Employment Opportunities

SENIOR COUNSELOR

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION: Senior Counselor

PROGRAM ASSIGNMENT: Supported Community Living

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Resource Coordinator

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A college degree and/or a combination of education and experience working with people with disabilities. Prior supervisory experience is preferred.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

A valid driver's license and a driving record that is acceptable from a risk management perspective may be required. The physical ability to assist in lifting consumers may also be required for some assignments. The ability to communicate clearly in oral and written form is essential.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT

Models our Core Values and the Medicaid Waiver philosophy when implementing Individual Service Plans. Expectations include: building and maintaining partnerships with members of the interdisciplinary team; advocating and promoting consumer rights; honest and open communications with everyone; and, a personal commitment to continual learning.

CONSTANT LEARNING ALLOWS FOR CONSTANT IMPROVEMENTS

Is committed to training for self and staff members. Expectations include: completes his/her required training; acquiring extra training and learning experiences for self; ensuring that staff members complete their Competency Based Training and other required training as required; ensuring that staff members are encouraged to seek out additional training; ensuring that staff members will teach consumers skills and tasks as agreed upon; and, ensuring that staff members will implement their own training in an acceptable manner.

Does what is necessary to assure the health and safety of the consumers served. Expectations include: monitoring the physical and mental health of the consumers; training the staff members in the safe transfer and transporting of consumers; that self and staff members complete abuse training, sensitivity training and values training in a timely manner; and, that there is an obvious awareness of accountability for health and safety issues among the staff members.

WE CONTROL OUR DESTINY

Manages personal time efficiently. Expectations include: being at work as expected and on time; getting things done by the expected date; arriving at meetings and appointments on time; assists in developing location specific expectations and Individual Service plans to assure adequate supervision of consumers; training staff on following the location specific expectations and Individual Service Plans; prioritizing work so that the most important items are completed first; that the staff members effectively use their time; making recommendations to improve services; attending meetings to explain decisions and to advocate for consumers; and, keeping supervisors informed of the needs of consumers and staff.

ALL CHOICES COME WITH RESPONSIBILITIES

Is effective in solving most problems. Expectations include: the ability to define the problem; the ability to assign appropriate priorities; the ability to identify alternate solutions; use of good judgment in implementing or not implementing a solution; and, the appropriate use of resources in solving the problem.

Is an effective leader. Expectations include: exhibiting positive behaviors; exhibiting enthusiasm about her/his responsibilities; showing initiative in problem identification; creativity of self and staff members in problem solving; staff members cooperating with each other; and, self and staff members relating to the consumers in an appropriate, natural way.

Respects the fact that the agency recognizes the need for all staff members to find her/his unique balance between work and other life activities to maintain physical and mental health.

THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, WE CAN SERVE WISELY

Is knowledgeable in the daily activities of the consumers and staff. Expectations include: using team work skills in the provision of services; is a supporting member of a Cluster Group; keeping her/his supervisor informed of important incidents, plans, issues, etc. concerning the consumers and/or staff; and, keeping other members of the interdisciplinary team informed of major changes or issues.

Tends to the personal and programmatic needs of the consumers in the home and the community. Expectations include: performing the job duties of a Counselor and conducting training and informational meetings for staff members.

HONEST AND OPEN COMMUNICATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESSFUL RESULTS

Is an effective communicator. Expectations include: clearly communicating the goals and objectives of the ISP with team members responsible for implementation; writing progress notes that meet or exceed the standards; documenting the administration of medications; ensuring quality communications with the consumers’ contacts; ensuring the use of a communication book by everyone at a work site; and, creatively finding and using the most effective means of communicating with all members of the interdisciplinary team.

Follows the agency’s policies and procedures. Expectations include: maintaining confidentiality of information regarding consumers and staff members; following procedures for assuring staff performance; processing payroll information, vouchers and maintaining financial records; completing performance reviews for staff members on time; and, following other processes related to the position.

SECONDARY JOB DUTIES:

IV. POSITION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

The job duties and performance expectations for this position are based upon the Mission and the Core Values of the agency. The description, therefore, forms expectations of ethical, values-based behavior in the provision of services.

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