Children's Residential Care Counselor I

Position Information

Make a difference in a child's life.
Join us at Valley of the Moon Children's Center!
This is an excellent opportunity to serve our community's youth and work with some of Sonoma County's finest trauma informed youth counselors.
Starting salary at $ 26.28 /hour ($ 54,849 /year)* plus a competitive total compensation package!
The County of Sonoma Human Services Department is currently recruiting to fill one full-time and five extra-help Children's Residential Care Counselor I positions. This recruitment is also anticipated to be used to fill multiple future full-time, part-time, and extra-help vacancies as they occur during the active status of the list. If you are interested in the current or any of the future anticipated vacancies, we encourage you to apply now!
About The Positions
The Valley of the Moon Children's Center (VMCC) is a part of the Human Services Department's Family, Youth, & Children's Services Division. The Center provides temporary, emergency shelter for children ages newborn through 17 who have entered compassionate care placement due to abuse, abandonment, neglect, or from parents/guardians’ inability to care for them.
Additional Duties Include
Children's Residential Care Counselor I’s carry out the mission of the Department to provide trauma-informed care philosophies and approaches in the day-to-day operations of VMCC. This includes direct supervision of youth, to ensure their safety and well-being, by monitoring program participation and setting limits as appropriate.

• Documenting and submitting incident and behavioral reports
• Providing positive and nurturing experiences to children and youth, while maintaining care and supervision
• Comforting and counseling youth to help minimize the trauma associated with separation from family members or guardians
• Participating in team meetings to ensure critical information about the progress of each youth is communicated to all team members
• Planning and implementing group activities, study support, recreation, and field trips
• Interfacing with staff, counselors, social workers, volunteers, foster parents, school personnel, family members, and other persons providing medical care and case management services
• Providing coaching, mentoring, and teaching of life skills, social skills, and coping mechanisms using established Trauma-Informed Care methods
• Administering medication to individual children per written instructions from medical providers
• Utilizing Therapeutic Crisis Intervention techniques to de-escalate youth in acute crisis for the safety and protection of themselves and others
• Performing minor clerical duties and tasks to help maintain facility cleanliness and order
• Building relationships with a variety of youth and their caregivers as they transition out of VMCC

The Ideal Candidates Will Possess

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Multiple years' experience working in a children's/youth group home, wilderness program/camp, or other environment, requiring strong supervisory facilitation skills, interactive support, and coaching
• Experience in Trauma-Informed Care practices and Secondary Trauma
• The ability to develop positive connections with youth while utilizing role-model problem solving and conflict resolution practices
• Experience working with youth who have suffered significant trauma
• Basic computer skills including Outlook, Word, and Excel
• The ability to document behavioral observations of youth in a concise, clear, objective, and strength-based manner
• The ability to operate basic camera functions and/or the ability to learn to operate cameras for safety of the facility
• An aptitude for monitoring and intervening in high-risk behaviors, handling crisis situations, and providing consistency and behavioral limits through relationship-based interventions
• The ability to develop and maintain relationships with youth and teams in a professional and empathetic manner
• An understanding of cultural competence and diversity
• The ability to problem-solve and/or negotiate in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• An understanding of the impact trauma has both on children’s mental health as well as brain development

PLEASE NOTE: VMCC operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the ability to work evenings and weekend hours is required. Applicants must be willing to undergo a thorough background investigation, psychological evaluation, fingerprinting, criminal history, and a medical and physical abilities examination prior to employment.
About The Human Services Department (HSD)
HSD fosters a positive work environment, where our commitment to providing opportunities for advancement is strengthened by a robust staff development program. We believe in the merits of work/life balance and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that our work contributes to the betterment of our community.
As the largest agency in Sonoma County government, our mission is to protect vulnerable children and adults, and to promote maximum independence and well-being for individuals and families. HSD is responsible for child and adult protective services, veteran services, and administration of state and federal programs, including CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services, and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs. The department is dedicated to providing high quality, client-focused, cost-effective services and values the diversity, integrity, teamwork, leadership, and accountability of all staff in accomplishing the mission of the department.
The Department works collaboratively at the federal, state, and local level to find creative solutions to support the well-being of individuals, families, and the community. To meet that goal, the department has fostered strong relationships with other public and private sector partners, including other government agencies, community-based organizations, and business leaders. For more information regarding HSD's services please visit http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services .
What We Offer
Benefits
You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including
Working at HSD offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing your contributions work to better our shared community.

• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
• Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
• An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range

EXTRA-HELP EMPLOYMENT
Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Intermittent, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most regular employee benefits such as long-term disability insurance coverage; accrual of vacation; participation in the County retirement program; or eligibility to take promotional examinations. Intermittent, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of 1,380 hours within any twelve-month consecutive period. Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.

• Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Completion of sixty semester units at an accredited college with at least nine semester units in child development, sociology, behavioral and social psychology, social casework, social welfare, counseling and guidance, child psychology or a closely related field in behavioral science would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed.
Two years of full-time experience in a position equivalent to the level of Counselor I with Sonoma County may be substituted for thirty semester units of coursework.
Experience: Experience as a group or youth counselor or other experience related to working with children or youths would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed.
License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements as required by the State of California, to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Additional Requirements: Candidates certified for employment must be willing to undergo and successfully complete an in-depth background investigation, including a psychological evaluation, finger printing, criminal history check and a medical examination.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
Knowledge of: sociology, behavioral and social psychology; social casework, social welfare, counseling and guidance, child development, behavioral and related sciences; relationship to personality development, behavior patterns, motivation and group and family dynamics; psychological, sociological, behavioral cultural factors and child development as they relate to dealing with dependent, abused or neglected children; typical child and youth behavior patterns and methods of guidance, counseling and modification of behavioral patterns.
Learns working knowledge of child care services; daily care and nurturing of infants, young children and youth; personal hygiene, grooming; the ability to teach hygiene techniques to children; record keeping; departmental policy, regulations and functions; first aid and CPR; child abuse reporting laws; recreational activities for children and youth; food preparation and service. The Valley of the Moon Children’s Home uses a specific method of interacting with children. Staff is expected to learn and use the prescribed method.
Ability to: effectively communicate orally and in writing, and to listen actively; read and comprehend instructions and standards and apply them to a variety of situations; make and record detailed observations. Write descriptive narratives, including incident or observation reports. Relate to a wide variety of individuals from varied socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and experiences. Establish and maintain appropriate relationships with children and youths. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, health and social service providers, parents, volunteers, foster parents, guardians, and family, law enforcement agencies, other County Departments and the public.
Learns to guide, teach and supervise children and youths; apply basic first aid; bathe, dress, feed and provide recreation where appropriate for infants, children and youths; perform light janitorial and maintenance tasks; direct groups of children and youths during work, meal and leisure time activities; manage aggressive behavior; restrain children for the safety and protection of themselves and others. Supervise children while in a school setting, working in collaboration with school staff to help children achieve their current educational goals. Work different shifts, weekends and holidays.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the application, examination, and department selection processes.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The Selection Procedure Will Consist Of The Following Examination
An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
Additional Information
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
How To Apply
Applications are accepted online at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: EP
HR Tech: EV