Job Title: School Counselor
Reports To: Assistant Director & Program Center Director
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt/Full-time
Location: All Head Start Sites (Homebase is to be determined upon hire)
Salary: $39,384.28 - $41,598.11 (DOE)
Job Summary: Responsible for delivering behavioral health consultation services in Head Start classrooms and other settings including but not limited to assist prevention, early identification, intervention with at risk children and families to succeed; interventions when academics is affected by behavior; assisting with completing mental health counseling referrals and follow-up tracking.
Essential Responsibilities: Provide program and child specific behavioral consultation and academic intervention as needed in early care settings.
• Check and respond to emails daily;
• Clocking in/out as scheduled on NOVAtime;
• Meet all deadlines set in place;
• Provide program wide behavioral and mental health consultation and resources to staff, parents, and children within degree parameter and as specified in state/federal guidelines;
• Together with administration and education staff (Center Directors, Teachers, FIS, etc.) and families, plan, implement, and monitor interventions and settings for specific children and/or classrooms;
• Work collaboratively with parish Child and Family Counselor and other community partners (child counselors) to provide assessments, develop plans to address specific needs, and coordinate appropriate care;
• Assess and intervene (as appropriate) in crisis situations (CPI) to provide appropriate interventions and/or referrals;
• Provide individual training for staff and parents multiple times throughout the year;
• Provide resources to teachers and staff as well as the parents regarding behaviors, counseling and settings for school and home related to both behavior and academics.
• Establishes a positive working relationship with parents, staff, and volunteers;
• Complete observations on students who display behavior concerns and develop behavior interventions with teachers and families to assist in the classroom and at home;
• Analyze and interpret student data, academic and behavior, throughout the parish.
• Reports facility concerns and helps to supervise all activities to insure the safety of the children;
• Assist supervisor to maintain all necessary records; remains updated on rules and regulations;
• Completes social emotional lessons in all classrooms throughout the year;
• Assist with teaching and modeling when necessary;
• Performs other related duties as assigned by supervisor; and
• Ensures absolute confidentiality with respect to information and records concerning children and staff.
Peripheral Duties
• Attends professional development related to degree and/or field.
• Site/Location assignment is subject to change based on the needs of the Program.
• Serves as necessary at school sites.
NOTE: All parish government employees in a declared emergency shall be considered essential personnel.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
• A bachelor’s degree in special education, social work or psychology, with the ability to obtain a master’s degree if necessary
• Formal experience with preschool children preferred.
Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Knowledge of appropriate early childhood practices regarding behavior;
• Skill in operation of listed tools and equipment;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, other agencies, program participants and the general public; ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; ability to handle stressful situations; and ability to attend workshops; and
• Maintains all student data records.
Special Requirements
• A valid Louisiana Driver’s License
• MVR report without incidents
Tools and Equipment Used
• Personal computer including Microsoft Office, iPad, copy machine, fax machine, laminating machine, telephone and automobile.
Physical Demands
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI)- must be able to assist with the demands to safely prevent self-harm.
• Physically able to intervene with difficult behaviors; running away from adults, sitting in safe zones and preventing children committing self-harm and harm to others.
Selection Guidelines
• Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview and criminal background clearance, and reference check; job related tests may be required.
EEOC Statement
Lafourche Parish Government is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, genetic information, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, lawful alien status, national origin, age, marital status, and non-job related physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.