in accordance with agency policy.• Comply and promote compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and agency policies helping to strengthen and maintain an ethical organizational culture.• Conduct hourly rounds of the facility to check in on all residents • Report to work on time and as scheduled or mandated• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES• Effective problem-solving skills• Ability to communicate effectively with staff, residents, families, and the public.• Ability to prepare accurate and timely documentation, reports and other written material as assigned• Effective interpersonal skills • Ability to serve as a role model to residents/consumers.• Ability to work with diverse individuals with due respect for and understanding of cultural differences• Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team• Ability to make reasonable and sound evaluative judgments• Ability to use electronic equipment (computers, printers, etc.) effectively• Ability to effectively and efficiently respond to questions from persons served• Ability to facilitate a meeting• Ability to present information to persons served and other employees• Ability to maintain self-control in crisis situations• Ability to speak Spanish preferred• Ability to report for work as scheduled on a consistent basis

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education: High school diploma or equivalent Experience: Some experience in a human services setting

Licenses/Certificates: • Must obtain a food handlers certificate within 45 days of hire (Hylan Shelter Only) • Valid NYS Driver’s license preferred

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.