The Behavioral Health (BH) Counselor: BA-CBHI will be responsible for providing services as a member of the CBHI home-based services team as a Therapeutic Training and Support (TT&S) and/or as a Therapeutic Mentor (TM).
In the role of TT&S, the Counselor: BA-CBHI will function as a member of the In-Home Therapy (IHT) team by providing therapeutic interventions youth and/or adult, under the supervision of and in collaboration with an In-Home Therapist (IHT) to support and assist with the implementation of the clinician’s treatment plan.
In the role of TM, the Counselor: BA-CBHI will be responsible for providing youth, and on occasion adult, with a structured, one-to one, strength-based community support for the purpose of addressing daily living, social, and communication needs. This role may also involve milieu-based mentoring work.
The Behavioral Health (BH) Counselor: BA-CBHI may also provide Support & Stabilization services through the DCF contract. In those situations, the Counselor will be responsible for providing parents/caregivers with a structured, strength-based community support for the purpose of developing parenting/caregiving skills. Services include service plan development, service coordination, and resource development; provide education, support, coaching, training and advocacy.
All services provided by a Counselor: BA-CBHI include service plan development, service coordination, resource development, and teaching the youth to understand, direct, interpret, manage, and control feelings and emotional responses to situations and to assist the parents/caregiver/family in addressing and supporting the youth’s mental health needs; or provide support, coaching, and training to the youth in developing age-appropriate behaviors, skills, and relationships.
The Counselor: BA-CBHI should attend to risk issues, documentation of care, timeliness of documentation, professionalism, caseload expectations, and administrative issues related to providing services.

• Provide the highest-quality care to clients in keeping with best-practice, agency standards, and the directives of the position. Practice within the ethical guidelines; maintain privacy and HIPAA standards.
• Compose oneself with professionalism, ethical practice, and compassionate regard for clients/clients. To this end, the case worker should demonstrate competency, reliability, honesty, integrity, respectfulness, continued learning, positivity, mutual support, effective collaboration, active listening, and attention to the responsibilities of the job. The counselor should dress neatly, professionally, and appropriately to the situation. The counselor should communicate orally with etiquette, honesty, respectfulness and composure; written communication should demonstrate professional writing skills and be in keeping with the policies and procedures of the agency.
• Maintain or exceed expected caseload on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. The specific caseload expectation will be established for each Counselor: BA-CBHI. Achieving this caseload number will likely involve working evening hours.
• Document all services in the required data entry system (e.g. agency Electronic Health Record), in keeping with established timeframes, best practices, and through required forms/documents. Respond to Quality Management and Utilization Review protocols and alerts.
• Ensure that any issues or concerns related to risk (client risk, staff risk, facility risk, and/or programmatic risk) or ethical misconduct are immediately brought to a supervisor, assistant director, director or other licensed senior staff member.
• Provide services such that the following values are embedded in practice:
o Promote client-centered care that adheres to best practice standards and recognizes “client voice and client choice,”
o Recognize the multiple perspectives of clients and their caregiving system
o Be cognizant of issues of inclusion, equity and diversity of people that might otherwise be marginalized or oppressed.
o Utilize active and reflective listening as well as the exchange of feedback,
o Orient oneself in a strengths-based approach,
o Develop an understanding of the impact of trauma and substance abuse,
o Provide positive regard, empathy, curiosity, respect, and professionalism,
o Establish and maintain clear expectations and boundaries, and
o Remain cognizant of and proactive about any issues of safety / risk.
• Attend and participate in a variety of meetings and trainings including but not limited to: supervision, group supervision, program team meetings, trainings, and other staff meetings as determined.
• Engage in ongoing learning and development of skills and professional growth through trainings, supervision, and ongoing delivery of services. The practice of professional development should also include self-reflection and self-care.
• Respond accordingly to the administrative and/or financial systems related to services including referral, office administrative, billing, and supervisor.

• Developing and/or demonstrated proficiency in individual/youth and family case work and/or wrap-around care. Knowledge of mental health, educational, developmental care, child welfare, and/or juvenile justice systems preferable.
• Proof of a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and reliable personal transportation to fulfill essential job functions is required. Privately owned vehicle has current and valid state registration and safety inspection sticker, is safe, and is ensured according to the minimum state requirements (pertaining to bodily injury and liability). As per Massachusetts state law, driving under the influence of any substance is against the law, prohibited, and may be grounds for immediate termination.
• Demonstrated and/or developing competency with establishing a therapeutic rapport with clients and effective collaborative relationships with providers.

• Developing and/or demonstrated proficiency in providing care planning, care coordination, service delivery resource development, advocacy, and/or discharge/after-care planning.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion, confidentiality, collaboration, ethics, appropriate boundaries and good judgment. Demonstrated ability to seek out supervision and consultation as needed.
• Thorough and clear oral and written communication skills, organization skills, timeliness, and ability to work effectively with others.