Relief Counselor, Redwood House - Caminar

Agency Description: Caminar and our divisions transformed the lives of over 31,000 youth and adults across San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Solano, Contra Costa, and Butte counties last year through education, behavioral health care, and support. Driven by compassion, science, and our understanding of root causes, we deliver high-quality prevention, treatment, and recovery services to those with complex mental health, substance use, and co-occurring needs.

We understand that quality behavioral health outcomes occur when a person is supported in all their basic human needs, and we actively partner with our clients and the community to address the social determinants of health that lead to sustained well-being. We are here to empower and support the most vulnerable members of our community to move toward wellness, resilience, and independence.

Caminar values diversity. People of all races, ethnicities, countries of origin, faith, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities are welcome here.

Position Description:  Under supervision of the Program Director and/or Assistant Director, Relief Counselors, who replace regular Counselors in their absence or who supplement the counseling staff, provide support and assistance to clients through individual and group counseling in a crisis or transitional residential treatment program.  Relief Counselors work as needed to relieve full-time staff.  Applicants must be available for evening, overnight and weekend shifts. The ability to work several shifts per week is also strongly preferred. Relief counselor is responsible for reporting work availability on a weekly basis to the Associate Director or his/her designated representative. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:  

• Responsible for reporting work availability on a weekly basis to the designated program representative.  Must be regularly available to work day, evening, overnight and weekend shifts as needed. 
• Develop and maintain a respectful, caring, tolerant, ethical, and empowering relationship with all individuals served. 

• Establish and maintain clear and effective communications with clients, ensure that their needs are met, assist them in the development and implementation of their treatment plans, and prepare them for the next level of care or other discharge options. 
• Monitor and document clients' intake of psychiatric medications and ensure that medications are handled and stored in accordance with established program procedures and licensing regulations; regularly review medication logs to ensure that they are accurate and complete. 
• Document clients' progress in program charts and conduct regular chart reviews in accordance with established program procedures. 
• Assist program management in ensuring compliance with all agency policies and procedures, contractual agreements, licensing and certification requirements, and local, state, and federal laws and regulations. 
• Provide one-to-one and group counseling to program clients, as assigned and as necessary. 

• Provide accurate, timely, and complete transfer of program and client information to other staff as they begin their shift. 
• Assist program management with ongoing development, implementation, evaluation, and refinement of documented curriculum in support of all classes and groups provided. 
• Conduct educational classes for program participants, as assigned, ensuring that the curriculum for such classes is documented, regularly updated, improved, and expanded. 
• Provide crisis intervention as necessary. 
• Perform client intake interviews and assessments, as assigned. 

• Remain alert and perform job functions as assigned and as necessary during awake overnight shifts. 
• Orient new clients to the program, or, when possible, enable other clients to orient new clients. 
• Coordinate client treatment and rehabilitation among all those involved, including therapists, other providers, and family members. 
• Maintain and safeguard client monthly allowance accounts, petty cash funds and program funds.  Provide accurate monthly accounting of these funds and ensuring that they balance properly and that all receipts are submitted to the corporate office in a timely manner. 
• In conjunction with all other program staff members, actively participate in the effort to ensure that the facility environment is homelike, clean, safe, attractive, and comfortable at all times.  Notify program management of all needs for repair or maintenance of the facility or program vehicles, involving clients when appropriate. 

• Assist program management to create and maintain a safe and professional working environment free of hostility, harassment, and discrimination. 
• Facilitate and lead structured program activities, as assigned. 
• Educate clients about and enable them to make use of free and low-cost community resources for social and recreational use, as well as service resources, such as AA and NA. 
• Participate in staff meetings and attend other meetings, as assigned. 
• Attend and participate in regularly scheduled supervisions sessions. 

• Attend training events as assigned, completing a minimum of twenty (20) hours of in-service training annually. 
• Assist program management in maintaining the program budget by carefully managing resources and by exploring and recommending cost saving measures and approaches to service delivery. 
• Establish and maintain productive working relationships with funding agency representatives, referral sources, neighbors, merchants, police, and others with whom the program interacts. 
• Assist clients with room maintenance, laundry, meal planning and preparation, shopping, and cooking. 
• Participate in promoting a safe, healthy and clean working environment at all times consistent with applicable laws, industry standards and the agency’s own Health & Safety Program. 

• Complete and submit accurate time sheets and absence reports to program management in a timely manner. 
• Promote within the agency and with the general public the philosophy and practice of social rehabilitation. 
• Drive own or agency vehicle to transport clients and on various errands, as required; documenting and reporting mileage according to agency procedures, so that services can be provided in a timely manner; comply with agency vehicle policy at all times. 
• Actively nurture and advance the cooperative, harmonious and teamwork oriented environment Caminar strives to promote within the workplace; Through daily efforts and presentation promote an atmosphere of dignity and respect in line with the organization’s mission, philosophy, policies and procedures. 
• Perform other related duties, responsibilities and special projects as assigned. 

Qualifications, Skills & Abilities: 

• Must be passionate about Caminar's mission. 
• Must be available to work evening, overnight and weekend shifts on a short notice, and to work overtime when required. Ability to keep a flexible work schedule is therefore essential. 
• High School Diploma or GED is required. BA in psychology or related field is strongly preferred.   

• A minimum of one year full time experience or its part time equivalent working in a program serving persons with mental disabilities is required. Such experience must be in the direct provision of services to clients.                                                
• Experience in psychiatric rehabilitation, preferably in a social rehabilitation environment is preferred. 
• Excellent computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment including email and Internet navigation required. Experience with Human Service Information Systems strongly preferred. 
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality, a professional demeanor and to represent the organization in a positive manner at all times. 
• Must demonstrate acceptable level of maturity, good judgment, and emotional stability. 

• Problem solving—identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully.  
• Customer Service—manages difficult customer situations, responds promptly to customer needs and solicits customer feedback to improve service.  
• Oral and written communication—speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, demonstrates group presentation skills and conducts meetings.   Completes written progress notes and other formal communications skillfully and professionally. 
• Quality management—looks for ways to improve and promote quality and demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.  
• Planning/organizing—prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently and develops realistic action plans. 

• Adaptability—adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands and is able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events. 
• Dependability—is consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction and solicits feedback to improve performance. 
• Safety and security—actively promotes and personally observes safety and security procedures, and uses equipment and materials properly.  
• Must be a dynamic self-starter with demonstrated ability to work independently on special projects.   

Physical, Environmental and Mental Requirements: 

• Physical: Occasionally required to push/pull objects up to 50 lbs, and to lift/carry objects up to 25 lbs.  Frequently required to perform moderately difficult manipulative tasks such as typing, writing, etc. Must be able to walk, stand, sit for extended periods.  
• Sensory: Frequently required to read documents, written reports, and plans. Must be able to distinguish normal sounds with some background noise, as in answering the phone, interacting with residents and staff, etc. Must be able to speak clearly and understand/be understood using the English language.  
• Cognitive: Frequently required to concentrate on moderate detail with constant interruption. Must be able to attend to a task/function for 20-45 minutes at a time. Frequently required to understand and relate to specific ideas, several at a time. Must be able to remember multiple tasks/assignments given to self and others over a period of several days.  
• Environmental Conditions: Frequent exposure to varied office and mixed (residential/office) environments.  Occasional exposure to toxins and poisonous substances, dust, and loud noises.  

• Equipment: Frequently required to use a computer, phone, and fax machine. 

Special Requirements: 

• Must be able to meet and receive a criminal records clearance, as required by Title XXII, other licensing regulations, and Caminar practices. 
• This position may require occasional driving. A valid California driver license and an MVR sufficient to obtain and reasonably maintain insurability under agency auto liability policies are essential job requirements.  Personal auto insurance and reliable personal vehicle may be required and in all cases are strongly preferred. 

• Must be able to pass post-offer, pre-employment medical and drug tests as required under State Community Care Licensing regulations and/or agency policies. 
• Must obtain and maintain First Aid and CPR certification. 

Caminar is a leader in providing evidence-based mental health and substance use treatment services in Northern California. We are an equal opportunity employer. For more information, please visit our website at www.caminar.org