Job Title: Milieu Counselor (Swing/Overnight On-call/Relief position)
FLSA: Non Exempt/hourly
Department: ORR
Reports To: Milieu Supervisor
Work Location: Portland (Downtown Shelter)
Salary: $20.28/hr. - $22.35/hr. Bilingual Spanish ($22.10/hr. - $24.36/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
Job Summary:
The Milieu Counselor is responsible for providing direct care supervision and maintaining a safe and supportive environment for Unaccompanied Children (UC) in accordance to Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) licensing standards, Agency and program policies and standards, and other federal, state, and local regulatory requirements. The program is a 24-hour shelter for male and female minors between the ages of 12-17.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide appropriate intervention to ensure UC safety and well-being; provide 1:1 monitoring of medical, mental health and/or behavior as directed by management or a member of the clinical or multidisciplinary team. (Comply with all Mandatory Reporting guidelines, Preventing Sexual Abuse policies, and Zero Tolerance)
- Conduct intake services for incoming UC to include, but not limited to: completing the necessary paperwork and assessment, providing the UC with an overview of the program services, assist with the initial placement, and assist with new UC orientation
- Provide basic needs to UC upon arrival to the program, which includes, but is not limited to a meal, clothing, hygiene products, shower, bedroom assignment; support routines of UC through assistance and supervision of wake-up, bedtime, personal care, completion of chores, homework, preparing and serving meals, recreational activities, laundry, medical care, and dispensing medication
- Perform behavior management, oversee and participate in youth therapeutic activities (groups, outings, behavior management planning), and crisis intervention (may include implementing a therapeutic hold as designated by Nonviolent Crisis Intervention); supervise UC and set appropriate behavior limits in accordance to the UC’s individual behavior plan and ORR standards
- Assist UC with social skills, anger management, and daily living skills; teach, supervise, and assist residents in achieving their daily goals; follow individual plans and behavior support plans to provide appropriate services to UC and document those interactions using designated forms and/or database
- Interact and build a positive and respectful rapport with UC to reinforce positive behavior and promote social interaction; interact with UC within ethical boundaries at all times
- Accompany UC on outings and activities to promote community inclusion; accompany and/or transport UC to airport, appointments, outings, and activities using established safety protocol. Load and unload residents into the designed vehicle and drive to destinations up to 2 hours away
- Ensure all forms and progress notes are properly completed using the necessary forms and/or database to ensure compliance with ORR standards and federal, state, and local regulatory requirements; document planned interventions, behavior incidents, and general observation of UC skills, behaviors, and mood using the appropriate forms
- Conduct regular and consistent 15 minute headcounts of UC under care
- Must assist in the evacuation of UC as needed due to inclement weather conditions, natural disasters, or other unforeseen occurrences
- Demonstrate a commitment to developing a thorough knowledge and application of the Sanctuary model and other organizational policies & practices.
- Participate in staff development, in-services, and training related to workplace effectiveness; model professional behaviors and implement improvements to business practices with awareness of their impact in a trauma-informed behavioral healthcare organization.
- Other duties as assigned
Competencies:
- Ability to lead a group of staff and clients.
- Ability to maintain composure and professional boundaries in chaotic situations; ability to effectively diffuse or de-escalate potentially volatile situations with clients and/or visitors.
- Ability to keep accurate records and maintain confidentiality;
- Ability to follow oral and written directives;
- Availability to work on any of the seven days of the week; availability to work any shift of the day, including, but not limited to, Swing, or Early Morning, or both;
- Ability to communicate effectively, verbally, and in writing,
- Base knowledge of program policy and procedure, including the importance of safety and security in a residential setting.
Education and Work Experience:
- At least 21 years of age
- High School Diploma
- Minimum of 1 year employment experience in the child welfare field working with children and/or adolescents in a social service setting.
- Basic computer skills using Microsoft Word, Excel, databases and Outlook
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bilingual abilities, including the ability to speak, read, write, and translate documents in Spanish.
- Residential experience
- Knowledge of adolescent developmental issues, trauma, abuse and neglect, substance abuse and dependence, delinquency, peer influence, and related group and individual interventions.
Other Requirements:
- Pass a criminal history background check though Morrison and a suitability determination investigation through the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. For further information review : https://www.opm.gov/suitability/suitability-and-credentialing-faqs/
- Proof of Vaccination (MMR, Varicella, DTap & Influenza annually)
- Meet agency driving requirements: a valid driver’s license for OR or WA and a driving record permitting coverage under corporate auto liability policy. Personal auto liability insurance ($100,000/$100,000 required), if position requires use of own vehicle for work purposes.
- TB test within 30 days of employment
- Bloodborne pathogen training first day of employment.
- Ability to travel between program locations
- CPR/First Aid certification within 30 days of hire and kept current
- All other applicable trainings as required with necessary updates and reoccurrences
- Must pass language testing if applicable.
Environment: Work is done in clinical offices, community settings, including Morrison Residential, administration buildings, public locations, and social service sites. Breaks and meals are subject to interruption. Universal Precautions and remaining alert to the environment are critical to address the potential for violent behavior, exposure to disease, biohazards, noise, and contaminants.
Mental demands: Work assigned is diverse and may involve addressing new and unique circumstances. The work might be unpredictable and disrupts planned tasks, requiring flexible time management.
Physical demands: Ability to remain calm and emotionally available serving youth, adults and or families who have experienced trauma. Proficient with office equipment and physical movement. Ability to perform physical interventions if needed in accordance with program and training. Physical dexterity for reaching, stooping, and repetitive wrist and hand motions.
All Morrison programs and services are accredited by The Joint Commission, a nationally recognized standards-setting and accreditation body for health care. Morrison is also certified as a trauma-informed organization by the Sanctuary Institute. Certification recognizes our dedication to providing a trauma-informed culture and environment for children, families and staff through implementing Sanctuary values, commitments, and tools.
We are an Affirmative Action Plan Employer. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic. In compliance with our Affirmative Action Plan, Morrison uses E-Verify to determine employment eligibility after an offer is accepted.
Applications will be reviewed as received. Morrison reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any point during the posting period.
Morrison employees are offered a variety of benefits including Medical, Vision, Dental, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employer-Paid Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Long-Term Disability, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).