Lead Residential Counselor

Founded in 1867, the Sacramento Children's Home is the oldest active charity in Sacramento and among the most highly respected. SCH is an equal opportunity employer who values an inclusive work environment that celebrates and recognizes the diversity of its employees. At SCH, we appreciate that having employees of many different backgrounds strengthens our organization, and we strive to create a workforce that reflects the diverse and culturally rich communities that we serve.

OVERVIEW: Under the supervision of the Cottage Supervisor, the Lead Residential Counselor ensures that the children in the assigned cottages are provided supervision and appropriate care and that the care is in compliance with all Community Care Licensing and Title 22 regulations. The Lead Residential Counselor works collaboratively with the treatment team to ensure the safety and security, as well as the psychological and physical needs of the children are being met, provides work direction and guidance to Residential Counselors, leads the daily structure to assure it is being adhered to and has the ability to function as the Facility Manager.

DUTIES:

• Residential Care
• Ensure the safety of the residents at all times consistent with agency standards of supervision.
• Assist the children in the performance of regular daily activities, including bed making, personal hygiene, room cleaning, and all other chores normally expected of children their ages.
• Provide a caring, warm, consistent environment for the children through setting clear boundaries, supporting, encouraging, and giving verbal praise and acknowledgment to children for positive actions and decisions to help build self-esteem, age appropriate interpersonal skills, positive thinking, problem solving, proper language, coping skills, respect for others and self and brainstorming alternative, appropriate behaviors, etc..
• Orient new residents to the campus program and ensure the bedroom area is safe, clean and in line with the welcoming plan for new residents.
• Work closely and maintain consistent and appropriate communication with all other staff members as a part of a comprehensive treatment team.
• Maintain discipline and group control at all time, reporting any unresolved conflicts to a supervisor in a timely manner.
• Maintain and follow the daily structure, routines, activities in a timely manner.
• Pro-act and check in with the children frequently to prevent crisis situations.  After an incident has occurred, follow-up and process with the child to prevent further crisis situations and complete any necessary documentation.
• Use Love and Logic approach and techniques in daily interaction with children.
• Provide Trauma Informed Care by using knowledge of the effects of trauma on child development and behavior
• Use Crisis Management techniques including restraints when necessary as learned per Pro-Act to ensure the safety of staff and residents.
• Prepare and serve attractive, well-balanced meals and snacks  per approved menu at the time indicated on the daily schedule.  Maintain a pleasant and cheerful mealtime atmosphere and dine with the children during mealtimes, modeling appropriate behavior and, table manners.
• Ensure that children are properly dressed for various occasions and see that their clothing is appropriately cleaned and maintained.
• Provide educational help when assisting the children with homework and respond to schools in regard to the resident’s behavioral problems as necessary.
• Plan on grounds activities to help the children develop new skills and interests, as well as expanding existing ones.
• Parcitpate in the planning of off grounds activities and take children on these and pre-scheduled outings.
• Participate in and run community meetings. 
• Complete Advocate duties as assigned including interactions with child and all documentation.
• Distribute medication for residents’ self-administration, in accordance with Agency standards and procedures as assigned.
• Provide transportation for children as directed by a supervisor in accordance with agency transport policy.
• Clean and maintain cottages in an orderly condition in accordance with Title 22 regulations.
• Complete written documentation per residential program requirements, and in compliance with agency policy and training.
• Attend and participate in team meetings to be aware of and facilitate the development and application of Needs and Services treatment plans for each child
• Attend and utilize all training that is provided, in compliance with Community Care Licensing (CCL) requirements.
• Ensure accurate recording of worked hours and notify a supervisor of any discrepancies in a timely manner and in accordance with agency guidelines.
• Lead Duties (50%)
• Under the direction of the Cottage Supervisor and Residential Program Manager, oversees the daily operations of the assigned cottage.
• Ensures the structure/routines are run/implemented as indicated on the schedule.
• Assists in the administration of allowance/incentive programs/resident funds to the residents in an accurate manner, ensuring record keeping and compliance with all CCL standards, and agency policies and practices.
• Check in before and after a crisis to ensure the children and staff are processing in a safe and healthy manner and complete necessary documentation.
• Coordinates special events and meals including but not limited to, holidays and birthdays.
• Ensures that the daily meals are prepared per menus and served on time.
• Provides work direction and guidance to Residential Counselors.
• Arranges for staff coverage in emergencies to ensure continuity of care for the residents.
• Completes the weekly duty sheet.
• Ensures that the work within the cottages is being assigned and distributed fairly.
• Ensures the Pro-Act training , Love and Logic, and Trauma Informed Care is being followed/utilized by staff members while interacting with children.
• Oversees medication certified staff distribute medication for self-administration in accordance to Agency policy and CCL standards.
• Complete the daily Medication Supervision Log and follow through with staff members as needed to assure compliance with medication policies.
• Reviews, on a daily basis, the Shift Report, Communication Binder and other documentation for completion, accuracy, and timeliness, following up with staff as necessary.
• Tracks the maintenance and improvements needed in the cottage in addition to ensuring the cottages are clean, orderly, safe, and in compliance with all Title 22 regulations, reporting any needed repairs to the Cottage Supervisor and Maintenance Supervisor.
• Assists in conducting and documenting the monthly fire drills to ensure safety for the residents.
• Addresses Residential Counselor performance/issues/strengths with them daily.
• Provides feedback to the Cottage Supervisor regarding the Residential Counselor’s performance.
• Monitors assigned staff’s absences and tardies, and reports discrepancies or excessive absences to the Cottage Supervisor.
• Keeps the Cottage Supervisor and the other Lead Residential Counselors in the assigned cottage up-to-date on the operations and personnel or resident issues that arise as necessary and during weekly staff meetings.
• Communicate with parents, other providers, and county workers as needed regarding children, daily operations, and crises.
• Assists with Cottage Supervisor duties in his/her absence.
• Ensures that staff receive their required breaks and meal periods.

LOCATION:  2750 Sutterville Rd. Sacramento, CA 95820

SCHEDULE:  Sat 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Tue 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Wed 11:00 am – 10:00 pm, Thu 2:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Fri 1:30 pm – 10:30 pm

SALARY:       $23.59 - $26.53 per hour, to start

Plus $100 monthly stipend for bilingual candidates in Spanish, Russian, Hmong, Cantonese, Farsi (Dari), Vietnamese, or Arabic.

Education and Experience:

A high school diploma or general education degree (GED) AND one of the following:

Two years of full-time experience or its equivalent broken down as follows: at least one year must be working within a Group Home or STRTP and the remainder of the time with the population to be served; or

A BA/BS degree and one year of experience working with the population to be served.

Driving is an essential function of this job. As such, employees in this position will be required to furnish their own vehicle to be used in the course of employment. A valid driver’s license and minimum insurance coverage is also required. Must be at least 21 years old.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge and understanding of the needs of children served in a children’s residential setting.
• Skill and ability to engage and develop rapport with children who have various backgrounds.
• Skill and ability to provide consistency and behavioral limits through relationship-based interventions.
• Skills to communicate effectively with the ability to solve problems in a collaborative manner.
• Able to read, write, speak and understand the English language.
• Knowledge of Title 22 regulations as they relate to group homes.
• Knowledge of safety, facilities, and emergency procedures used in a residential setting.
• Ability to perform housekeeping tasks, including but not limited to, cleaning, washing clothes, preparing meals, ironing, etc.
• Skill to instruct, direct, counsel, and encourage individuals and groups of children.
• Ability to maintain discipline and group control in a therapeutic manner.
• Skill to communicate effectively in written and oral form.
• Skill to listen attentively to residents, co-workers and supervisors.
• Skill to plan and organize multiple tasks at one time.
• Knowledge of medications and their reactions.
• Knowledge of basic mathematics, including addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication, in order to assist residents with homework, preparing meals, distributing medication, etc.
• Knowledge of basic Microsoft Word is preferred.
• Ability to relate with children in a nurturing and respectful manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries with children.
• Ability to work cooperatively with a culturally diverse resident population and work force.
• Ability to work with community and outside agencies in a collaborative and cooperative manner.
• Able to report to work on a regular and reliable basis.

BENEFITS: Excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life and accident insurance, short and long-term disability plans, retirement plan with company match, paid vacation, sick leave, 11 paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, professional development, and career advancement opportunities. Qualified candidates may receive a monthly bilingual stipend.

TO APPLY:  External candidates must complete our online employment application available at www.kidshome.org/careers.

PLEASE NOTE: Non-SCH employees who are made an offer of employment will be required to pass a post-offer, pre-employment background process that includes passing a drug test, including marijuana. Applicants who do not pass any part of this pre-employment process will have their offer of employment rescinded.