Guidance and Counseling Coordinator Family Legacy

Job Summary

The job of the Guidance and Counseling Coordinator is to assist students in areas of academic achievement, personal or social development, and career exploration so that each student can identify personal goals, strengths, weaknesses, and interests and grow to become a well-adjusted and productive adult.  Further s/he will assess the psychological, emotional, developmental, and social well-being of young adults in Excel Beyond and provide interventions to address their specific psychosocial needs.

Specific Tasks:

1. Guidance and Counseling Services:

• Assesses students’ needs, strengths, and weaknesses through various means, including one-on-one assessments, conversations, or interviews; standardized or aptitude testing; small group activities; and observations throughout the school day.
• Collaborates with students to identify career aspirations and academic goals; provides information and answers questions related to college applications and career choices.
• Assists students with academic planning, accountability, and/or organization.
• Teaches a variety of skills including social skills, study skills, and test-taking skills.
• Counsels students with personal, social, disciplinary, and behavioral issues.
• Collaborates with educators to identify ways to improve students’ achievement and social development.
• Promptly notifies appropriate authorities of any reports or suspicions of crimes, abuse, or neglect.
• Collaborates with other educators, parents, and students to develop, review, renew, and/or modify Individualized Education Plans.
• Develop and oversee the guidance and counseling program in EB
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

2.   Psychosocial Care Services:

• Provide daily clinical counseling therapy to all young adults and parents/guardians across Excel Beyond
• Utilizing referrals, triage, and prioritizing clients’ needs to effectively manage client caseload
• Conduct informal and formal assessments of clients’ psychological, emotional, developmental, and social needs
• Create individualized treatment plans to meet the client’s personal needs
• Provides timely and appropriate assessment, treatment planning, therapeutic interventions, and follow-up to all clients
• Use a variety of evidence-based counseling techniques & interventions to conduct individual and group therapy sessions (play-based interventions, therapeutic art activities, sand tray therapy, CBT, trauma-focused interventions, coping skills development, anger management techniques, etc.)
• Routinely monitor clients’ progress and adjust their treatment plans as needed
• Conduct family-centered counseling sessions with EB young adults and their parents/guardians on a variety of issues as needed
• Collaborate with social services on abuse cases and attend court proceedings with young adults as needed
• Conduct counseling home visits for EB young adults and parents/guardians as needed
• Promotes the continuous development of young adults to optimize their responses to traumatic experiences, to minimize psychological stress, and to increase understanding of and coping with trauma and illness.
• Assess, determine, and make referrals to other departments when special services or care are needed for clients, such as medical evaluation, social services, community services, or specialized psychological/psychiatric testing.
• Facilitate additional therapeutic activities and programming in the Excel Beyond Program as directed
• Ensure high-quality care for clients by reviewing and researching concerns or complaints and recommending corrective action as needed

3. Communication

• Clearly and respectfully communicate with young adults, parents/guardians, and staff in Excel Beyond and across the ministry as needed
• Practice clear communication with coworkers, direct supervisor, other departments, management, and relevant stakeholders
• Closely collaborate with other departments across Family Legacy to communicate about young adults’ psychosocial needs, goals, and treatment plans
• Participate in multidisciplinary team treatment conferences when needed to review and plan for specific client cases
• Closely collaborate and communicate with the social services department on abuse cases

3. Record Keeping and Administrative Duties

•  Complete appropriate mental health documentation, including but not limited to Client care plans, performance outcomes, progress reports, and daily activity tracking as required by HCPZ, the Zambian Counselling Council, the Psychological Association of Zambia, and Family Legacy
• Perform daily scheduling tasks to manage and maintain an independent caseload of clients
• Document and submit daily counseling statistics to the direct supervisor in a timely manner
• Attend and participate in daily counseling department meetings
• Attend and participate in weekly departmental professional development activities (including training, case presentations, etc.)
• Perform record-keeping duties by maintaining clients’ counseling records in confidential files
• Compile comprehensive counseling reports for the ministry as directed
• Follow all departmental, and government policies and procedures as instructed
• Comply with the rules and regulations of the Zambian Counselling Council and Psychological Association of Zambia.
• Maintain working knowledge of the legal issues pertaining to the counseling program so they are in line with relevant government agencies and the rights of all stakeholders

Other Competencies/Skills:

• Demonstrates commitment to Family Legacy mission, vision, and values
• Has the heart to work with vulnerable young adults and families even when faced with challenges
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong oral and writing skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy
• Basic computer proficiency skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & email)
• Ability to perform well with limited supervision
• Ability to identify and address issues with creativity and effectiveness
• Shares knowledge and experience
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development and applying newly acquired skills
• Consistently approaches work with energy and positive constructive attitude
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
• Remains calm, in control, and good-humored even under pressure
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view
• Solicits feedback from coworkers about the impact of his/her behavior
• Relational and personable
• Ability to work as a team and collaborate with others
• Adheres to all deadlines
• Must have no prior convictions of harm to a child

Academic and Professional Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in guidance and counseling with education.
• Must possess a Certificate level qualification or better in psychosocial or clinical counseling
• Have a minimum certificate level license in psychosocial counseling accredited by the Zambia Counselling Council (ZCC) or Psychological Association of Zambia (PAZ)
• Maintain current Zambian licensure as a counseling practitioner.
• Have at least 3 year of experience in a similar position or persuasion