Group Life Counselor (Fill-In)

Josephine County; Grants Pass (OR); On-site; USD 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Josephine County Juvenile Justice Department seeks a Group Life Counselor to support residential care and detention services for youth in Josephine County. The role focuses on group and individual interventions, crisis counseling, and maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment.

Responsibilities include supervising youth activities, facilitating social skills groups, conducting intakes, documenting progress, and coordinating with DHS/OYA as needed.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree (A.A.) or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school, in a job related field, is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Interact with youth and facilitate both individual and department approved groups, programs and activities.
• Provide positive and therapeutic environment that values youth, staff and stakeholders.
• Supervise all daily activities of youth, including meals, recreation, cleanup, room time and visits.
• Perform intake disposition decisions on all youth taken into custody and complete intake/release procedures.
• Write daily shift logs, incident reports, and use CJIS for data entry and retrieval.
• Intervene in crisis situations using Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI).
• Transport youth to appointments, outings and court with valid driver's license.

Education

Associate's degree (A.A.) or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school, in a job related field, is preferred.

Job description

Description

Become a Group Life Counselor and help make a difference in the lives of Josephine County youth. Fill-in staff enjoy the flexible schedule that allows them to participate in important family activities and continue education opportunities.

• Josephine County Juvenile Justice Department provides residential care and detention services to youth in Josephine and neighboring counties. The Residential program is a statewide resource that operates under the Behavioral Rehabilitative Services or BRS federal guidelines. The detention facility operates under Oregon Revised Statutes, which includes evidenced based programming that may include cognitive behavioral treatment programming, educational services, alcohol and drug treatment and evaluations, mental health services and medical services. Both of these programs rely on and collaborate with other state and local agencies. These agencies may include juvenile and adult courts, attorneys, Department of Human Services, law enforcement and the public.
• Staff oversees all aspects of daily living which include but are not limited to, education, recreation, facilitating both group and individual interventions based on department approved curriculum and training, Staff also serves as the primary resource for the youth in these programs and conducts themselves in a professional manner at all times, role modeling respect towards youth, co-workers and our shareholders.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Staff are expected to interact with and visually supervise youth, and facilitate both individual and department approved groups, programs and activities.
• Staff will continue to facilitate conflict resolution between youth; provide consistent and therapeutic interventions that are outcome based, invite change and provide accountability for youth. Based on using the cognitive behavioral curriculum and techniques, Motivational Interviewing Techniques and the CPI non-violent crisis intervention model.
• Staff will be expected to provide a positive and affirming environment that values fellow employees, youth and all the people we serve at all times.
• Provide overall visual and audio supervision and program implementation of all youth in custody and in the residential program.
• Learn and follow the policy and procedure manuals as set forth by Josephine County and the Juvenile Justice Department.
• Staff will be expected to use and follow Oregon Revised Statutes in accordance with their assigned job duties.
• Primary responsibility is implementation of shift activities and delegation of assignments in the absence of Shift Lead.
• To receive and make intake disposition decisions on all youth taken into custody.
• Complete intake and release procedures on youth in custody.
• Search detained youth for weapons, contraband and other harmful articles.
• Inform Shift Lead of intake dispositions, or, as directed by Shift Lead, inform Department of Human Services (DHS) Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) and Juvenile Department personnel of intake dispositions.
• Supervise all daily activities of youth, including meals, recreation, cleanup, room time, showers, visitations, etc.
• Accompany residential youth on community outings.
• Write daily shift log reports, daily point system, incident reports and be able to make computer data entries and retrievals and utilize CJIS.
• Able to intervene in crisis situations using guidance, support and approved Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI).
• Must keep Shift Lead or designee advised of staff and youth whereabouts at all times throughout shift. Other related duties assigned by Shift Lead.
• Serve as primary counselor over assigned youth who require BRS services. Maintain regular contact with Social Services Facilitator regarding youth's progress and needs. DHS contact as needed.
• Facilitate and/or co-facilitate social skills groups.
• Provide individual counseling at a minimum of one hour per week (several sessions may be combined to meet the minimum requirement) and document a weekly summary of individual counseling sessions.
• Conduct room checks as required.
• Perform control room duties which include: monitoring radios, intercoms and cameras; operating emergency fire alarms; telephone communications; control all door locking mechanisms; facilitate and visually supervise youth visits.
• GLC shall provide line of sight and audio supervision at all times to all youth either in detention, residential facility or school.
• Staff must have a valid driver's license in order to transport youth to and from appointments, outings and court. This includes both scheduled and emergent transports in order to meet the needs of the youth and facility.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

Education And Experience

Associate's degree (A.A.) or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school, in a job related field, is preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Successfully complete 40 hours of Detention Standards and Residential facility orientation and training. Obtain and maintain First Aid/CPR Certification and Food Handlers License. Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon Driver's License; safe driving record. These certificates must be obtained during initial probationary period (first six months of employment). Attend on-going training as scheduled.

Background Investigation

Those employed in this position are subject to a background investigation including criminal background investigation and substance abuse testing. Conviction of a crime may disqualify an individual for this position. Individuals in this position are required to receive and maintain approval for employment in the position from the Department of Human Services criminal records unit.

Applicants may obtain a copy of the EEOP Utilization Report.

EEO Utilization Report

This position is not eligible for full medical benefits.