About Job

The Mental Health Counselor is an employee within Acute Care Services. They work as part of the programs’ treatment team, establishing open and effective communication and support among co-workers. The Mental Health Counselor is directly responsible for the supervision of youth, assisting in crisis stabilization, and providing therapeutic support and intervention towards individual treatment goals.

Child and Family Services recognizes the power in Diversity and believes that Equity is a Human Right.

$1 per hour Language Differential! (eligible languages include: Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish or ASL)

Compensation is determined by factors to include evaluating internal equity, individual experience and job value, and aligning with current external market pay to ensure fairness and competitiveness.

SCHEDULE: MIX OF 1ST AND 2ND SHIFTS

Job Responsibilities & Essential Functions

Provide a comfortable youth and family friendly environment conducive to recovery and stabilization
Assist in the development of treatment planning that specifies goals and actions to address the medical, social, therapeutic, educational, and other strengths and needs of youth
Participate in the development and implementation of behavioral plans and crisis/safety plans
Assist in facilitating youth admissions and discharges
Facilitate/co-facilitate recreational groups and wellness activities including physical exercise, nutrition, yoga, meditation, and mindfulness
Provide opportunities for and supervision as appropriate for phone/virtual interaction between youth, guardians, and approved contacts while youth is at the program.
During waking hours perform 15 min checks of youth while in their bedrooms
During sleeping hours perform 30 min checks of all youth
Utilize Massachusetts Behavioral Health Access (MABHA) website to update daily capacity as instructed, use website to locate other services for youth in assisting with aftercare planning and referrals
Interact therapeutically with youth and maintain visual supervision/monitoring of youth as indicated
Utilize verbal de-escalation skills, planned ignoring and redirection to encourage youth to utilize self-soothing skills and increase ability to self-regulate
Utilize physical intervention as a last resort and within the agency guidelines. Employee may be required to physically manage youths, if necessary, using methods and techniques approved and certified through the YCCS Program. All YCCS employees need to complete the program’s de-escalation and physical management certification training.

Work effectively and professionally with youths and collaterals, such as family members, state agency personnel, other agencies, and professionals
Perform basic household duties and meal preparation
Work collaboratively within Acute Care Services staff to cross train and provide coverage as needed.
Maintain regular and timely attendance
Can move readily from task to task as well as move quickly in responding to emergencies
Possess excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
Promote high staff morale and team atmosphere within department
Adhere to the agency’s policy regarding confidentiality
Ability to work within a culturally diverse and inclusive environment
Strong problem solving and decision-making abilities
Communicate with youths in a manner which promotes their growth, human rights, and integration into the community
Cross-trained in the policies, procedures and working with adults on ACCS to assist as needed with programmatic needs

Physical Demands:

Employee may be required to physically manage youths, if necessary, using methods and techniques approved and certified through the YCCS Program. All YCCS employees need to complete the program’s de-escalation and physical management certification training.

All 24-hour/Acute Care Services staff are considered essential. Essential staff are defined as personnel who are expected to report to work as scheduled, regardless of holidays and/or during any emergency situation and/or agency closing (i.e. inclement weather) to ensure the ongoing operations of the program.

Due to the type of work and client needs, this position may need to work beyond a forty-hour work week. Additionally, essential staff may be required to remain on shift or work an additional shift until relief staff are available.

For overnight positions, staff are required to stay awake for the entirety of their shift.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Travel Required

Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation that meets CFS Driver Policy. Occasional travel is required to provide services in different settings and to attend agency meetings, events, and trainings

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.

Required Education and Experience

A completed Bachelor’s degree or High School diploma required. Experience providing milieu support to youths; peer certified and/or recovery coach staff preferred.

Cultural Competency Qualifications:

Awareness of personal attitudes, beliefs, biases, and assumptions about others
Knowledge of the various dimensions of diversity, including gender, race, and ethnicity
Acknowledging that people from other cultural groups may not share the same beliefs and practices or perceive experiences in the same way
Cultural knowledge of key populations that will be served to address disparities in service delivery
Demonstrates positive attitudes towards cultural differences by showing respect and openness towards people whose social and cultural background is different from one's own
Demonstrates skills for communication and interaction across cultures, including the ability to recognize and manage personal behaviors, moods, and impulses to create an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming climate within the agency

Benefits:

Benefit eligible at 20+ hours
Medical – Harvard Pilgrim/Health Plans - 75% employer paid for full-time employees
Dental – Delta Dental
Vision - Eye Med
2 weeks’ vacation accrued over 1st year, 3 weeks after 3 years, 4 weeks after 5 years and 5 weeks after 20 years
12 sick days per year (accrued monthly); 2 personal days per year
10 paid holidays
401K – CFS matches first 1% at 100%; 2%-6% of annual earnings are matched at 50%
Tuition reimbursement – Up to $1,500 per calendar year
FREE Clinical Supervision towards licensure & Professional Licensure reimbursement (LICSW, LMHC)
FREE CEU's and Trainings- up to 1,000 trainings available!
Flexible spending accounts – save on medical expenses and dependent care!
100% Employer paid Life Insurance
100% Employer paid Long Term Disability and AD&D
Mileage Reimbursement of .62 cents/mile & Employee Discount Program
FREE Employee Assistance Program and AbilitiCBT Mental Health program for employees & their family

Child and Family Services, Inc. values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages applicants from the BIPOC, LGBTQ+, AAPI, Hispanic, Latinx and Veteran communities to apply for employment. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, gender, sex,( including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy) disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.