Residence Counselor

Description

A Residence Counselor works at the Children’s Community Residence, known as the Adirondack Youth Lodge (AYL).  Where they offer a temporary, safe place for youth to live with supervision, structure, skill building and behavior support.  Ensures individuals' health, safety and welfare, enhances the quality of individuals' lives, and supports community inclusion.

Essential Functions (Job Duties):

Ultimate responsibility for client programming and care:

• Identification of strengths and unmet needs of youth.
• Skill Building – daily living skills, independent living skills, socialization, supportive counseling (unlicensed), educational and vocational support, family support, physical health support, recreational activities/hobbies.
• Coordinate wraparound service planning with community-based partners.
• Ensure adequate food, shelter and clothing is available for each youth.
• Report nursing or medical concerns to the house RN and supervisor and follow recommendations as appropriate.
• Provide individual assessment and instruction to youth in daily living skills.
• Prepare meals, involving youth in preparation.
• Intervene and assist in crisis situations, accessing appropriate resources as needed.
• Provide support for community outings, including transportation.
• Monitor and dispense medications and adhere to physician’s orders.
• Provide programming as documented in the service/treatment plan.
• Communicate programming information to service providers and supervisor as needed.
• Ensure staffing ratios are always met.
• Demonstrate cultural beliefs in daily interactions.
• Always utilize the least restrictive prompting.
• Participate in staff, team, and residence meetings.
• Attend appropriate training in accordance with the agency's personnel policies and maintain required certifications.
• Perform any related duties as assigned.

Complete timely and accurate documentation as required:

• Contemporaneously and accurately document programming as per policy and procedure manual.
• Accurately document client care and medical information as prescribed.

Miscellaneous:

• Assist with residence cleanliness and upkeep as instructed. • Follow universal precautions protocols.
• Demonstrate flexibility with scheduling.
• Protect client confidentiality.
• Professionally represent Citizen Advocates, Inc. with families, other organizations and the community.
• Follow program policy and procedure manual as written

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:

1. High school diploma or
2. GED with one year experience working with people with developmental disabilities/mental health needs.

Additional Requirements:

1. N/A

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Employees are required to maintain training, licenses, and certifications per regulatory and agency requirements.

Hours and schedules may vary depending on Company need and workload.  Employees will be given as much advance notice as possible when such changes occur.

Employment at Citizen Advocates is “at will”.  You are free to resign at any time and for any reason sufficient to you, just as Citizen Advocates is free to terminate your employment at any time and for any reason.  We do not guarantee continued or permanent employment.

Citizen Advocates is an Equal Employments Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.