Nature of Work

County: Fayette, Raleigh, Summers, Nicholas, Greenbrier

Under general supervision, the Correctional Counselor 1 serves as a member of a multidisciplinary team providing services to an assigned caseload of juvenile residents within a West Virginia Juvenile Correctional Treatment Facility. This position performs entry-level counseling and support duties focused on the daily care, treatment, and rehabilitation of residents. Responsibilities include conducting assessments, intakes, orientation sessions, and providing PREA education and counseling. The Correctional Counselor 1 facilitates a variety of therapeutic and psycho-educational groups, including life skills, coping skills, large muscle movement activities, team-building exercises, and crisis intervention support in collaboration with security staff.

Additionally, this position contributes input to the Unit Manager for recommendations to the courts regarding residents' progress and needs. The Counselor 1 addresses the general and routine needs of residents, complementing the more complex responsibilities of higher-level treatment staff. The role includes providing therapeutic communication, behavior redirection, de-escalation strategies, and facilitating family interactions and legal access for residents. Under the direction of the Unit Manager, the Counselor 1 may lead team-building activities and assist in multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs), video visitations, behavior documentation, and maintaining accurate records in the Offender Information System (OIS). The position may also support Correctional Officers and higher-level counseling staff as needed to ensure a safe and effective rehabilitative environment.