Children's Residential Care Counselor I - Part-Time

Position Information

Make a difference in a child's life.
Join us at Valley of the Moon Children's Center as a Part-Time Children's Residential Care Counselor I!

This is an excellent opportunity to serve our community's youth and work with some of Sonoma County's finest trauma-informed youth counselors.

Starting salary up to $ 39.41 / hour plus a competitive total compensation package!*

The Valley of the Moon Children's Center (VMCC) is part of the Human Services Department's Family, Youth, & Children's Services Division. VMCC is a resource hub for caregivers of foster youth and houses two residential programs: a 24-hour emergency shelter and a Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP). The Emergency Shelter provides temporary shelter and care for youth that have been separated from their families due to abandonment, abuse, or neglect. The STRTP is an intensive, residential therapeutic treatment services program designed to meet the behavioral and mental health needs of foster youth. As a Children's Residential Care Counselor I, you will carry out the mission of the Department to provide trauma-informed care services to youth in the day-to-day operations of one of the assigned residential programs at VMCC. This includes direct supervision of youth to ensure their safety and well-being, as well as monitoring and implementing strategies for program participation, engagement, and setting limits. Additional duties include:

• Participating in Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings to provide feedback on youth behaviors, engagement, and progress towards goals
• Providing positive and nurturing experiences to children and youth, while maintaining care and supervision
• Teaching, coaching, and providing feedback to youth to help them develop a self-regulation skill set
• Providing transportation to and from school and coordinating recreational activities
• Documenting youth participation in activities, as well as their strengths, challenges, behaviors, interactions, and application of therapeutic skills
• Counseling youth to help minimize the trauma associated with separation from family members and/or guardians
• Planning and implementing small and large group activities, study support, and field trip activities
• Providing coaching, mentoring, and teaching of life skills, social skills, and coping mechanisms using established Trauma-Informed Care methods
• Utilizing Therapeutic Crisis Intervention techniques to de-escalate youth in acute crisis
• Administering medication to individual children per written instruction from medical providers
• Building relationships with a variety of youth and their caregivers as they transition out of VMCC

The ideal candidates will possess many of the following:

• A strong youth development and experiential learning background
• Experience in Trauma-Informed Care practices
• Multiple years of experience working in a youth residential program, wilderness program/camp, or other environment, requiring strong supervisory facilitation skills, interactive support, and coaching
• The ability to develop positive connections with youth while utilizing role-model, problem-solving, and conflict resolution practices
• An aptitude for monitoring and intervening in high-risk behaviors, handling crises, and providing consistency and behavioral limits through relationship-based interventions
• Expertise in teaching and modeling the Department's mission, vision, and values

PLEASE NOTE: VMCC operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, therefore the ability to work evenings and weekend hours is required. Applicants must be willing to undergo a thorough background investigation, psychological evaluation, fingerprinting, criminal history, and a medical and physical abilities examination prior to employment.

About Valley of the Moon Children’s Center Residential Programs

The Valley of the Moon Children’s Center is a resource hub for caregivers of foster youth and houses two residential programs; a 24-hour emergency shelter and a Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP). The STRTP is an intensive, residential therapeutic treatment services program designed to meet the behavioral and mental health needs of foster youth. The Emergency Shelter provides a stable, supportive, and nurturing environment for youth who have been separated from their families due to abandonment, abuse, or neglect. For more information regarding VMCC services please visit: https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/human-services/children-families/foster-care/valley-of-the-moon-childrens-center .

About the Human Services Department (HSD)

As the largest agency in Sonoma County government, the Human Services Department’s mission is to build upon strengths, as we bridge clients to opportunities through responsive safety-net services. We work to protect vulnerable children and adults, to help people rise above poverty and thrive in our community, and to promote maximum independence and well-being for individuals and families. HSD is responsible for child and adult protective services, veteran services, and administration of state and federal programs, including CalFRESH, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and In-Home Supportive Services. The department is dedicated to providing responsive, client-focused services so that all in our community can live freely chosen lives up to their full potential throughout their lifespan. The core values that drive our work are dignity, humility, integrity, responsiveness, partnership, and belonging.

HSD fosters a positive work environment, where our commitment to providing opportunities for advancement is strengthened by a robust staff development program. We believe in the merits of work/life balance and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that our work contributes to the betterment of our community.

The Department works collaboratively at the federal, state, and local levels to find creative solutions to support the well-being of individuals, families, and the community. To meet that goal, the department has fostered strong relationships with other public and private sector partners, including other government agencies, community-based organizations, and business leaders. For more information regarding HSD's services please visit: http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services .

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing your contributions work to better our shared community. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can found in the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association's Memorandum Of Understanding (SCLEA MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

The Human Services Department (HSD) is currently recruiting to fill two part-time (20 hours per week) Children's Residential Care Counselor I positions. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Experience as a group or youth counselor or other experience related to working with children or youths would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed.

Education: Completion of sixty semester units at an accredited college with at least nine semester units in child development, sociology, behavioral and social psychology, social casework, social welfare, counseling and guidance, child psychology or a closely related field in behavioral science would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed.

Two years of full-time experience in a position equivalent to the level of Counselor I with Sonoma County may be substituted for thirty semester units of coursework.

License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements as required by the State of California, to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Additional Requirements: Candidates certified for employment must be willing to undergo and successfully complete an in-depth background investigation, including a psychological evaluation, finger printing, criminal history check and a medical examination.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: sociology, behavioral and social psychology; social casework, social welfare, counseling and guidance, child development, behavioral and related sciences; relationship to personality development, behavior patterns, motivation and group and family dynamics; psychological, sociological, behavioral cultural factors and child development as they relate to dealing with dependent, abused or neglected children; typical child and youth behavior patterns and methods of guidance, counseling and modification of behavioral patterns.

Learns working knowledge of child care services; daily care and nurturing of infants, young children and youth; personal hygiene, grooming; the ability to teach hygiene techniques to children; record keeping; departmental policy, regulations and functions; first aid and CPR; child abuse reporting laws; recreational activities for children and youth; food preparation and service. The Valley of the Moon Children’s Home uses a specific method of interacting with children. Staff is expected to learn and use the prescribed method.

Ability to: effectively communicate orally and in writing, and to listen actively; read and comprehend instructions and standards and apply them to a variety of situations; make and record detailed observations. Write descriptive narratives, including incident or observation reports. Relate to a wide variety of individuals from varied socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and experiences. Establish and maintain appropriate relationships with children and youths. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, health and social service providers, parents, volunteers, foster parents, guardians, and family, law enforcement agencies, other County Departments and the public.

Learns to guide, teach and supervise children and youths; apply basic first aid; bathe, dress, feed and provide recreation where appropriate for infants, children and youths; perform light janitorial and maintenance tasks; direct groups of children and youths during work, meal and leisure time activities; manage aggressive behavior; restrain children for the safety and protection of themselves and others. Supervise children while in a school setting, working in collaboration with school staff to help children achieve their current educational goals. Work different shifts, weekends and holidays.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: EP
HR Technician: EV

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan :Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan :Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical : County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 1/7/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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