Senior Front Desk Counselor

Postgraduate Center for Mental Health; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Front Desk Counselor at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health provides supportive counseling and crisis intervention for residents, with duties including safety monitoring, documentation, and assisting with daily living needs.

Responsibilities include maintaining visitor logs, conducting fire drills, and coordinating with clinical staff during crises while upholding PCMH policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required; college degree or 2 years in a mental health field is desired.
• Minimum one year experience as a counselor in a residential, mental health or related setting.

Responsibilities

• Monitor safety and security of the facility and residents.
• Document significant activities in the Communication Logbook.
• Perform light maintenance and housekeeping tasks.
• Ensure visitors sign in at the Visitor Log.
• Conduct monthly fire drills.
• Assess and respond to resident situations using de-escalation techniques.
• Report crises and emergencies to clinical staff and document appropriately.
• Order, supervise, and count medication per policy.
• Maintain client case records and write progress notes and service plans when needed.
• Escort clients to medical appointments and other pertinent visits.
• Participate in residential staff meetings.

Skills

De-escalation techniques

Crisis intervention

Customer service

Documentation

Safety monitoring

Education

High School Diploma

college degree or 2 years in mental health field (desirable)

Job description

JOB SCOPE

The Front Desk Counselor provides supportive counseling and crisis intervention as required by individual residents. Major areas of responsibility include monitoring the safety and security of the facility, providing good customer service, and exercising good judgment in managing crises.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Maintain the environment of the facility safely and securely, including monitoring video surveillance cameras and conducting hourly building walk-throughs to assess the physical environment, and ensure the well-being of residents.
• Document significant building activities and events in the Communication Logbook.
• Perform light maintenance and housekeeping skills, such as picking up or emptying garbage, mopping up spills, shoveling snow, etc.
• Ensure all resident visitors provide identification and sign in the Visitor Log.
• Conduct monthly fire drills.
• Assess and respond to resident situations, including the utilization of de-escalation techniques.
• Report crises, untoward incidents, and emergencies immediately to the clinical staff on call and document such events in the program log, incident reports, and on appropriate forms in a timely manner.
• Order, supervise, and count medication in accordance with Licensed Housing Medication Policy and Procedures, where applicable.
• Maintain accurate client case records, including writing progress notes and creating service plans, when needed, and as promulgated in PCMH Policies and Procedures.
• Conduct apartment inspections and provide support to clients with regard to daily living skills.
• Escort clients in the community to medical, benefit, or other pertinent appointments.
• Participate in residential staff meetings.
• Remain on site until relief staff arrive.
• Adhere to personnel and residential policies and procedures as outlined in the PCMH Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual and the Residential Policies and Procedures Manual.
• Performs other duties, consistent with the goals and objectives of the program, as assigned by the Program Director or Regional Director for Residential Services.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required, college degree or 2 years of college in a mental health field desired.

Minimum one year experience working as a counselor in a residential, mental health or related setting.