Palliative Care Counselor — NYC

Employment Type: Flexible
Location: New York City, community-based

About the Role

We are seeking a mission-driven Palliative Care Counselor to provide psychosocial and expressive therapeutic support to children, youth, and families enrolled in New York State’s Children’s Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) under the Children’s Waiver. The counselor will deliver developmentally appropriate, family-centered interventions that reduce distress, enhance quality of life, and support coping around serious illness, loss, and complex medical needs—primarily in the home/community and via telehealth when suitable.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-informed counseling, bereavement/grief support, and expressive therapy interventions aligned with Children’s HCBS Palliative Care service components.

• Conduct strengths-based assessments; contribute to the Plan of Care in coordination with Health Home/C-YES care managers, LPHAs, and the child/family.

• Deliver culturally responsive, trauma-informed services that promote safety, regulation, and resilience for youth and caregivers.

• Collaborate with medical, behavioral health, school, and community providers; participate in case conferences and crisis/safety planning as needed.

• Maintain compliant documentation (assessments, service plans, progress/encounter notes, service verification) within required timeframes and in accordance with NYS DOH Children’s Waiver/HCBS standards and agency policy.

• Track authorizations, units, and service frequency; support utilization management and QA/QI activities.

• Uphold confidentiality (HIPAA/42 CFR Part 2 as applicable) and participant rights; follow incident reporting and risk management procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

• One of the following New York State licenses in good standing: LCSW, LMSW, Licensed Psychologist, LMHC, or LCAT (meeting all current NYS licensing/scope requirements).

• Experience providing counseling/psychosocial support to children, youth, and families impacted by serious or chronic medical conditions, grief/loss, or behavioral health needs.

• Demonstrated skills in trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically responsive care; comfort working in homes, community settings

• Strong documentation, time management, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills; proficiency with EHRs.

• Valid NYS driver’s license OR reliable NYC travel; ability to work some early evenings/weekends as family needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior work within Children’s HCBS/Children’s Waiver, Health Homes, or pediatric palliative care/hospice.

• Training in grief/bereavement modalities, play/expressive arts, MI/CBT, family systems, or crisis intervention.

• Bilingual (Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, Bengali, or ASL) strongly preferred.

• Experience coordinating with hospitals, specialty clinics, and schools (IEP/504/CPSE/DOE interfaces).

Schedule & Work Setting

• Field-based across NYC’s five boroughs with hybrid documentation/admin time.