Counselor (AFS) - Senior Peer Counseling Program

The Position

The Human Services Department currently has a part-time Counselor position in the Aging and Family Services (AFS) Divisions Senior Peer Counseling program. The Counselor position is an integral member of the Senior Peer Counseling program offering supervision and training to the senior peer counselors who in return provide emotional and mental health support to homebound elders in their place of residence. In collaboration with a clinical supervisor and other members of a multidisciplinary team, such as AFS care managers, the Counselor will provide active guidance, leadership and training to the senior peer counselors and limited direct care services to the seniors in home. The Counselor will interact with seniors and their families by conducting in-home assessments, using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM 5), to develop thoughtful and creative care plans. In addition, the Counselor will provide reports that are due as part of the contract.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, or Licensed Psychologist. Additionally, the selected candidate will demonstrate excellent customer service; maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers; exhibit skills in oral and written communication; demonstrate creative problem solving techniques; experience working with older adults and different ethnic and cultural groups; display keen observation and evaluation skills of clients; and supervisory experience and facilitation of groups is highly desirable.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the essential duties of the job would be qualifying. A typical way to accomplish this includes:
Education: Masters degree in Psychology, Social Welfare, or comparable field.

Experience:
Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience providing counseling services.
Special Requirements: This position may be required to work other than business hours and requires the ability to travel independently within and outside of City limits.

Examples of Responsibilities

Receives and reviews requests for services
Conducts intake evaluations in the homes of the seniors to determine type and severity of problems
Creates new client files and maintain accurate record and documentation of the program
Creates reports per contract guidelines
Conducts weekly consultation group for the peer counselors
Conducts monthly training for the peer counselor on topics relevant to counseling as well as train and recruit new counselors once a year
Assigns counselors to new cases and assess the quality of services
Supervises work of the peer counselors in group and individual consultation
Interviews clients, relatives and other involved persons to evaluate clients' needs and assess clients condition
Coordinates plan with supervisor, staff, institutions, private practitioners and any other member of the multidisciplinary teams as needed
Makes mandated reports as necessary