Paraprofessional Counselor

GATEWAYS HOSPITAL & MENTAL HEALTH CENTER; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

PTO and holidays

Student loan forgiveness qualifying

Bilingual bonus pay

Job summary

Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center in Los Angeles, CA is seeking a Paraprofessional Counselor to join a multidisciplinary team serving adults with chronic mental health disorders. The role involves monitoring and reporting client behaviors, ensuring treatment compliance, and supporting discharge goals while maintaining safety protocols.

The position requires strong communication, crisis intervention skills, and the ability to work with a diverse treatment team.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education: High School Diploma or GED
• Desired Education: Bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences or related area
• Experience: 1 year in mental health or related field preferred

Responsibilities

• Maintains communication with the team to ensure tasks are covered and assists as needed.
• Facilitates client transportation when required.
• Completes sign in/out procedures and rounds documentation accurately.
• Responds to calls during evenings and weekends.
• Conducts hourly client rounds and documents observations precisely.
• Assists with weekly room checks and reports to supervisor.

Skills

English communication

Crisis intervention

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences or related area

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Normandie Village - Los Angeles, CA 90015

Salary Range: $24.88 - $25.88 Hourly

Title of Position: Paraprofessional Counselor

Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center, located in Los Angeles, is a non‑profit organization that provides an array of comprehensive mental health services for Children, Adolescents, Transitional Aged Youth, and Adults suffering from mental illness in the Greater Los Angeles area. The organization consists of a standalone fifty‑five (55) )‑bed hospital and six outlying outpatient facilities that have anywhere from fourteen (14) beds to one hundred and thirty‑four (134) beds. The organization has approximately four hundred (400) employees.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Paraprofessional Counselor is part of a multi-disciplinary team of staff who provide support, supervision and residential services to adults ages 18‑59 who are diagnosed with chronic and persistent mental health disorders. The Paraprofessional Counselor’s responsibilities include monitoring and reporting clients’ behaviors and activities, monitoring and reporting any facility issues or security concerns, and providing support and supervision to ensure clients are engaging in treatment, complying with House Rules, and making progress toward their discharge goals to lower levels of care.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Maintains communication with team members throughout the shift to ensure that all tasks are covered, and offers assistance where needed.
• Facilitates client transportation, as needed.
• Adheres to client/visitor sign in and out procedures, contraband protocols, and rounds protocols, including accurate completion of all required documentation.
• Responds to incoming calls on evenings and weekends.
• Conducts random security checks of premises and buildings at least hourly throughout shift.
• Conducts client rounds, per designated timeframes (i.e., hourly, Q30 minutes, 1:1), adheres to protocols regarding monitoring of clients, and accurately completes all rounds documentation.
• Assists with weekly room checks for clients as directed by the Supervisor and accurately completes and submits all required documentation.
• Reports safety hazards and maintenance and housekeeping needs to the Residential Manager.
• Observes and records clients’ behavior and activities throughout the facility. Documents these observations via the shift summary and reports them during shift exchange.
• Participates in shift exchange, when on shift.
• Immediately reports any unusual or concerning behaviors or activities to their supervisor, or designated supervisor.
• Prompts clients to complete their activities of daily living (ADLs) including attending to their hygiene/grooming, laundering their clothing, and changing their linen on a regular basis.
• Prompts clients to comply with schedule for medications, meals, groups and other scheduled appointments/activities.
• Monitors and supports clients to take prescribed psychotropic medications, also ensures that emergency medications are accurately recorded when taken by resident.
• Takes, records, and reports client vital signs (e.g., body temperature, blood pressure, etc.) when needed.
• Participates and assists in the investigation of any events that require submission of regulatory agency reports (e.g., CCL, DMH, DSH), or internal agency reporting to QI/EOC/HR.
• Responds appropriately to emergency or problematic situations (e.g., enacts on‑call notification procedure or notifies immediate supervisor, staff, administration, police, fire department, ambulance, and paramedics as appropriate.
• Provides behavioral interventions to clients when needed, including crisis intervention and verbal de‑escalation techniques (e.g., CPI).
• Collaborates with team to encourage clients to engage in treatment, to comply with House Rules, and to establish goals for discharge.
• Conducts themselves as a good role model for clients, consistent with Gateways’ rules of conduct.
• Participates in Paraprofessional Counselor meetings, in‑service trainings, and other meetings as scheduled.
• Assists the treatment team in arranging emergency transportation for psychiatric and medical emergencies.
• Maintains an objective, professional relationship with clients at all times.
• Participates in all required trainings, including trainings on use of equipment (e.g., AED, vital signs monitors, panic alarm, etc.).
• Performs other additional tasks, within the employee’s scope of practice, as directed.

Qualifications

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATES

• Minimum Education Required: High School Diploma or GED
• Desired Education: Bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences or related area

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

• One (1) year experience, preferred but not required, in mental health, social services, customer service, or other rehabilitive/recreational/educational role
• Ability to work and relate effectively with multidisciplinary treatment team, clients and the public
• Ability to identify clients who are in distress and intervene in a timely, calm and appropriate manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently, use good judgment, and remain calm in crisis situations.
• Proven ability to work with adult clients.
• Ability to use word processing and spreadsheet computer programs.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries, abide by policies and procedures, and reinforce compliance with facility House Rules and treatment expectations.
• Ability to accept direction from supervisors and complete assigned tasks.
• Ability to appropriately provide direction to clients.
• Ability to implement crisis intervention techniques and basic counseling skills.

REQUIREMENTS

• Must pass Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and Community Care Licensing (CCL) background clearance.
• Valid California Driver’s license.
• TB clearance.
• Driving record acceptable for coverage by Gateways insurance carrier.
• Fire and Safety Training*.
• CPR/First Aid*.
• Crisis Prevention Institute Training (CPI)**.

Note: If indicated certifications/licenses are lacking, they must be obtained within 180 days of hire. *Training needs to be completed within 30 days from the date of hire on a designated date provided by onboarding. Staff need to be certified at a commensurate level for their role to perform their job duties (staff will be taken off the schedule if certification is not achieved).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job you must be able to carry out all essential functions successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the job.

Employee will be required to lift and/or move unassisted up to 25 pounds.

Benefits

As you consider taking the next step in your career, these are some of the exciting and competitive benefits we offer:

• Student loan forgiveness qualifying employee
• Medical and dental insurance
• PTO for vacation, sick time, bereavement, and personal holidays
• Bilingual bonus pay, when applicable
• Work alongside a talented, collaborative, and compassionate interdisciplinary team
• Receive professional development support from a supportive management team, and more!