JOB DESCRIPTION

 

 

POSITION:                            Residential Counselor

MINIMUM                            High School Diploma or equivalent (copy required upon initial hire date)
QUALIFICATIONS:             Valid New York State Drivers License (copy required upon initial hire date)
                                                Physical & TB Test (required within 1 month after initial hire date)

PREFERRED:                       BS or AAS Degree in Related Field
                                                Previous Child Care Experience

HOURS:

              

                  

POSITION LEVEL:              Responsible to the Cottage Manager.                
                                                                                               
POSITION OBJECTIVE:     

            A. To help create and maintain a healthful, safe and therapeutic environment for the children in the cottage(s)

 B. To help implement each child's individual treatment goals.

 C. To provide positive role models for children in the care of the Agency.

           D. To ensure that the basic psychological needs of the children for nurturance, structure and counseling are met.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB:    
    

1. Know the whereabouts of children assigned to the cottage at all times.  Supervision of the cottage environment as it pertains to knowing the whereabouts of each youngster at all times is an essential job responsibility of the Residential Counselor.  Report missing children immediately to the Administrator on Duty or Cottage Manager.

2. Must be able to perform physical intervention (restraints) if necessary to protect the well being of residents.

3. Provide input to treatment team meetings for the planning of each child's treatment goal(s) and techniques.

4. Help implement individual treatment plans with each child.

5. Act as a positive role model for the children by engaging in activities productively and in support of accepted societal norms and values.

6. Instruct, guide and assist children in the follows areas:

1. Organization and care of clothing and personal belongings.
2. Selection and coordination of dress.
3. Personal health, grooming and hygiene.
4. Personal habits and conduct.
5. Social conduct and interaction in the cottage and the William George community.
6. Constructive use of leisure time.
7. Maintenance of clean and neat rooms and shared cottage facilities.
8. Money management.
9. Eating and sleeping habits.
10. Study habits.  

7. Help children develop trusting relationships by actively engaging in activities with them and by expression of caring through role modeling, life space interviews, and constructive discipline.  Be where children are (during waking hours), walk with them to and from Ewald Dining Center for meals, and other program activities, (e.g. school) so as to provide ego support.

8. Help children abide by the established cottage rules and the Agency policies and procedures 

9. Provide support to children in crises through the use of therapeutic crisis intervention techniques, including the use of physical restraint and life space interviews.  Please note that therapeutic physical restraint may be used only after a child care worker has received specific training in this area at the Agency.

10. Supervise and help children in the performance of house jobs.

11. Inventory and mark clothing and personal belongings of children.

12. Collect and store clothing and belongings of children who are absent without leave (AWOL).

13. Supervise children's manners and behavior during meals at Ewald Dining Center.

14. Be informed about the health needs of the children, and administer medications according to the directions of the Health Services Department.

15. Store medications in the locked areas and cabinets provided in each cottage.

16. Refer children to the Health Services Department for all medical problems and for examination and treatment by the nurses and physician 

17. Participate in, and supervise children at campus recreational activities.

18. Evaluate children's performance on the daily level system evaluation sheets according to the guidelines and individual goals, and review them with the children to encourage progress. 

19. Prepare written incident reports on critical incidents and forward them to the Cottage Manager. 

20. Participate in the Unit/Cottage meeting, providing pertinent observations to the Cottage Manager.

21. Transport children to off campus appointments and for travel home as assigned.

22. Responsible for adhering to and performing all duties in accordance with every safety standard, practice and policy of The William George Agency.  This includes, but is not limited to, review of The William George Agency’s Safety Policy and attending all required safety related training.

23. Perform other duties assigned.

24. To adhere to all rules, regulations, policies and philosophy of The William George Agency and the New York State Department of Social Services.    

~Return to WGA Employment~