Counselor Program Support (53297)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Counselor – Program Support is responsible for providing counseling and clinical support services across assigned residential and outpatient programs based on program needs, staffing levels, client census, vacancies, employee absences, and other coverage needs. This position serves as a flexible clinical resource and may be assigned to different programs, locations, levels of care, and schedules to ensure continuity of client services. Responsibilities include the delivery of individual, group, and family counseling services, client screening and assessment, development and monitoring of Individual Treatment/Service Plans (ITP/ISP), clinical documentation, interdisciplinary treatment team participation, crisis intervention, discharge planning, and coordination of appropriate referrals and ancillary services. The Counselor – Program Support is expected to quickly adapt to the policies, workflows, client populations, documentation requirements, and service delivery models of each assigned program while maintaining consistent clinical, ethical, regulatory, and organizational standards.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

- Provide temporary, supplemental, and ongoing counseling coverage within assigned residential and outpatient programs based on operational and client service needs.

- Accept assignments across programs, locations, shifts, and levels of care as directed to support continuity of services and appropriate staffing coverage.

- Provide individual, group, and family counseling services consistent with the needs of the assigned program and client population.

- Conduct client screenings, assessments, and interviews to determine needs, appropriateness for services, treatment recommendations, and referrals.

- Develop, implement, review, and update Individual Treatment/Service Plans based on each client's strengths, needs, abilities, preferences, and identified treatment goals.

- Complete clinical documentation accurately and timely, including assessments, progress notes, treatment plans, reviews, discharge documentation, and other required clinical records.

- Become familiar with and follow the clinical procedures, documentation standards, schedules, workflows, and contractual or regulatory requirements applicable to each assigned program.

- Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings and collaborate with program staff regarding client progress, treatment needs, referrals, transitions in care, and discharge planning.

- Monitor and assess client behavior, progress, treatment participation, and changes in clinical needs.

- Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation and take appropriate action to support the safety of clients, employees, and others.

- Assist programs with maintaining continuity of scheduled groups, individual counseling sessions, assessments, and other required clinical services during staffing shortages or gaps in coverage.

- Coordinate and make appropriate referrals for ancillary, continuing care, community-based, and other supportive services.

- Communicate effectively with leadership and assigned program teams regarding client needs, clinical concerns, coverage needs, and continuity-of-care issues.

- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and the highest ethical and professional standards in interactions with clients and employees.

- Maintain confidentiality and comply with all applicable federal, state, contractual, accreditation, and organizational requirements governing client services and clinical records.

- Maintain flexibility and readiness to transition between assignments as organizational and program needs change.

- Report unusual incidents, safety concerns, or other matters requiring leadership or regulatory notification in accordance with established procedures.

- Maintain regular and reliable attendance and availability necessary to provide consistent coverage across assigned programs.

- Follow all WestCare policies and procedures and embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals of WestCare Foundation.

- Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

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

Experience and Competencies:

- Demonstrated ability to adapt quickly to different programs, client populations, levels of care, and service delivery environments.

- Ability to organize and prioritize responsibilities when transitioning between programs and assignments.

- Ability to learn and consistently follow program-specific clinical, documentation, contractual, and operational requirements.

- Ability to work independently while effectively integrating into multiple interdisciplinary teams.

- Strong clinical judgment and ability to respond appropriately to changing client and program needs.

- Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule based on program coverage needs.

- Ability and willingness to travel between assigned program locations as required.

- Ability to maintain continuity, professionalism, and quality of services while working in changing environments.

- Valid driver’s license and ability to obtain and maintain WestCare’s vehicle insurance is required.

- Ability to obtain and maintain a successful background clearance.

- During your tenure with WestCare there may be new requirements, including, but not limited to vaccinations that are issued by local, State, Federal, and/or Funders that WestCare may have to comply with. Should this occur Human Resources or appropriate personnel will inform you.

- CPR Certification, First Aid Certification, and an annual Tuberculosis test.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

- Minimum bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in counseling, social work, psychology, nursing, rehabilitation, special education, health education, or related human services field is required.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:

- CAP preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

- Work is performed across residential, outpatient, office, community, and other assigned program settings. The position requires regular travel between assigned program locations and flexibility to work at different locations based on organizational and client service needs. Work schedules and assignments may vary based on program operations, staffing needs, client census, vacancies, leaves of absence, and other coverage requirements. The position involves direct contact with clients of varying ages, backgrounds, diagnoses, levels of functioning, and treatment needs and may involve working in fast-paced or emotionally charged environments.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:

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 75 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 using 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 to exchange ideas, information, instructions, and opinions.

- Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.

- The ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations using approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.