Children's Counselor - Master Level Position at Domestic Violence Center of Chester County – West Chester, Pennsylvania

Work Week: 40 hours Monday, Wednesday Friday 12 to 8 pm and Tuesday and Thursday 9 to 5 pm (With flexibility/ Some Weekend Hrs. as needed)

Status: Nonexempt

Supervisor: Chief Operating Officer ____________________________________________________________

Job Summary: In partnership with parent, provides counseling, and other services for children. Services can include homework assistance, school liaison and social recreation activities for children. Provide parent with services to help child (ren) sustain their well-being. Services for parents can include counseling, parenting education, support, and referrals to community resources.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Maintain strict confidentiality of all client identification and information. May disclose confidential information only with valid, informed consent from a client or party legally authorized to consent on behalf of client.
• Provide child-specific and child friendly services in child friendly settings.
• Provide counseling and children’s services at DVCCC ‘s various locations when required.
• Complete child(ren’s) intake forms and goal plans.

• Assist child(ren) with the development of a safety plan and update when necessary. Document in file that safety plan has been developed and when updated.
• Assure programs assist children with accessing and succeeding in schools.
• Support efforts to provide domestic violence, dating violence and healthy relationship education to schools, youth groups, and other groups.
• Assure that all required documentation regarding child counseling sessions, group meetings, events, and other reports are completed by the timeline.
• Document work daily using DVCCC’s database system and other data collection instruments. Provide information for funding reportsAssist parent with accessing other services for children including support for schools.
• Connect and provide educational, recreational, and social groups (including summer, weekends, and holidays) for children and assist with the coordination and provision of support group activities. Responsible for co-coordinating events for children such as the December Holiday Party, Adopt A Family, and other events.
• Assure parent is assisted with pre-arranging child-care when appointments such as: school, legal, medical, housing and employment are vital to their success.
• Assure parent receives referrals to other systems and referrals are tracked.
• Assist parent with systems advocacy when there are barriers.
• Assistance in answering DVCCC hotline calls.

Skills and Qualifications

• Experience working with children and adults.
• Developed organizational skills with proven history of successfully managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work under pressure and adhere to deadlines.
• Ability to strategize issues related to domestic violence.
• Proven ability to develop trusting, supportive relationships with parents and children.
• Ability to speak to program participants and various audiences.
• Strong commitment to the mission and goals of DVCCC, professional work goals and personal development.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of issues confronted by victims of abuse. Able to work with survivors of abuse and their children. Able to work with a diverse population and assist them with addressing issues.
• Knowledge of early learning.
• Good organizational skills and the ability to write reports/proposals.
• Demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, and internal and external colleagues.
• Works as a productive and cooperative member of a team and willingness to accept supervision and make personal performance improvements.

Other Requirements

• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Products.
• Must have transportation to provide services at DVCCC’s outreach offices, attend meetings and trainings.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours as required to meet program needs and funder requirements
• Adhere to all agency policies and procedures (attendance, work hours, paperwork, etc.)
• Child abuse, criminal, and FBI clearances as required by state and DVCCC.
• Able to move and lift supplies, furniture, etc up to 40(forty) pounds. This position requires visual and auditory acuity and the physical ability to climb stairs, stand for long periods of time, and walk distances.

Environmental Conditions

The incumbent’s typical place of work is an office environment and thus will not be substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and working conditions required of employees assigned to this job. Management has sole discretion to add or modify duties of the job and to designate other functions as essential at any time. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract.

Minimum Training and Experience

• Master’s degree in counseling, Social Work, Mental Health, Child Psychology, Social Services, or equivalent degree and a minimum of two years related experience.