Counselor Technician

WESTCARE KENTUCKY INC; Pikeville (KY); On-site; USD 24,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

WestCare Kentucky Inc. in Pikeville, KY is seeking a Counselor Technician to supervise and support program participants, ensuring safety and compliance with WestCare policies.

The role requires a high school diploma and offers a full-time schedule with shifts that may include evenings and weekends. Responsibilities include mentoring, de-escalation using approved crisis techniques, intake support, transportation if authorized, medication processing on admission, and maintaining a clean, safe

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• One year of experience in a comparable position required.
• Two or more years in a behavioral health environment preferred.
• Ability to form professional relationships with staff, volunteers, and participants.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise program participants and report changes to the Program Director.
• Facilitate mentoring, discipline, safety, and observation of participants.
• Use crisis intervention techniques to de-escalate situations.
• Assist with initial assessment and intake of new participants.
• Participate in 24/7 coverage with flexible scheduling.
• Transport participants to school or medical appointments if authorized.
• Monitor participant whereabouts and ensure paperwork to leave WestCare property.
• Assist in implementing recreational activities and maintain facility cleanliness.
• Ensure participant medications are processed on admission and given on time.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Teamwork

Ethical conduct

Judgment

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Pikeville - 173 Redale - Pikeville, KY 41501, Position Type: Full Time, Education Level: High School, Salary Range: $12.00 - $12.00 Hourly, Travel Percentage: Up to 25%, Job Shift: Any, Job Category: Nonprofit - Social Services

Position Summary

The Counselor Technician supervises and provides daily support to assigned program participants. This position is tasked with ensuring the safety of all program participants and ensuring compliance with WestCare policies and procedures. Essential Job Functions include those listed below.

Essential Job Functions

• Supervises program participants under the direction of the Program Director or designee, reporting unusual changes as they occur;
• Facilitates mentoring, discipline, safety, and observation of participants;
• Utilizes approved crisis intervention techniques to assist with de-escalation of situations, ensuring program participant, staff, and visitor safety;
• Implements the behavioral/level system where applicable;
• Assists with the initial assessment and receiving of new program participants;
• Participates in 24/7 coverage by working a flexible schedule, properly tracking hours worked, and consistently arriving to scheduled shifts on time;
• Transports participants to school or medical appointments as required (if authorized);
• Monitors participant whereabouts to be sure they remain on WestCare property, or have appropriate paperwork needed to leave WestCare property;
• Assists in the implementation of recreational activities for program participants, participating where appropriate;
• Ensures the facility is kept clean and in working order;
• Ensures participant medication is processed upon admission and given on time, in accordance with WestCare procedures;
• Embraces and embodies the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of WestCare Foundation;
• Performs any other duties as assigned.

Certifications / Licensures

Valid driver's license and the ability to obtain and maintain WestCare's vehicle insurance is required.

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent is required.

Experience and Competencies

• One (1) year of experience in a comparable position is required;
• Two (2) or more years working in a behavioral health environment is preferred;
• Experience working with individuals struggling with substance abuse and mental health disorders preferred;
• Ability to form and maintain effective, professional, and positive relationships with staff, volunteers, and program participants required;
• Ability to work well, both individually and as part of a team required;
• Adherence to the highest standards of ethical conduct required;
• Ability to exercise good judgement and discretion required;
• Ability to maintain a professional appearance and demeanor required;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required;

Working Conditions

• Work is primarily performed in an indoor or emergency shelter setting;
• Occasional outdoor work and travel between multiple locations may be required;
• Regular and prompt attendance is required throughout employment;

Physical Demands

Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files). Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations through the use of approved physical de-escalation techniques. Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly. Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication. Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employee’s essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility. The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands

Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions. Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions. Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings. Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations through the use of approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.