Family Counselor

Join to apply for the Family Counselor role at Alternative Family Services

Family Counselor – San Leandro Ready to make a positive impact in the lives of children, youth and families? Join our team as a Family Counselor at the Gathering Place. As a Family Counselor you will provide a safe, comfortable, and family-friendly environment where referred parents and children who have been separated can complete their visits and receive a range of services including therapeutic, supervised, and observed visitation.

The Gathering Place Family Counselor works with children and families involved in the child welfare system within the Dependency Investigation Unit. As a Family Counselor, you are responsible for promoting positive parenting skills and supporting families during supervised and observed visits. This is a full-time opportunity to work with a dynamic team.

Alternative Family Services is a Foster Family, Adoption and Mental Health Agency that has been serving abused and neglected children in our community since 1973. Our mission is to support vulnerable children and families in need of stability, safety, and well-being in communities.

• Supervise and monitor visits with children and families
• Provide a variety of interventions to promote positive parenting skills. This may include, but is not limited to, coaching, skill building and supportive feedback
• Submit written documentation of visitation to CPS workers according to Agency protocols and expectations
• Transport children to and from visits
• Drive into a variety of community settings using a non-agency owned vehicle in safe working order
• Will be required to work in either the Oakland or Pleasanton office
• Provide emergency response; evenings and weekends may be required
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA privacy practices
• Adhere to our attendance and punctuality policy
• Assume other duties as assigned by supervisor

• Associates Degree or related experience working in the field of child welfare preferred
• Understanding of family dynamics, child and adolescent development
• Experience in foster care, residential or group home care desirable
• Able to drive and transport children into a variety of community settings using a personal vehicle that is maintained in safe working order
• Valid California driver’s license with an acceptable driving record, auto insurance showing as an insured driver on the policy and vehicle registration
• Experience with diverse populations needed
• Agree to work on cultural competency as it relates to the diverse client population served
• Obtain and maintain fingerprint and government background clearances
• CPR/First Aid certification
• Able to read and write fluently in English
• Able to clearly communicate verbally and in writing
• Able to meet the specific linguistic needs to the target population
• Able to maintain a professional demeanor in a stressful environment
• Able to interact calmly and professionally with clients who may act out due to behavioral disabilities and their parents
• Able to interact with co-workers as part of a cooperative team
• Work with minimal direct supervision and able to manage time and prioritize workload
• Possess a high level of integrity, honesty and strong work ethic
• Excellent organizational and detail skills

This position requires the employee to work out in the community and within foster homes throughout the Bay Area. Thus, position requires employee to possess a valid CA driver’s license and valid automobile insurance with his/her name on the verification card as an insured driver on the policy at all times. Position requires daily access to a car in safe working order.

• A professional and supportive work environment
• $24-$25/hour
• IRS standard mileage reimbursement
• Generous Sick Time accrual
• Full-time staff receive a benefits package which includes:
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Chiropractic & Acupuncture
• Flex-spending options
• Life and disability insurance
• 403(b) option
• Over 7 weeks time off annually

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of Ancestry, Age, Color, Disability, Genetic Information, Gender, Gender Identity, Gender expression, Marital status, Medical condition, Military or veteran status, National origin, Race, Religion, Sex and Sexual orientation.