Licensed Assessment Counselor

Program Overview

Youth Villages' residential programs in Tennessee and Georgia provide safe, nurturing environments for youth ages 6 to 17 with complex behavioral and mental health challenges. These programs are offered across three types of facilities—secure facilities, open campuses, and group homes—each designed to meet the individual needs of youth exhibiting a range of referral behaviors, including aggression, self-harm, suicidal ideations, and problem sexual behavior.

Our residential campuses deliver an intensive treatment program that strikes a unique balance between structure and freedom, all while preparing youth for continued success outside of a residential setting. A key focus is to help each youth step down to the least restrictive treatment option possible by developing the skills they need to thrive in less structured environments through trauma-informed care, clinical interventions, life skills building, and recreation therapy (in selection locations).

Most youth also attend fully accredited schools located on our campuses, ensuring their educational progress continues alongside therapeutic support.

The Assessment Counselor ensures that residential and treatment services are provided to each resident within each respective program.

• Works with other staff and residents to develop and implement individual and group goals
• Completes thorough psychosexual risk assessments and communicates with program staff
• Completes face-to-face assessments for residents before and after crisis
• Documents individual and group therapy as necessary
• Provides general leadership through role modeling for both staff and residents
• Provides individual therapy that encompasses the ability to comfort and listen as necessary
• Provides family therapy through evaluations that focus on interpretations of family rules, roles, and parent figures and the ability to recognize and confront problematic family interventions
• Coordinates appropriate therapeutic action on an individual basis regarding home and/or parental visits as needed
• Formulates assessments and treatment plans that reflect Youth Villages' philosophies
• Provides quality case management and customer service that reflect Youth Villages' mission and values
• Provides support in development and evaluation of daily milieu to meet treatment needs of youth and group
• Communicates all critical events to the supervisor and program staff
• Interviews youth to obtain information concerning psychiatric history and/or other pertinent information to complete youth's in-take documentation
• Maintains required records in a timely fashion for assigned youth and family units
• Performs other duties as assigned

The supervision and treatment of youth requires prolonged periods of walking, standing, running, climbing stairs, and physical agility. Applicants must be able to participate in physical interventions when necessary and frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, occasionally more than 100 pounds. Applicants are required to complete Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) and CPR trainings and pass an agility and strength evaluation.

Applicants must possess a current, valid driver's license.

• Master's degree in a social services discipline (required). Degrees that can be considered include: social work, drug and alcohol education or counseling, psychology, criminal justice, guidance counseling, or marriage and family therapy (others subject to review)
• Must be clinically licensed (LPC, LMSW, LMFT, or LCSW) or 60 days away from completion of licensure (required)
• Experience working with at-risk youth (preferred)
• Experience in a residential setting (preferred)
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent written, verbal, and oral skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Basic computer knowledge
• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule

• Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage and Vision
• 401(k)
• Time off: 2 week paid vacation (full-time) / 1 week paid vacation (part-time), 12 paid sick days per year, 11 paid holidays, Paid Parental Leave
• Mileage & Cell Phone…