Paraprofessional Counselor

Overview

Title of Position: Paraprofessional Counselor

Location: Crisis Residential Treatment Program

Exempt/Non-Exempt: Non-Exempt

Union/ Non-Union: Union

Supervisor: Residential Manager

This is a full-time position with a working schedule of Sunday through Thursday (AM Shift)

Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center, located in Los Angeles, is a non-profit organization that provides an array of comprehensive mental health services for Children, Adolescents, Transitional Aged Youth, and Adults suffering from mental illness in the Greater Los Angeles area. The organization consists of a standalone fifty-five (55) bed hospital and six outlying outpatient facilities that have anywhere from fourteen (14) beds to one hundred and thirty-four (134) beds.

The organization has approximately four hundred (400) employees.

The Paraprofessional Counselor is part of a multi-disciplinary team of staff who provide support, supervision and residential services to adults ages 18-59 who are diagnosed with chronic and persistent mental health disorders. The Paraprofessional Counselor’s responsibilities include monitoring and reporting clients’ behaviors and activities, monitoring and reporting any facility issues or security concerns, and providing support and supervision to ensure clients are engaging in treatment, complying with House Rules, and making progress toward their discharge goals to lower levels of care.

• Maintains communication with team members throughout the shift to ensure that all tasks are covered, and offers assistance where needed.
• Facilitates client transportation, as needed.
• Adheres to client/visitor sign in and out procedures, contraband protocols, and rounds protocols, including accurate completion of all required documentation.
• Responds to incoming calls on evenings and weekends.
• Conducts random security checks of premises and buildings at least hourly throughout shift.
• Conducts client rounds, per designated time frames (i.e., hourly, Q30 minutes, 1:1), adheres to protocols regarding monitoring of clients, and accurately completes all rounds documentation.
• Assists with weekly room checks for clients as directed by the Supervisor and accurately completes and submits all required documentation.
• Reports safety hazards and maintenance and housekeeping needs to the Residential Manager.
• Observes and records clients’ behavior and activities throughout the facility. Documents these observations via the shift summary and reports them during shift exchange.
• Participates in shift exchange, when on shift.
• Immediately reports any unusual or concerning behaviors or activities to their supervisor, or designated supervisor.
• Prompts clients to complete their activities of daily living (ADLs) including attending to their hygiene/grooming, laundering their clothing, and changing their linen on a regular basis.
• Prompts clients to comply with schedule for medications, meals, groups and other scheduled appointments/activities.
• Monitors and supports clients to take prescribed psychotropic medications, also ensures that emergency medications are accurately recorded when taken by resident.
• Takes, records, and reports client vital signs (e.g., body temperature, blood pressure, etc.) when needed.
• Participates and assists in the investigation of any events that require submission of regulatory agency reports (e.g., CCL, DMH, DSH), or internal agency reporting to QI/EOC/HR.
• Responds appropriately to emergency or problematic situations (e.g., enacts on-call notification procedure or notifies immediate supervisor, staff, administration, police, fire department, ambulance, and paramedics as appropriate).
• Provides behavioral interventions to clients when needed, including crisis intervention and verbal de-escalation techniques (e.g., CPI).
• Collaborates with team to encourage clients to engage in treatment, to comply with House Rules, and to establish goals for discharge.
• Conducts themselves as a good role model for clients, consistent with Gateways’ rules of conduct.
• Participates in Paraprofessional Counselor meetings, in-service trainings, and other meetings as scheduled.
• Assists the treatment team in arranging emergency transportation for psychiatric and medical emergencies.
• Maintains an objective, professional relationship with clients at all times.
• Participates in all required trainings, including trainings on use of equipment (e.g., AED, vital signs monitors, panic alarm, etc.)
• Performs other additional tasks, within the employee’s scope of practice, as directed.