Gateway Residential Counselor

Gateway Residential Counselor

Help Others, Make a Difference, Save a Life.

Do you want to make a difference in people's lives every day?
Or help people navigate the tough spots in their life?
And do it all while working where your hard work is appreciated?

You have a lot of choices in where you workmake the decision to work where you are valued!

Join the McNabb Center Team as the Gateway Residential Counselor today!

The Gateway Residential Counselor

JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY

Summary of position:

• The position will be responsible for the supervision of clients, administration of the program rules and level system, and facilitation of a therapeutic, positive and safe milieu.
• Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing supportive listening to clients individually and in group settings.
• Also responsible for weekend work, assisting with milieu activities and overall supervision of clients on the unit.
• Reports to the Team Leader for milieu counselor duties and is responsible for creating an environment conducive to client personal growth and learning skills for substance use reduction.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENT

The Residential Counselor position will operate in the Residential Facility.

1. Supervision of Clients

Monitoring.

• Supervise and monitor clients in a therapeutic manner as evidenced by knowing their locations at all times, taking calmly and rationally, and using point system for behavioral issues on a daily basis.
• Responsible for enforcing program rules by documenting and implementing failures to earn and level restrictions and explaining these to the client at the time of the offense.
• Be aware of clients' whereabouts at all times as evidenced by filling in location on point system sheet every half hour.
• Conduct 15-minute checks when clients are asleep as evidenced by documentation in the sleep log and on the progress notes.
• Supervise the dorm hallway by actively pacing the hallway and looking into each clients' room in order to check on whereabouts and to monitor for the use of contraband.

2. Safe Environment

Drug screens and searches.

• Conduct/assist in obtaining drug screens each time a client re-enters the facility or upon suspicion as evidenced by weekly collection of samples and lab work report.
• Conduct/assist in individual searches each time the client re-enters the center, after visitation, or upon suspicion of contraband.
• Conduct and document room searches as directed by the supervisor or person on-call.
• Client, Facility and Property Safety
• Participate in phone rotation in order to ensure phone is answered every time it rings and to ensure ability to dial 911 or on-call when an emergency arise.
• Conduct daily facility checks at 8am, 4pm, 11pm, and randomly as needed to ensure the security of the facility.
• Model and monitor for safety belt use in the vans by wearing seat belt at all times in vehicles and giving clients reminders to do the same.
• Limit distractions during shift such as cell phone, headphones, etc.
• Execute therapeutic holds in a safe, clinically appropriate manner.
• Demonstrate appropriate utilization of therapeutic hold procedures as evidenced by verbal de-escalation, initiation of a hold only in the case of emergencies, and debriefing following the incident.
• Document use of therapeutic hold during the shift in which it occurred as evidenced on the incident report and progress note.

3. Clinical Service Delivery

Maintain a therapeutic milieu.

• Participate in the daily positives/goals meeting by verbalizing and modeling a constructive feedback statement during each meeting.
• Coach clients in being successful in meeting program expectations by aiding at least one client per night with the goal cited in the daily positives meeting.
• Monitor client's symptoms /behaviors and provide written weekly feedback to the treatment team via the client feedback form.
• Coach clients on how to proactively solve problems by aiding them during situations when needed.
• Conduct and/or oversee therapeutic groups and activities.
• Facilitate and/or monitor recreational activities including, but not limited to, an adventure based group, outing, or organized recreation time by being actively involved in the activity.
• Support and foster family involvement by supervising weekly visitation and/or checking clients in/out of the facility for weekly passes as evidenced by documentation on the visitation log, progress notes and temporary custody agreements.

4. Documentation & Notifications

• Responsible for completing both clinical and administrative paperwork and notifications.
• Responsible for completing shift/client progress notes on a daily basis.
• Responsible for completing and forwarding incident reports to the Services Coordinator within 24 of the incident.
• Responsible for notifying appropriate individuals regarding such incidents during the shift on which the incident occurred.
• Participate in rotation of documenting shift in the Communication Log
• Complete proper documentation for off-site activities as evidenced by using tax-exempt form,…