Western Nevada Regional Youth Center
                                    

CONTACT INFORMATION:

GROUP COUNSELOR I

Temporary On-Call – Flexible Schedule

DEFINITION:  Supervises the rehabilitation, health care, safety, security, recreation, and daily living activities of minors under care, control, and custody and, as a member of a treatment team, designs, implements, monitors, and assesses results of individualized treatment plans for one or more residents; counsels minors and monitors progress in meeting counseling objectives.

DISTINGUISING CHARACTERISTICS:  Group Counselor I Temporary On-Call – Flexible Schedule is part of the entry-level class in the series.  Incumbents initially work under close supervision to learn the procedures and methods of caring for and counseling juveniles.  Group Counselor I Temporary On-Call staff receive guidance from Group Counselors II and direct supervision from Senior Group Counselors.  Incumbents in this position MUST work a flexible schedule and hours, involving any assigned shift and day of week.  (See Temporary On-Call Policies Sheet.)

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:  The duties listed below are examples of the work typically performed by employees in this class.  An employee may not be assigned all duties listed and may be assigned duties which are not listed below.  Marginal duties (shown in italics) are those that are least likely to be essential functions for any single position in this class.

    1.      As a member of the treatment team, directly participate in developing, implementing, monitoring, adjusting, and assessing progress and results of individualized treatment plans.  Conducts skills groups and basic counseling groups under supervision of Group Counselor IIs and IIIs.  Co-facilitates process groups, learns, and teaches client milieu.

2.      Monitor daily activities of juveniles, to insure safe and adequate care and custody.

3.      Instruct juveniles in the performance of daily personal hygiene and cleaning of living areas.

     4.      Make visual checks of minors for health and security purposes; make security checks of buildings and grounds including using video and radio     equipment.

5.      Under supervision of Counselors II/III, record information and complete appropriate documentation as directed.

6.      Admit and release minors, processing relevant paperwork; advise minors of legal rights.

7.      Defuse potentially threatening behavior; restrain youths physically if necessary.

8.      Perform and/or instruct juveniles in minor maintenance duties, housekeeping tasks, including laundry, chores and food preparation.

9.      Drive an automobile to transport minors.

10.  May be required to perform emergency medical care.

11.  May be delegated special projects and assignments.

     12.  Actively fosters, supports, and participates in a team oriented work environment containing open and supportive communication with an         attitude and behavior reflecting a high level of professional ethics.  Demonstrates an active interest in the success of co-workers, clients and families.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT

Knowledge and Ability:

Knowledge of purpose and function of juvenile institutions and the Western Nevada Regional Youth Center; basic principles and techniques in supervision and counseling juveniles.  Group Counselor I Temporary On-Call staff must also know operational policies and procedures of the Western Nevada Regional Youth Center and State standards, First Aid, CPR and emergency medical practices and procedures; individual and group counseling techniques; behavioral sciences and behavior modification techniques.  Group facilitation techniques, group counseling, positive peer culture and client milieu program processes.

Ability to learn the policies and procedures of the Western Nevada Regional Youth Center; learn and apply First Aid, CPR and emergency medical practices; communicate effectively orally and in writing; maintain a close working relationship with a wide diversity of people.  In addition, Group Counselors I Temporary On-Call staff must be able to control the actions and discipline juveniles; recognize health and behavioral problems in juveniles; effectively respond to emergency or critical situations; be an effective part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team; apply the practices and procedures used in detention, custody, care and clinical treatment of juveniles.

 Special Requirements:  Must possess and maintain a valid Nevada State Driver’s License.  All positions at the Western Nevada Regional Youth Center are designated as safety sensitive; individuals filling these positions will be subject to pre-employment drug testing as well as random drug screening while an employee at the facility.  Must pass a background investigation, including a fingerprint check.

 Experience and Training/Minimum Qualifications:  Any combination of training, education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities.  A typical way to gain the required knowledge and ability would be: 

Highly Desirable:  Experience with multi-disciplinary juvenile programs incorporating accountability and treatment modalities.  Also, positive peer culture and client milieu programming.  One year college level course work in Social or Behavioral Sciences; one year supervising or counseling youths.  Volunteer work is acceptable if specific and well documented.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Strength, stamina and dexterity to sit for up to three hours at a single session, lift objects weighing up to forty pounds, stand and walk for at least eight hours a day in confined and/or noisy work areas; ability to stoop, bend, reach and lift objects above shoulders; perform gripping movement with fingers and hands; hearing to perceive alarms and hold conversations on the phone and in person; eyesight and peripheral vision to read documents in common print size and maintain facility security; operate motor vehicles.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Working conditions can be noisy with some danger of exposure to assaultive behavior and communicable diseases.  Some work is performed outside with significant exposure to heat and cold.

Employee will engage in frank, open, and supportive discussions and participate in or respond to events involving teen psychological, social, sexual, biological, and developmental issues of a sensitive nature, including but not limited to the maturation process, gender identity, alternative lifestyle, disciplinary processes, and hygiene instruction.

FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt

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