Milieu Counselor

About Walker

Since 1961, Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs has been a trusted partner for children, youth, and families, navigating some of life’s most difficult challenges. Based in Needham, our mission is to nurture hope, build strengths, and develop lifelong skills in partnership with the children, youth, families, and communities we serve. We provide comprehensive, trauma-informed residential, educational, and clinical services to children and youth with complex social-emotional, behavioral, and learning needs, while supporting their families every step of the way. Through three specialized divisions—Residential & Educational Programs, Behavioral Health & Community-Based Services, and Walker Solutions—we deliver relationship-based care and capacity-building that makes a lasting difference. Today, we serve children, youth, and families from more than 150 communities across Massachusetts.

Make a Difference Every Day

Walker Beacon School is a private non-profit 198-day special education school serving students of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions. Walker Beacon serves approximately 65 students in grades 7 through 12 with average to above average cognitive and academic ability who struggle predominantly with anxiety, depression, and trauma, which frequently manifests as internalizing behaviors. Many students in this school community have also experienced difficulties feeling accepted in a public-school setting while working to explore and accept their identities.

The Milieu Counselor helps to provide a safe, healthy and welcoming milieu within our school and provides supervision of students within the milieu during non-academic periods. The Milieu Counselor provides in the moment support in the classroom, supports students in accessing breaks throughout the school day in order to regulate and re-engage in class, coordinates and facilitates non-academic activities, and assists with running groups.

Essential Functions

• Able to provide supportive counseling when needed and help students develop coping and stress reduction skills and assist with implementation throughout the school day.
• Collaborative member of the Lighthouse Room team to provide specialized instruction to students when they are unable to be in the classroom.
• Substitute in the classroom as needed.
• Responsible for organizing and implementing daily physical activities periods for all students as part of our Health and Wellness Initiative.
• Apply Walker Beacon’s model of therapeutic interventions, including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), and implement treatment protocol and appropriate therapeutic strategies established in student’s treatment plans, IEPs, and individual support plans.
• Address behavioral issues in a manner that is conducive in supporting appropriate behavior, strengthening relationships, and fostering student growth.
• Co-lead a weekly Wellness class and/or a therapeutic group counseling session.
• Attend all staff meetings and professional development activities.
• Supervise students during non-academic times and transitions.
• Responsible for organizing and supervising activities during lunch period, on field trips and all off campus activities including school wide events and the prom.
• Communicate student progress and needs to the Walker Beacon staff.
• Maintain proper records of student time out of class and visits to Lighthouse Room
• All other duties as assigned.

Skills and Abilities

• Must be able to successfully pass and apply Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training
• Must be able to successfully complete First Aid/CPR training
• Proven ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, prioritize among competing priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing environments and organizational needs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills include timely and respectful correspondence, reports, and reflective supervision.
• Ability to stand, walk, and run for extended periods, perform frequent bending, stooping, stretching, lifting (up to 10 lbs.), sitting, stairs, typing, and looking at a computer screen
• Ability to lift packages up to 10 pounds.

Schedule:

• Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm with flexibility as needed for program and operational needs

Qualifications

Education and Certifications

Required:

• HS Diploma or equivalent

Experience

Required:

• Prior experience working with children with mental health, emotional, and learning disabilities

Preferred:

• 2 years’ experience with a similar population

Other Requirements:

• Successfully complete background check suitability requirements
• Must have reliable transportation
• Valid MA driver’s license preferred

Supervision:

• Supervisor: Clinical Director

Equal Opportunity Statement

Walker is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon an individual's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, national guard or reserve unit obligations, participation in discrimination complaint-related activities, or membership in any category protected by federal or state law.