See Residential Rehabilitation Counselor 1.

Assists and guides residents in meeting their treatment goals, maintains safety and comfort in housing and treatment area by providing day-to-day therapeutic interaction with residents;  

Directs residents using therapeutic strategies and verbal de-escalation skills while always trying to engage residents in behavior change by using positive verbal techniques; 

Encourages residents to participate in treatment, therapy and approved extra-curricular activities;

Monitors and tracks residents’ participation in incentive programs, providing feedback to residents regarding their individual goals that have or have not been met in the treatment process; 

Compiles data and prepares reports on resident’s progress, behaviors, and therapeutic activities; 

Confers with clinical professionals on resident behaviors and makes recommendations on treatment plan interventions and goals;

Coordinates, leads and assists residents with on-unit pro-social, therapeutic and recreational activities; 

Participates in the development and implementation of behavior management plans for residents; observes residents for unusual or significant behavior

Prepares reports and confers with a multi-disciplinary team in the implementation and/or strategies of therapeutic behavior interventions for residents who are in distress and/or suicidal; 

Maintains unit log books; tracks the incoming and outgoing movement of residents as well as facility-wide movements.

Serves as a first-responder to any unit disturbances and/or emergent/urgent medical situations; calls for assistance; and intervenes as necessary for resident to resident altercations or resident to staff assaults by using verbal de-escalation skills and/or personal safety tactics; may implement physical uses of force such as applying restraints or other devices as required following prescribed procedures and guidelines;  

Operates electronic communication and security equipment and systems in unit control booth;  

Ensures the safety and security of residents by conducting health and welfare checks; conducts dayroom checks; inspects residents’ rooms for cleanliness and comfort; searches rooms and persons for contraband; escorts residents as required;

Briefs supervisors to make them aware of current issue and areas of concern so they may take appropriate action; investigates resident complaints; responds to all types of complaints; 

Assists in controlling, directing, and monitoring the activities and movement of residents to work assignments, meals, recreational activities, medical calls, educational classes, return to rooms, etc., or within a specified area, to ensure safety of residents, staff and the public; work directly with individuals who have special needs, to include long term, mentally ill, geriatric, youthful residents, etc.; 

Participates in team and inter-shift meetings; may participate in meetings that determine residents’ placement and living conditions;

Escorts residents on authorized leave from the less secure transitional facilities to community appointments and activities; 

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of:  policies and procedures of the institution; objectives of behavioral interventions; methods and techniques of security enforcement; management of difficult populations.   

Ability to:  provide assistance in carrying out planned instructions and treatment programs; observe and learn habits and attitudes of residents; recognize problems which should be referred to supervisor; follow oral and written instructions; speak and write clearly and effectively; learn  skills necessary in caring for residents having psychiatric diagnosis and extensive criminal histories. 

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position. 

Satisfactory completion of the Residential Rehabilitation Counselor 1 in-training plan. 

OR 

High school graduation or GED; 

 AND 

Two years of experience providing direct care to psychiatric patients, residents or inmates in a residential or in-patient mental health setting. 

College level course work will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis 

OR 

Equivalent education/experience.