Counselor

St. Joseph’s Indian School; South Dakota; On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Joseph’s Indian School is seeking a Family Service Counselor to provide student counseling and coordinate services with families and guardians. The role ensures ongoing communication and collaboration with direct care staff to meet each child’s needs.

The counselor will lead individual, group, and family sessions, assist with admissions materials, and participate in crisis intervention and supervisory processes as required. Evening and weekend hours may be necessary.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, or Psychology is required or pursued.
• Licensure is preferred for practice.
• Valid Driver’s License is required to travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and lead individual, group, and family counseling for identified students.
• Maintain regular communication with parents/guardians and community partners.
• Notify families about special services and coordinate access to supports.
• Lead classroom guidance activities and participate in prevention programs.
• Document observations and coordinate student service plan meetings.
• Assist with crisis intervention and on-call residential rotations.
• Support admission procedures and prepare materials for waiting lists.
• Report abuse to authorities and involve Counseling Services Director as needed.

Skills

Communication

Crisis intervention

Team collaboration

Counseling

Education

Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, or Psychology

Licensure preferred

Valid Driver’s License

Tools

Computer literacy

Job description

The Family Service Counselor is responsible for student counseling, providing communication between St. Joseph’s Indian School and the family and/or guardian for each student, and coordination of services in an effort to meet the individual needs of the child. This is a year-round position. Classification dependent on degree.

Accountability

• Reports to the Counseling Services Director.
• All counselors are required to participate in individual clinical supervision by an approved in-house licensed professional a minimum of once per month. Exceptions may be made at the supervisor’s discretion.

Core Responsibilities

• Supports and models the Catholic Mission and the Native American Culture that are the foundations of St. Joseph’s Indian School.
• Empowers staff to be able to promote a reclaiming environment for all students through the Circle of Courage.

Responsibilities

1. Coordinates and leads individual, group, and family counseling for identified students. Assists with family programming as requested. Collaborates with other departments to facilitate the coordination of interdisciplinary services to students.
2. Provides on-going communication through visits or other contacts with the students’ parent(s)/guardian(s), as necessary to provide information both to and from direct care staff. In person visits to a minimum of 85% of your caseload, as well as initiating professional contacts within Native American communities.
3. Notifies parent(s)/guardian(s) of all special services (additional medical services psychological or educational testing, and other diagnostic assessments) and specific situations (recognition, incidents, etc.) Assists students’ families in identification of needs and access to community supports.
4. Facilitates classroom guidance activities following the standardized guidance program, as well as additional primary and secondary prevention activities. Assists with home enrichment activities and other campus events as requested.
5. Completes student observations and documentation to coordinate and lead student service plan meetings.
6. Completes and updates Counseling Services documentation, reports, and consent paperwork. Also monitors progress on assigned students receiving special counseling services.
7. Assists with crisis intervention services as requested and takes part in the on-call residential rotation.
8. Assists with admission procedures and documentation including Social History, Student/Guardian/Teacher Interviews and Application Status Sheet as requested. This includes the preparation of admission materials for children on the waiting list and their families.
9. Reports any case of physical, emotional or sexual abuse to the proper authorities and notifies the Counseling Services Director when a report is made.
10. Completes other responsibilities as required by the Counseling Services Director.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or enrolled in Master’s program (Counseling, Social Work, or Psychology)
• Computer literacy
• Licensure preferred
• Valid Driver’s License

Physical Demands

• Uses both hands and wrists repetitively for prolonged periods.
• Driving is required.
• Some supervision may require standing for prolonged periods.

Expectations of Hours Worked

• Evenings and weekend hours are required
• Flexible schedule
• Some travel (driving) is required throughout the state