Counselor

POSITION SUMMARY: This role will coordinate resident care with the on-site Care Managers to effectively encourage residents to adhere to their daily schedules and care plan responsibilities. The Milieu Counselor is a strong role model for the residents of Clark's Manor, and demonstrates the ability to develop positive relationships with each resident.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supports resident's growth in independence through community integration and relationship building through individual care plan intervention and execution with tasks including but not limited to skill building, activity scheduling, basic life skills
• Engages residents in a therapeutic and meaningful manner that is not overtly clinical, by face-to face conversations and shared activities respecting the concept of home as safe haven, and always treating residents with the utmost dignity and respect
• Seeks to find and understand the drivers and motivators of the resident's behavior, along with the interdisciplinary care team, in order to foster community integration, relationship building, and increased independence
• Engages with residents to creatively motivate them with tasks including but not limited to vocational training, continuing education, volunteering, art and fitness activities
• Nurtures residents and provides counseling through the process of recovery using evidence-based practices; engages with residents through conversation and shared activities
• Completes all appropriate documentation set forth by management and applicable accreditation and licensing entities including progress and shift notes, monthly summaries, and medication administration recording and resident behavioral/psychiatric assessments
  • Documents and administers (if indicated) medications to residents as directed by the ordering provider following successful completion of Department of Human Services (DHS) - approved medication administration training and certification
• Interfaces with families of residents and other involved parties in a friendly, engaging and supportive manner thereby promoting collaboration and clearly recognizing the family as an integral part of the resident's care team
• Assists residents with planning, scheduling, and the facilitation of resident house meetings
• Supports Care Managers with the following:
  • Communicates with resident's medical providers, psychiatrist, and pharmacist; transfers verbal and written orders into the medical administration record; assists with coordinating care as necessary
  • Communicates with the appropriate ancillary service providers such as clinical therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy based on care plan and physician's orders; assists with coordinating care as necessary
  • Navigates the external provider community and community-at-large effectively for therapeutic, vocational, and recreational supports for the resident thereby promoting community integration and relationship building
  • Assists and trains residents in all aspects of self-care in order to ensure the maximal level of independence for that resident, including but not limited to all aspects of personal hygiene, shopping, cooking, meal serving, budgeting, laundry and housekeeping
  • Ensures a safe and clean living environment for residents through adherence to activities of daily living outlined in resident's care plan
  • Assists residents with transportation planning to and from day programs, appointments, recreational and work activities
• Intervenes in crisis situations using methodology trained in safe crisis management and in adherence with resident care plan
• Addresses resident and house matters requiring immediate attention; acts with a sense of urgency
• Encourages residents in the constructive use of leisure time by engaging the resident in activities based on the resident's care plan
• Performs daily maintenance, cleaning and kitchen duties such as assists in preparing bedrooms for new residents, cleaning and maintaining the kitchen and dining areas, daily upkeep and cleaning of common and office areas, assist with serving resident meals as needed
• Attends appropriate in-service and scheduled staff meetings as directed by supervisor
• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary care team by providing verbal and written daily reports of assigned residents; observes and makes written entries in the shift reports, log books and progress notes as directed
• Conducts fire drills and building inspections based on 55 Pa. Code Ch. 2600 personal care home standards and provides the appropriate documentation for same
• Remains on duty until relieved, adhering to standards, procedures and schedules established by management
• Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), safe crisis intervention and medication administration using agency-trained protocols; maintains current certification/recertification of CPR, first aid, and medication administration certification
• Provides feedback to the supervisor regarding any issues affecting site operations and resident care and programming including advising supervisory personnel of situations requiring follow-up or specific attention, including any situation that could jeopardize or compromise the safety of any resident or staff
• Perform other duties as assigned

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Director of Operations -- Clark's Manor

DIRECT REPORTS: None

CONTACTS: Elwyn personnel, Elwyn clientele, funding and regulatory agency personnel, families, outside health care providers, community and volunteer organizations, social security personnel, DHS personnel and other outside behavioral health/mental health providers

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in human service field, including either social work, sociology, psychology, gerontology, counseling, education or a related field; Master's degree in social work, psychology, rehabilitation, activity therapies, counseling, education or related field, preferred
• Two (2) years of behavioral health direct care experience, with Bachelor's degree; one (1) year of behavioral health direct care experience for Master's degree candidate
• Demonstrated ability to transfer verbal and written provider orders into resident records
• Demonstrated ability to be proactive in anticipating work needs with minimal to moderate supervisory directive, including the ability to perform duties independently with little or no need for direct supervision
• Ability to adapt, multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment with a flexible team player mentality
• Good organizational skills
• Natural curiosity and humanistic approach to care
• Demonstrated ability to be creative in motivating residents towards achieving their goals
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Must be able to perform CPR, safe crisis intervention and medication administration using agency-trained protocols
• Must possess excellent customer interaction, collaboration, presentation, and written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated basic experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Knowledge of Electronic Health Record (EHR) / Electronic Medical Record (EMR) preferred
• Must have current, valid driver's license in state of residence, three (3) years driving experience in the United States, and acceptable driving record

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE: See Physical Demands Checklist.

See Physical Demands Checklist below which represents the general physical demands and environment conditions to which the employee holding this position must meet, in addition to the duties and responsibilities listed above, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Elwyn will engage otherwise qualified candidates for this position whose disabilities may require reasonable accommodations to enable an resident to perform the essential functions.

Elwyn reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as needed. This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive statement of duties and responsibilities of the job nor does it constitute a written or implied contract.

Elwyn California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Elwyn does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, pregnancy status, medical condition, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, sexual orientation or identity, age, national origin, citizenship, handicap status, marital or family status, mental or physical disability, perceived disability, military or veteran status, political activities or affiliations, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation.