MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR (#91)

Caverna Independent Schools District Position Description

Requirements stated herein are minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities to qualify for this position. To perform the duties and responsibilities of this position successfully, the employee must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each task proficiently. "Ability" means to possess and apply both knowledge and skill.

The methods of meeting these requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities. Some requirements, however, may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or others.

REPORTS TO:  Principal and Superintendent or Superintendent Designee

APPROVED: 11/16/21

SUMMARY

Under direction, to provide behavioral, educational, career, and vocational counseling to individuals and small groups of students; to assist students in understanding and seeking solutions to social, emotional, or academic problems and issues; to serve as a resource pertaining to student behavior management strategies, and welfare and attendance problems and concerns; and to do other related functions as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This position classification requires subject matter expertise commonly taught in public schools, and counseling and guidance knowledge and skills.  Directly related experience is suggested to perform problem analysis using widely prescribed principles and concepts.  The position classification performs decision analysis and makes decisions of considerable consequence, requiring the application and interpretation of data, facts, procedures, and policies.  The incumbent meets frequently with school administrators, teachers, other staff, and parents to communicate information, data, and alternative problem solutions. This position requires accurate perceiving of sound, near and far vision, depth perception, providing oral information, and handling and working with instructional and assessment materials and objects.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Spend at least 80% of employment time providing direct services to students.
• Perform individual and group counseling and guidance functions and activities, including career and vocational, and social and emotional adjustment counseling.
• Collect, organize, and analyze student information through the use of educational historical data, test results, and through the use of interview techniques.
• Appraise student interests, aptitudes, and attitudes utilizing a variety of assessment strategies and techniques.
• Provide information and data to students concerning educational, career, and vocational planning.
• Serve as a resource to site and District personnel, and members of the school community.
• Meet, confer, and counsel with parents, school personnel, and members of various youth serving agencies in developing alternative solutions to student educational, social, and emotional problems and concerns.
• Assist in the development and monitoring of individual education plans for students with exceptional needs.
• Maintain a liaison with social service and youth service agencies in pursuing referral follow up activities.
• Pursue evaluation and research activities to determine counseling and guidance effectiveness.
• Assist in the planning, development, and implementation of master student program calendars as relates to mental health services.
• Assist in identifying school program needs, and participate in developing school instructional programs geared to meet individual pupil needs.
• Assist in the planning, development, and conduct of programs that enhance student educational, career, and vocational opportunities, including speaker programs, student visitation programs, and other similarly related activities.
• Establish, maintain, and monitor the maintenance of a variety of files and records pertaining to student counseling, guidance, and related matters.
• Assist in dealing with student behavior management problems, and in resolving welfare and attendance problems and concerns.
• Plan, develop, and present, as requested, a variety of management related reports pertaining to site counseling and guidance functions and activities.
• Any other duties assigned by supervisor

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

Principles, methods, techniques, strategies, and trends in educational, vocational, career, social, and emotional adjustment counseling;

Applicable and appropriate aptitude, interest, and achievement appraisal instruments, techniques, and procedures;

Social service and youth service agencies in the local area;

Social, emotional, and behavioral characteristics of adolescent students;

Program evaluation and research techniques, strategies, and procedures;

Appropriate curriculum and instructional programs pertaining to students with a variety of aptitudes and varying interests.

Ability to:

Assist students in effectively analyzing and developing alternative solutions to behavioral, educational, social, and emotional problems and concerns; Conduct, analyze, and effectively utilize a variety of individual and group testing procedures and instruments applicable to student clients; Effectively deal with site and District personnel, parents, social and youth service agencies in resolving student problems and concerns; Effectively participate in the planning and implementation of school guidance and curricular programs; Communicate effectively in oral and written form, and as required by the assignment; Understand and carry out oral and written directions with minimal accountability controls; Establish and maintain effective organizational, public, and community relationships.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and skill is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and skill would be: 

Education:

Equivalent to the completion of an earned Master of Arts or higher degree in psychology, counseling and guidance, or a closely related field.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT

Possession of certification as required by Kentucky law.