Residential Counselor I/Ii - Canyon Oaks Youth Center (Department Promotional)

The Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Division of San Mateo County Health is seeking experienced individuals for the position of Residential Counselor I/II.

There are currently two regular full-time vacancies to fill at the Canyon Oaks Youth Center located at 400 Edmonds Rd., Redwood City, CA, 94062.

Residential Counselors (RC) I/II - will provide advice, assistance, supervision and direction to youth, ages 12–18, who have experienced severe or repeated trauma in their lives, and require mental health care at the County's Canyon Oaks Youth Center. The RC-I/II will oversee the behavior, security, health and welfare of facility residents. Residential Counselors assist in maintaining a positive environment and in establishing achievable goals within the residence and encourage youth to take responsibility for their behavior. They provide an appropriate adult role model for residents and provide group and individual direction using limit setting and sound judgment.

Residential Counselors (RC) drive youth to various appointments and recreational outings on a regular basis. Canyon Oaks Youth Center is a Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program that provides 24-hour care, in all areas of living, to our seriously troubled youth ages 12–18. Serving as an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization for youth in crisis, the day treatment and residential programs focus on stabilizing out-of-control, dangerous behaviors so that youth can be returned to the community as quickly as possible. As support to the day treatment program, RCs also help co-facilitate groups, run community meetings, and provide direct therapeutic interventions guided by licensed allied professionals. Intensive individualized services are provided to these youth, engaging families as working partners in the treatment process.

Ideal candidate will be able to work a shift pattern that could include any combination of daytime, swing and overnight shifts over a 40-hour work week (there will be no back to back shifts), spanning Sunday through Saturday.

The program is a no reject/no eject program which serves youth who, at times, require staff to manage assaultive behavior using physical restraint and/or protective seclusion. Residential Counselors must pass emergency intervention training which includes a written and physical hands-on competency examination; annual examinations are conducted to maintain certification.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Training and experience in managing assaultive behavior and physical restraint.
• A Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology, Education, Counseling, Child Development or related fields.
• A minimum of one year's experience providing direct supervision of youth in a residential treatment setting working with adolescents.
• A California Driver's License in good standing.

IMPORTANT: (COYC) is a Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program and by law, requires employees to obtain and maintain security clearance and be bondable. Any prior criminal conviction since your 18th birthday (excluding marijuana-related offenses that are older than two years as listed in the California Labor Code 432.8) will result in a denial of your security clearance by the Community Care Licensing agency. While in some circumstances an employer may obtain a waiver of conviction from the licensing agency, Behavioral Health has a policy against obtaining such waivers/exemptions for perspective employees. In addition, Behavioral Health will not accept such waivers/exemptions obtained from the licensing agency by applicants in any other manner. Community Care Licensing also requires providers working in this facility to maintain 40 hours of annual training related to the field, most of which are provided by the facility. Clinicians will also need to be trained in Professional Assault Crisis Training model (Pro-Act) upon hire.

Salary:
Residential Counselor I
$34.45 - $43.08 Hourly
$2,756.00 - $3,446.40 Biweekly
$5,971.33 - $7,467.20 Monthly
$71,656.00 - $89,606.40 Annually

Residential Counselor II
$38.32 - $47.88 Hourly
$3,065.60 - $3,830.40 Biweekly
$6,642.13 - $8,299.20 Monthly
$79,705.60 - $99,590.40 Annually

Residential Counselor I is the trainee level class in this series receiving training and gaining expertise and experience in performing the work. This class is flexibly staffed with Residential Counselor II and incumbents are expected to advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating the required proficiency.

Residential Counselor II is the journey level class in this series providing a full range of advice, assistance, supervision and direction to residents. Incumbents at this level work under minimal and with indirect supervision, function with more technical expertise and knowledge in dealing with their assigned work, exercise wide latitude in using discretion, and are called upon to offer technical assistance and/or supervision to Residential Counselors I.

Qualifications

Security Clearance:
Must be able to obtain and maintain security clearance.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Knowledge of :

• Group dynamics.
• Common safety practices and procedures including first aid.
• Principles and practices of child care and custody.
• Child development stages.
• Child and adolescent development and behavior.
• Individual and group counseling techniques, especially behavior modification.

Skill/Ability to :

• Exercise good judgment and act calmly in emergency situations.
• Sense, evaluate, and handle tense group and individual situations as they develop and a willingness to accept responsibility for decisions.
• Work effectively within a team concept.
• Get along well with juveniles and adults and gaining their confidence and respect.
• Instruct, train and supervise subordinate personnel.
• Provide care for juveniles at the facility.
• Deal effectively with parents, other public and private agencies, and the general public.

Special Requirements:
Must have the ability to complete 40 hours of mandated training annually.

Application/Examination