Lead Milieu Counselor - SAGE

Job Title: Lead Milieu Counselor 

Department/Program: SAGE

Reports to: Assistant Program Director

Work location: Mt. Scott

FLSA status: Non-exempt

Salary: $22.58/hr. - $24.02/hr. (Bilingual $24.61/hr. - $26.18/hr.) 

Morrison Child and Family Services: We are a Joint Commission and Sanctuary accredited non-profit organization that provides a comprehensive array of services to children, adolescents, and their families. As an agency, Morrison, its team members, and clients commit to the following values of trauma-informed care:

• Nonviolence - being safe and doing the right thing
• Emotional Intelligence - managing our feelings so we don't hurt ourselves or others
• Social Learning - respecting and sharing ideas of our teams
• Democracy - shared decision making whenever possible
• Open Communication - saying what we mean and not being mean when we say it
• Social Responsibility - everyone makes a contribution to the organizational culture
• Growth and Change - creating hope for our clients and ourselves
• Equity - Assuring all can survive and thrive

The Lead Milieu Counselor supervises youth in the milieu of an intensive treatment program providing support and guidance for daily living skills. Responsibilities include providing both program and transitional support and intervention to youth in placement. The Lead MC strives to sustain a strong leadership role amongst the Milieu Counselors and provides direction during shifts when necessary. 

Position/Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides supervision and support for youth in a milieu setting.
• Employs interventions that are consistent with best practices, the therapeutic models delivered by the program, ethical principles, and professional standards, regulations, policies, and procedures, and laws.
• Models appropriate interpersonal interactions while handling the activities and situations in the milieu space.
• Uses structure, routines, and activities to promote effective relationships.
• Responds to client behavior while encouraging and promoting several alternatives for the healthy expression of needs and feelings.
• Assists clients in identifying and developing their strengths through activities and other experiences.
• Recognizes personal strengths and limitations, feelings, and needs.
• Shares decision making whenever possible. Uses a collaborative approach to problem solving.
• Is present and punctual for scheduled shifts and/or meetings.
• Works well within a team environment, sharing workload, responsibilities, credit, and opportunities.
• Uses scheduled supervision constructively, responds nondefensively and applies supervisory feedback.
• This position is in an on-call rotation basis.
• May provide emergency coverage during non-shift times including carrying a phone to support program and staff.
• Demonstrates and models the Sanctuary principles.
• Other duties as assigned to ensure successful operation of program/department.

• Employ developmentally sensitive expectations in setting appropriate boundaries and limits.
• Respond to behavior while encouraging and promoting several alternatives for the healthy expression of needs and feelings.
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships within a team environment by promoting and maintaining professional conduct, negotiating and resolving conflict, acknowledging individual differences, and supporting team members.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize professional limitations and seeks supervision when appropriate.
• Acknowledges and respects the diversity of all individuals and demonstrates openness to providing culturally responsive care and treatment to clients and their families.
• Follows safe medication administration practices by adhering to prescribed medication use, including doses and documentation. Seeks consultation to address medication concerns and availability.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in assessing suicide risk factors and facilitating screening and triage.
• Acts efficiently and quickly in response to medical emergencies and performs CPR and first aid as needed, following all crisis policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates sufficient knowledge to support clients experiencing a mental health crisis including de-escalation techniques and facilitating access to appropriate crisis services.
• Understands and complies with mandatory reporting requirements. Use developmentally appropriate and trauma informed approach to follow agency protocol for assessment and intervention.
• Verbally, and using physical restraint techniques when necessary, de-escalates crisis situations following agency protocol in a manner that protects dignity and integrity.

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• 2 years of experience working with youth or a combination of education and related experience
• Basic computer skills using word processing, spreadsheets, databases and email

• Bilingual in Spanish, both written and spoken
• Bachelor's degree in a social service or field or equivalent education, training and experience
• Direct experience with children and/or adolescents in a residential setting

• Shifts may require day, evening, overnight and weekend hours.
• Overtime and emergency coverage may be required outside of normal assigned shift hours
• Provides emergency first aid, as needed, and maintains a current standard first aid/CPR certification
• Able to pass a comprehensive criminal history background investigation
• Must pass language testing if applicable

• Must hold valid driver's license'” Oregon or Washington within 30 days of hire.