Social Emotional Counselor

Job Title : Social Emotional Counselor (LPC or LCSW) Status : Full Time

Exemption Status : Exempt

Department / Location : St. Augustine Catholic High School / Tucson, Arizona

Primary Function : Under the direction of the School Principal is responsible for providing support for our students and act as guides in their social, emotional, and mental health.

Counselors identify those students who need extra support, advocate, and develop improvement plans, provide counseling to individuals and small groups, provide research, and refer students to community resources, and work with / liaise with the students’ teachers, administration, and family.

Additionally, the Social Emotional Counselor will work to support student’s academic success by actively ensuring appropriate course placement, scheduling, standardized assessment execution, and facilitating academic conferences with teacher teams per family and / or student request.

The counselor shall be a minister of the Gospel and Catholic Teaching both academically and behaviorally while at work and in his / her personal life, Live in a manner worthy of the call you have received. (Eph. 4 : 1)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities of this Ministerial Position :

Recognize and support the unique Catholic Mission of the School by speaking, acting, counseling, and instructing consistent with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

The counselor may not espouse, in word or deed, any doctrine inconsistent with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

Give evidence of living Gospel values by being an active member of a faith community and being open to the importance of a personal faith journey;

strive to model the teaching of Jesus by attitude and example.

Counsels a caseload of approximately 280 high school students providing academic advisory services that are specific to each student’s needs and strengths.

Helps students create long-term academic plans and regularly monitors student progress towards these goals.

• Counseling students with personal and psychological issues that affect their performance, behavior, and socialization in school.
• Providing counseling sessions, treatment plans, groups, or workshops as necessary and establishing prevention programs and intervention plans.
• Communicate with family members as appropriate to support students’ academic and counseling plans.
• Communicating with students to determine the areas in which they may need assistance or counseling.
• Assisting teachers and administrators with behavioral and attitude concerns by communicating with students to find the causes of their distress.
• Meet regularly with the student support team and administration to advise on student support and action plans.
• Providing information, when appropriate, to outside support services to help students with economic, emotional, or physical issues.
• Assisting at-risk students or students with disabilities.
• Communicating with parents, teachers, and administrators to understand students' challenges.
• Maintaining case files and reports to track students' progress and problems.
• Compile, maintain, and file all required physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents.
• Communicate effectively and positively with supervisors, colleagues, students, and parents.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Conduct initial intakes of all students and set up appropriate follow-up meetings and plans.
• Consult parents, teachers, administrators, and other relevant people to enhance their work with students.
• Collaborate with local agencies and nonprofits to obtain access to community resources for students.
• Implement an effective referral process to help students and others use special programs and services.
• Conduct professional development workshops for staff / faculty and parents based on best practices.
• Establish relationships with local organizations that are designed to provide wrap-around services and resources to students and families in need.
• Work with the school leadership team to design a behavior referral process and begin the implementation of restorative justice interventions to limit school suspensions and loss of instructional and work time.
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical / Mental Requirements : Requires coordination and manual dexterity, normal mental and visual ability; ability to lift as required in a normal office environment.

Required Activities : Walking, sitting standing, stooping, reaching, talking, handling, hearing, and carrying.

Basic Qualifications :

• A working knowledge of and a strong commitment to the mission of fostering lay leadership in the Catholic Church. If a baptized Catholic, must be a practicing Roman Catholic in full communion with the Church.
• Excellent communications skills including written, verbal, public speaking, and presentation skills.
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Three years previous and successful experience in same or equivalent role preferred.
• Candidate must be adept at building rapport and trust with people from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong written and communication skills; detail oriented; team player; ability to multi-task in fast paced environment.
• Take part in school’s religious and spiritual programs, including faculty and staff retreats.
• Successfully complete the Safe Environment Training completion to the school’s administration.

Education and Experience :

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Three years previous and successful experience in same or equivalent role preferred.

Other :

Spanish language fluency preferred.

Covenants of Employment :

St. Augustine Catholic High School is a Roman Catholic religious organization and that all employees are expected to respect and conduct themselves in accordance with the values, teachings, and morals of the Roman Catholic Church and by Arizona state law.

Under the Zero Tolerance Policy , no one will be knowingly assigned or retained to serve in the Parish / Church / School when that person is determined to have engaged in the abuse of a minor or to have violated boundaries in dealing with minors.