Per Diem Child and Family Counselor

Job Title: Per Diem Child and Family Counselor (CPST)
Department: Children and Family Treatment and Support Services

Position Summary

The Child and Family Counselor provides in-home and community-based services to Medicaid enrolled youth ages 0-21 under the Medicaid State Plan Service Community Psychiatric Supports and Treatment (CPST). CPST is a multi-component service that consists of therapeutic interventions such as counseling, as well as functional supports. Activities provided under CPST are intended to assist the child/youth and family/caregivers to achieve stability and functional improvement in daily living, personal recovery and/or resilience, family and interpersonal relationships in school and community integration.  

Department

New Directions’ Children and Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS) provide individualized, strength-based, and trauma-informed care to children and families, offering in-home and community-based interventions that promote healing, stability, and wellness.

Agency

New Directions is an equal opportunity employer committed to championing the principles of anti-racism, justice, and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse cultures and backgrounds, for all positions, who will uphold our values and contribute to our mission. We aim to have a leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Compensation

• $45.00 per hour for billable service hours
• $16.00 per hour for administrative hours

Hours/Schedule

• Per Diem
• Flexible schedule

Location

Niagara County

Professional Development Opportunities

New Directions invests in developing future leaders through training opportunities, supervision, and continuing education support.

Position Specific Duties/Responsibilities

Individualized services:  Deliver trauma-informed, individualized services based on the child’s identified strengths and needs. Administer appropriate identified assessments in the context of the child/youth self-identified needs, goals, and ethnic, religious, and cultural identities. Educate child/youth, family and collaterals on strategies and treatment options supportive to the youth’s needs. Assist the child/youth, family and collaterals with identifying strengths, needs, resources, and supports to improve functioning. Provide restoration, rehabilitation, and support to develop skills necessary to meet the child’s goals. Provide Individual, family and relationship-based counseling, supportive counseling, solution-focused interventions, and emotional/behavioral management. Assist the child/youth with effectively responding to or avoiding identified precursors or triggers that would risk their remaining in a natural community location. Assist families with post-crisis management to support stabilization in the home and community environment. 

Collaborate with Community Partners: Collaborate with formal systems, service providers and informal networks involved with the youth and family in a mutli-disciplinary team format. Maintain a working knowledge of appropriate community resources for linkage and referral. Attend case related conferences. 

Documentation: Utilize New Directions electronic case recording system for assessment, service planning, progress notes, and outcome monitoring purposes. Maintain accurate and timely case records, including progress notes and tracking mechanisms, electronically and in each client’s file. Keep all client and family information, verbal and written, confidential. Adhere to all Medicaid requirements for billing and documentation.

Training: Attend all mandatory in-service trainings as per NDYFS policy and OMH requirements. 

Agency Standards/Norms: • Participate in regular supervision (per New Directions policy and procedure). • Maintain a flexible schedule based around client availability, including evenings. Primary hours of service delivery are after school and evenings. • Adhere to agency and department policies and procedures. • Utilize normative culture. • Perform all other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

New Directions Youth & Family Services, Inc is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

1. Ability to work effectively with clients, families, staff and community contacts from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. 2. Ability to work effectively with children/youth with behavioral, emotional and/or mental health challenges and their families. 

3. Ability to accept supervision and perform as part of a team. 

4. Ability to be flexible and adapt to change. 

5. Must have a valid driver’s license, adequate auto insurance and meet the criteria for driving set forth in the New Directions Driver’s License policy and Auto Insurance policy. 

6. Ability to pass annual physical for Category 1 job classification in accordance with New Directions Employee Health policy. 

7. Must comply with Agency safety standards and be responsible for own actions and conduct concerning safety and healthy working conditions. 

Qualifications

•  Bachelor’s degree in a human services field plus two years of related experience 
• OR Registered Professional Nurse plus one year of experience 
• OR Master’s degree in a human services field plus one year of related experience 

We want to emphasize that the preferred qualifications are not required and that we are committed to helping our future colleagues develop these preferred skills. We strongly encourage those who are passionate about fostering a diverse, inclusive and equitable human service organization to apply.