Counselor-Sonoma

Progress Foundation; Santa Rosa (CA); On-site; USD 51,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Progress Foundation in Santa Rosa, CA is seeking a Counselor to support clients in residential settings. The role involves advocacy, treatment planning, crisis response, and coordination of care within multi-level facilities.

The position requires a high school diploma (bachelor's preferred) and experience in community mental health; CPR/First Aid certification is expected. Training and compliance with policies are essential for daily operations.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required; bachelor’s in a mental health field preferred.
• Experience in residential treatment or social rehabilitation preferred.
• At least 1 year in a community mental health program preferred.
• Effective communication with staff, clients, and providers.
• Must demonstrate good judgment and emotional stability.
• Must be able to negotiate stairs and lift 20 lb.
• Must obtain clearance with California DSS for direct client contact.
• Maintain First Aid and CPR certifications.
• Basic word processing; familiarity with relevant software.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intake interviews with prospective clients.
• Orient new clients to the program and facility.
• Respond to psychiatric or medical emergencies; provide crisis intervention.
• Assist in evacuation during emergencies.
• Develop treatment plans with client participation.
• Communicate with referral sources and treatment staff.
• Complete intake and discharge paperwork; maintain records.
• Initiate discharge planning and transition to next level of care.
• Lead or co-lead group sessions and house meetings.
• Assume primary case coordinating responsibilities for clients.
• Relay information at shift changes and meetings.
• Monitor and record client medications.
• Participate in meal planning and join clients for meals.
• Attend staff meetings and supervision sessions.
• Consult with leadership on case-related issues.
• Maintain the physical plant and report maintenance needs.
• Report suspected abuse to appropriate agencies.
• Promote social rehabilitation philosophy.
• Work overnight shifts.
• Comply with laws, policies, and code of ethics.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Notify of personal events affecting duties.

Skills

Written & verbal communication

Emotional stability

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor's in mental health field

Experience substituting for degree

Tools

First Aid & CPR certification

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Progress Sonoma - Santa Rosa, CA 95405, Salary Range: $51,462.00 - $59,927.00 Commission/year,

ACCOUNTABILITY:

To Assistant Director or Program Director

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum: High school diploma. Preferred: Bachelor's Degree in a mental health related field. Experience may be substituted for the degree requirement, depending on nature and length of experience.
• Specific experience in residential treatment and/or knowledge of social rehabilitation is preferred.
• At least one year's experience in a community mental health program is preferred.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with staff, clients, and other providers both orally and in writing.
• Must, in the sole judgment of Progress Foundation, demonstrate good judgment and emotional stability.
• At all times must be able to negotiate several flights of stairs multiple times during each work shift, and must be able to lift and carry 20 lb. packages multiple times during the work shift.
• Must demonstrate ongoing clearance with the California State Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, allowing direct contact with program clients.
• Must maintain training certification and demonstrated capacity to perform basic First Aid and CPR.
• Basic word processing skills; maintain computer requirements of the City and County of San Francisco Community Behavioral Health Services.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of an Assistant Director or the Program Director, the Counselor provides support and assistance to clients at one of the Progress programs, all of which are housed in multi-level facilities. Generally, the Counselor has primary responsibility for advocating for and responding to the treatment and rehabilitation needs of the program clients. Specifically, Counselors perform the following functions:

I. Essential Functions

• Conduct intake interviews with prospective clients.
• Orient new clients to the program and facility or, whenever possible, enable another client to orient a new client.
• Respond to psychiatric and/or medical emergency situations throughout the facility in a professional, thorough, and timely manner, and do crisis intervention work with clients.
• Assist clients in the evacuation of all floors of the facility in case of fire, earthquake, or other emergency.
• Develop treatment plans with maximum client participation, and support clients' efforts to implement them.
• Communicate appropriately with referral sources and other treatment personnel both within and outside the agency, exchanging information relevant to client treatment.
• Complete all intake and discharge paperwork on assigned clients and maintain progress records on all clients.
• Initiate and participate in discharge planning, so that clients can transition smoothly to the next level of care or the community.
• Lead or co-lead day or evening group sessions, including house meetings or other activities, adhering to the schedule of fixed events, unless circumstances dictate otherwise.
• .Assume primary case coordinating responsibilities for clients, as assigned.
• Relay clinical and house-status information to other staff at shift changes, staff meetings, and at other appropriate times.
• Monitor and record client medications, complying with program procedures.
• Participate in meal planning and preparation at designated intervals, and encourage clients to become involved in these activities. Counselors are to join program clients for all meals.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings, supervision sessions, and case consultation meetings, as scheduled.
• Consult with the Assistant Director, Program Director and the Program Consultant, as necessary, on such issues as case review, medications, group dynamics, etc.
• Be responsible for the physical plant. This includes investigating problems throughout the facility and performing minor cleaning, repair work, and other household tasks, and reporting more serious maintenance problems in a timely manner to the Assistant Director or Program Director.
• Report any suspected abuse of clients directly to the appropriate agencies as outlined in policy and law and per the adult abuse reporting document signed upon hiring.
• Promote the social rehabilitation philosophy among program staff and clients.
• Must be able to work overnight, awake and alert shifts.
• Comply with all applicable federal, state and local governmental laws and regulations, as well as all agency policies and procedures, including the code of ethics.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Program Director.
• Inform the Assistant Director or Program Director of any personal events and/or circumstances which may affect the ability to perform the proscribed job responsibilities and functions or to meet minimum qualifications.

II. Functions Which May Be Accommodated For Persons with Disabilities Covered Under The "Americans With Disabilities Act"

• Lead and/or participate in outings and other recreational activities planned for clients.
• Shop for groceries and other household items with program clients.
• Drive clients to treatment-related destinations.
• Attend meetings, both programmatic and administrative, as a representative of the program, when assigned by the Assistant Director or Program Director.

Qualifications: