School Support Counselor

Under the direction of  the Principal and Clinical Coordinator at the COVE Extension School, the School Support Counselor is primarily responsible for providing a safe and secure school environment for school clients in grades 3 through 6 within a substantially separate special education classroom embedded within Plymouth South Middle School.  The School Support Counselor is expected to be knowledgeable of the school’s therapeutic mission, treatment philosophy, and educational and behavioral support policies and procedures in order to implement this understanding in their direct care and supervision of clients.

The School Support Counselor is responsible for maintaining supervision of the school’s classroom and out-of-classroom spaces while working in a collaborative school team to apply intervention strategies based on student IEP and treatment goals to engage out-of-class students with co-regulation strategies to help them rejoin classes quickly and appropriately.

How You'll Be Making a Difference

• Knowledgeable of school and program routines and structures. Maintain a general understanding of the population of students with whom we work.
• Foster healthy, appropriate relationships with our clients through daily interactions based on social/emotional and behavioral support goals outlined in IEP and treatment plans.
• Assist students with the transitions between each scheduled school activity.
• Coordinates with teaching faculty to plan and participate in activities with students on an individual and small group (less than 6) level in accordance with treatment plans and goals. Teach age appropriate life skills and social skills through modeling, counseling, and other techniques.  Participate in groups and activities designed to enhance growth and development. May join classroom activities as a teacher support.
• Maintain a safe and supportive environment. Manage living, dining, educational, recreational areas to provide a clean, organized environment for students.  Insure adequate supervision of students through coordination of care with other staff.
• Provide group and individual behavior support and intervention as trained, including the use of TCI appropriate physical restraint as necessary. Coordinate medical and emergency situations with the supervisor.
• Communicate through written and verbal means with other program staff on positive skills and accomplishments as well as difficult or challenging client issues
• Participate in all school faculty meetings and trainings.
• Participate in supervision meetings with supervisor
• May be asked to provide work with residential students in cabins as needed
• May be required to carry a mobile device
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Provide First Aid appropriately as needed

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• One year child care experience in a residential setting with similar population of children
• Computer literate, including Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer, with the ability to learn new software applications

Valuing Diversity

We are committed to excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion, while simultaneously creating a culture that supports those values. We believe the differences we bring enhance our ability to provide exceptional service and care to diverse children, families, and communities. Moreover, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging align with our values and our mission to help vulnerable children and their families build permanent, positive change.

Physical Requirements

Continuous walking, standing, climbing, lifting of objects for 7-8 hour shifts.  Ability to effectively restrain using proper TCI techniques when needed.  Ability to read and write.  Must be flexible, may have to work extended shifts.  May be exposed to kicking, punching, spitting children.