Aviva Family and Children’s Services Mission Statement

Aviva believes every child and every family in our Los Angeles community deserves the chance for a brighter future. We provide compassionate support, therapeutic services, and guidance to at-risk children and families.

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Intensive Community Based Services (ICBS) Clinical Supervisor, the In-Home Support Counselor will provide direct one-on-one behavioral interventions to assist an Intensive Services Foster Care (ISFC) placed child in eliminating destructive behaviors, minimizing impulsivity, and to promote pro-social functioning. The In-Home Support Counselor services as a positive role model and assists in development of necessary daily living skills and competencies that are required to successfully live in the community.

Upon hire, the ISFC In-home Support Counselor will complete 40 hours of training pertaining to ISFC placed children prior to caseload assignment. Twenty (20) additional hours of ISFC training is to be completed within the first twelve months of hire.

Essential Functions

• Provide behavioral interventions for clients and caregivers. Behavioral interventions may include:
  • immediate behavioral reinforcement
  • positive reinforcement
  • time-out strategies
  • time structuring activities
  • Cognitive behavioral approaches.
• Provide systems-oriented interventions for client’s family, foster family, or support system. Systems interventions include:
  • collaboration with other members of the mental health treatment team

• • assisting in establishment of effective familial boundaries
  • assisting in linkage to community services.
• Participate in all child/family team meetings
• Make home contact visits weekly, and as often as needed depending on the changing needs of clients
• Provide direct clinical case management services as indicated
• Provide and educate parents/caregivers on Trauma Informed Care
• Drive and provide services in the home, school, and community
• Works closely with case managers, Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Children’s Social Workers, and clinicians to facilitate implementation of the child/family treatment plan.
• Available 24/7, responsible for responding and providing support during crisis situations
• Complete and submit all progress notes, etc. in compliance with ISFC Program Statement, and Department of Mental Health standards.

• Consistently meet agency billing productivity requirements and on-time submission of notes and other documentation
• Continue to provide services and treatment for clients even if change in residence relocates client to another service area
• In collaboration with team members, create and maintain Crisis Safety Plan for families

• Participate and attend agency and ISFC meetings and related trainings
• Attend weekly ISFC case conference meetings
• Attend ISFC meetings and telephone conference calls as designated by DCFS Children’s Social Worker
• Meet weekly with supervisor and consult as necessary when clinically indicated (e.g., potential Suspected Child Abuse Reports, other crisis situations)
• Maintain effective working relationships, and coordinate care, with intra-agency staff, County workers, school personnel, referring agencies, and the community at large
• Adheres to all applicable Federal and State regulations for confidentiality, HIPAA, mandated reporting of suspected child or elder abuse
• Sensitive and responsive to the cultural differences among the agency’s client population
• Actively participate in the quality improvement project

The ISFC In-home Support Counselor will take on special projects or additional duties as assigned by the ICBS Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Director of ICBS, and Assistant Vice President of ICBS.

Competency Requirements

• Ability to speak, read, write and understand English
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to successfully work with families of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds
• Ability to promptly and appropriately respond to a crisis situation
• Must have strong organizational and planning skills
• Knowledge of social services system and community resources
• Demonstrate skill in operating Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel
• Must demonstrate attention to detail
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills
• Must have excellent customer service skills and phone manner
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
• Must demonstrate ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Knowledge of positive behavioral interventions preferred
• Must be willing to work varied hours

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a social science related field and six months experience with severely emotionally disturbed children in a hospital, group home, day treatment, classroom or other equivalent setting

OR

• Associates degree in a social science related field and one year of experience with severely emotionally disturbed children in a hospital, group home, day treatment, class room or other equivalent setting.

OR

• High School diploma and two years of experience with severely emotionally disturbed children in a hospital, group home, day treatment, classroom or other equivalent setting.
• Waiver granted by county if combination of skills, experience and experience meets the cultural and linguistic needs of the target population.

Certifications/Licenses

• Valid CA driver’s license

Additional Requirements

• Tuberculosis clearance
• Department of Justice/Fingerprint clearance
• Satisfactory completion of health screening
• Proof of legal eligibility to work in the United States
• Satisfactory driving record and valid automobile insurance

Delegates Authority To

N/A

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of a ISFC In-home Counselor, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, drive, and use their fingers to manipulate a keyboard or writing instrument. The employee is occasionally required to reach. The employee is rarely required to run, bend, kneel or lift object weighing more than 30 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment is indoor and outdoor. The noise level varies from quiet to loud

This Job Description has been developed to identify some of the duties and responsibilities of this position. It is not intended to limit or encompass all duties and responsibilities of the position.

Aviva Family and Children's Services at its sole and absolute discretion, expressly reserves the right to modify, supplement, delete or augment the duties and responsibilities specified in this and all job descriptions.