The Family Service Counselor is responsible for student counseling, providing communication between St. Joseph’s Indian School and the family and/or custodian for each student, and coordination of services in an effort to meet the individual needs of the child.  The Family Service Counselor is an active participant in clinical service delivery.  This is an exempt position.

Accountability

Reports to the Clinical Services Director.  (Non-licensed counselors will be required to participate in bimonthly individual clinical supervision by an in-house licensed professional).

Responsibilities

1. Promotes a reclaiming environment for the students through on-going opportunities of encouraging a significant sense of belonging, ensuring experiences for mastery of skills, providing occasion for personal decision making and independence, and helping others through a sense of generosity.

2. Coordinates and engages in individual, group, and family counseling for identified students.  Assists with facilitation of FAST (Families and Schools Together) programming as requested.

3. Provides on-going communications through visits or other contacts with the students’ parent(s)/guardian(s), as necessary to provide information both to and from direct care staff.

4. Notifies parent(s)/guardian(s) of all special services, i.e. additional medical services psychological or educational testing, and other diagnostic assessments.

5. Participates in the coordination of interdisciplinary services to children.  Seeks the input of on-campus personnel or other professionals, i.e. pastoral care staff, school physician, psychologists or other Family Service Counselors, in collaboration with direct care staff.

6. Assists student’s families in identification of needs.  Secures, communicates and networks with outside agencies as necessary to provide services to identified students and family members.

7. Facilitates classroom guidance activities following Standardized Guidance Program, as well as additional primary and secondary prevention activities.  Assists with home enrichment activities as requested.

8. Completes student observations and coordinates the implementation of student service plans into the home and school environments. 

9. Attends and participates in student service plan meetings as required, as well as weekly peer collaboration meetings.

10. Completes and updates Counseling Progress Reports on assigned students receiving special counseling services.  Completes Case Service Plans on assigned students.

11. Completes all required documentation in a timely manner.

12. Assists with crisis intervention services and serves as a member of the Crisis and Risk Management Committees.

13. Assists with admission procedures and documentation including Social History, Student/Guardian/Teacher Interviews and Application Status Sheet.  Prepares admission materials for children on the waiting list and their families.

14. Annually secures necessary consent forms for St. Joseph’s students.  Throughout the year secures specific consent forms required for special circumstances or events.

15. Reports any case of physical, emotional or sexual abuse to the proper authorities and notifies the Clinical Services Director when a report is made.

16. Completes other responsibilities as required by the Clinical Services Director, including coordination of an on-call schedule.

Physical Demands

Uses both hands and wrists repetitively for prolonged periods

Ability to drive for extended periods