Behavior Management Counselor (probation Counselor Ii)

Job Announcement

The position is located at Stepping Stones, a community-based residential group home for adolescent males ages 14 - 18 on probation that are post-dispositionally court-ordered into the program or adolescent males monitored by a community-based case manager.
This is a full-time position with day, evening, weekend, and holiday shifts, 40 hours per week. Services take place primarily in the group home, followed by three months of support services provided in the assigned resident's home/community following the residential phase. While working as part of a resident's treatment team, the Behavior Management Counselor is responsible for providing case management, therapeutic interventions, and evidence-based counseling services; with the primary goal of assisting the resident in addressing the underlying issues that brought them to the attention of the court, increase their ability to accept personal responsibility through therapeutic treatment, and transitioning successfully to home, school, and community.

Also collaborates with the clinical team to develop weekly strategies, providing treatment interventions, and monitoring progress of goals on the resident’s service plan; conducting individual counseling sessions; and leading group sessions. Provides weekly progress updates and may submit court summaries. When not providing counseling or case management, provides direct supervision and counseling to all residents, in addition to the following responsibilities:

• Ensures facility operation and building safety, maintenance, and security on all assigned shifts.
• Ensures the health care and physical well-being of residents through appropriate disbursement of medication and administration of first aid.
• May be required to testify at court hearings as a program representative reporting on client's behavior and progress in their treatment.
• Operates a 15-passenger van and transports residents to a variety of community activities.
• Supervises and directs the daily routine of residents.
• Supervises the daily treatment and recreational programs that include counseling sessions, treatment and recreational programs that encompass sports, and life skills training.
• Ensures the physical well-being, health care and safety of residents.

Hourly Rate: The selected applicant's starting hourly rate will be in the minimum to midpoint range ($28.6949 - $38.2596) of the advertised compensation range. Promotional rules apply for current Fairfax County Government and Fairfax County Public Schools employees.

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

Counseling and Treatment Services

• Conducts intake interviews and supervises offenders/defendants through office and home visits to verify compliance with court-orders;
• Formulates treatment or rehabilitation plans for and presents written or oral recommendations for adjustment of behavior;
• Supervises and monitors community service requirements; schedules payments, collects court costs and restitution; monitors urine tests;
• Supervises visits or exchanges according to court orders or other relevant agreements;
• Provides intensive supervision/monitoring, counseling and treatment of juvenile and adult offenders;
• Interviews juvenile or adult offenders, their families and related persons to determine the nature of the adjustment difficulty;
• Refers offenders/defendants to other agencies or facilities as needed and maintains liaison with service providers to coordinate evaluations;
• Conducts field investigations;
• Testifies in court and provides required written reports on adjustment and compliance to courts;
• Documents and maintains prescribed records of casework services and periodically compiles related statistics:
• Aids clients in obtaining employment;
• Arranges for the court appearance of the client and family;
• Informs clients of available community resources;
• Arranges appointments for medical examinations and psychological testing;
• Cooperates with representatives from State and local social service and law enforcement agencies in cases of mutual interest;
• Composes and dictates case records, petitions and correspondence;

Residential Services

• Positions located in a residential facility supervise and direct house routines and therapeutic programs;
• Ensures that residents maintain behavioral norms;
• Coordinates and implements a residential program area such as recreational, educational or employment activities;
• May drive a passenger van for educational and recreational trips.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of casework supervision practices and procedures;
• Knowledge of the principles of psychology and sociology;
• Knowledge of current social and economic conditions;
• Ability to use technology to enter and retrieve information;
• Ability to interpret laws, rules, and regulations related to probation work and victim services;
• Ability to interview and counsel clients;
• Ability to prepare complete case records and reports;
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in social/behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or education plus two years of professional experience in probation work, social work, criminal justice, juvenile justice, education, or counseling. A master's degree in the disciplines above may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid driver's license
• The following certifications must be obtained within a specified timeframe after appointment and recertification annually thereafter:
  • Medication Management (Required within 6 months)
  • ServeSafe (Required within 6 months)
  • CPR/First Aid (Required within 30 days)
  • Handle With Care (Required within 30 days)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology, criminal justice, or any other behavioral or Social Sciences.
• At least two years of professional experience counseling families and adolescents, preferably in a residential setting.
• Experience doing case management, treatment planning, and using evidenced-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Expressive Art Therapy, and trauma-informed interventions.
• Knowledge in the use of Microsoft Office Computer Software: Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• All newly hired employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two weeks after the last required dose) as a condition of employment or obtain approval of a medical or religious exemption prior to their start date. Proof of an exemption or vaccination status will be required during the pre-employment onboarding process. New employees who obtain an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs may be subject to a weekly testing requirement. Vaccinated employees and employees with a medical or religious exemption will complete the attestation online on their first day of employment or shortly thereafter.
• This position is considered "essential personnel" and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).
• The appointee to the position will be required to complete the following to the satisfaction of the employer:
  • Criminal Background Investigation
  • Child Protective Services
  • Sanction Screenings
  • Driving Record Check
  • Pre-employment Medical Evaluation
  • Tuberculosis Test

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Must be able to supervise and participate in educational and recreational activities with adolescents (this may include participating in sports activities, standing for periods of time, sitting, and observing). Must be able to physically restrain acting out residents (youth between the ages of 14 - 18). Must be able to operate a motor vehicle. Visual and auditory acuity. Must be able to operate keyboard driven equipment. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a written exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.