Senior Correctional Counselor (#UDDP02)
$46,936.00 Yearly Min / $50,558.00 Yearly Mid / $60,670.00 Yearly Max

A class incumbent is responsible for full-performance professional counseling work providing rehabilitation services to adult offenders incarcerated in correctional institutions or assigned to Community Corrections.

A class incumbent works under the general supervision of a technical superior.  Work at this level is differentiated by the greater independence and more complex counseling cases.  An incumbent conducts individual and/or group counseling.  An incumbent is responsible for conducting assessments and developing and implementing treatment plans.  Incumbents evaluate inmate progress and recommend changes in treatment plans and/or security classification based on findings.  An incumbent maintains case records and prepares various reports of findings and recommendation.  In addition, incumbents participate in the development and implementation of new/revised treatment programs and other special studies or projects as assigned.  A significant aspect of the work involves dealing with criminally-oriented persons and motivating those persons towards re-socialization.

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Conducts individual and/or group counseling sessions with inmates/clients.
   
• Develops treatment program based on counseling sessions as well as information obtained from inmate file, records, and reports, family members, associates, former employers, and other counselors or rehabilitation team members.
   
• Assesses inmate progress efforts towards resocialization and compliance with recommended treatment program.
   
• Prepares a variety of records, reports and summary evaluations relative to inmate progress.
   
• Maintains files on clients/inmates which include appropriate supporting documentation, classification reports, social histories progress notes and counseling records.
   
• Serves on a variety of boards and committees such as the Multi-Disciplinary Team's classification committees and inmate grievance committees.
   
• Makes recommendations relative to appropriate classification level of inmates/clients based on assessment of behavioral/attitudinal changes and positive effort made towards self improvement and compliance with program/institutional requirements.
   
• Participates in case conferences regarding treatment alternatives of inmates/clients.  Makes referrals to such resources as drug or alcohol treatment programs, educational programs, etc.

The intent of the listed knowledge, skills and abilities is to give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSA’s listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the requirements of every position in the class.

• Knowledge of human behavior with particular emphasis on criminally oriented or deviant behavior.
• Knowledge of psychological counseling techniques, attitude/behavior assessment, and symptoms of maladaptive behavior.
• Knowledge of social, psychological, and economic causes of deviant/criminal behavior.
• Skill in eliciting information of a sensitive nature from a variety of persons of varying social-economic backgrounds.
• Skill in the application of counseling methods.
• Skill in assessing and interpreting information and developing appropriate treatment plans.
• Ability to recognize symptoms and patterns of abnormal or anti-social behaviors/attitudes and develop the appropriate course of action.
• Ability to work harmoniously with other professionals involved in inmate/client treatment programs with an appreciation for other points of view and professional judgement.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare reports of findings and recommendations.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with other staff, family members, employers and inmates.

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Senior Correctional Counselor
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

1. At least one year experience providing rehabilitation services to adult offenders OR Masters degree or higher in Behavioral Science, Social Science or related field.
2. Six months experience in behavior management such as  understanding, explaining, describing and predicting behavior, studying the connection between behavior and its causes and identifying appropriate behavior modification strategies for individual situations.
3. Six months experience in case management which includes assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual's human service needs. 
4. Six months experience in providing rehabilitation services to adult offenders which includes evaluating progress in attainment of goals and adjusting treatment plans; analyzing social and criminal history; participating in interdisciplinary conferencing.
5. Six months experience in using an automated information system to enter, update, modify, delete, retrieve/inquire and report on data.
6. Six months experience in interpreting laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures.
7. Six months experience in narrative report writing.