School Counselor -Education

We're Hiring: School Counselor

Location: Mt Laurel, Bancroft School

Status: Exempt, Full Time

Salary Range: $67,000- $90,000

Provides direct, consultative, and supportive assessment and therapeutic services in school psychology to students/persons served, parents/guardians, faculty, and education staff members to enhance the students' potential for learning and assist students in the acquisition of functional performance skills needed to access, participate in, and benefit from, the educational environment.

Provides direct and consultative psychological services, treatments, and intervention in accordance with regulations, standards, and guidelines defined by the Code of Ethical Practice, Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA), the students' Individual Program Plan (IPP) and Individual Education Plan (IEP), N.J. Department of Education (DOE), the student's approved behavior plan, and established Bancroft policies and procedures.

2. Conducts diagnostic assessments of need for therapy and treatment services and develops intervention plans for individual students/persons served, as needed or as assigned, to provide a comprehensive student profile:

• As needed, determines the need for therapeutic intervention, communication abilities, and adaptive behavior;
• Reviews individual student/persons served records, performs classroom and clinical observations, conducts specialized screenings, interprets behavior data graphs and assessment results, and provides recommendations for service delivery;
• Assists in the planning and development of goals specific to psychological therapy and treatment services that are educationally relevant, achievable, measurable, and can be effectively utilized in each individual's educational program.

3. Provides psychological therapy, treatment services, and intervention to students/persons served within the educational environment:

• Provides individual and group psychological treatment, therapy, and intervention to students/persons served, parents/guardians, etc., to meet the goals of individual students;
• Dependent upon program, may plan and schedule frequency and duration of sessions in accordance with individual needs and School District mandates;
• Utilizes appropriate skill building, treatment, and therapeutic techniques based on the diagnostic, developmental, cognitive, psychological, communication, physical abilities, and learning capacity of the individual served;
• Prompts and/or assists each person in the achievement of goals while actively encouraging the independence and competency of each person within his/her ability limit;
• Utilizes a system of documentation that is professional, efficient, accountable, and conforms to federal, state and School policies and procedures; develops and maintains progress reports, treatment summary reports, etc., as mandated by students' IPP;
• Provides training on a variety of topics and specific to school psychology to education faculty and staff members regarding the implementation and monitoring of treatment plans, behavior plans, etc.;
• May accompany students/persons served to psychological/neurological medical appointments in tandem with Nurse, staff members, residential direct care staff, parents/guardians, etc.
• Provides crisis intervention, as needed, through counseling, de-escalation techniques, staff support, and assistance. Dependent upon program, may determine need for physical restraint, operating in accordance with approved regulations.

4. Provides consultative services in psychology to education faculty, staff members, student/persons served family members, and residential direct care givers (both within and outside of the Bancroft organization):

• Effectively utilizes available psychological therapy, treatment, cognitive, behavioral, physical, and developmental information of individuals served;
• Provides recommendations in the psychological therapy and treatment-specific development of individual educational goals and objectives; assists faculty in the design of classroom strategies and accommodations that enhance learning and create an environment best suited to individual students' profiles and needs; may conduct or assist in instruction within the classroom setting;
• Maintains awareness of, and utilizes, established classroom management plans regarding the incorporation of psychological therapy and treatment-specific programs;
• Utilizing applied behavioral analysis techniques, develops and assesses behavior intervention programs for students/persons served in accordance with the IEP and IPP to decrease problem behavior, determine and implement replacement behaviors, and to increase individual skill acquisition of adaptive behaviors;
• Provides behavioral strategies to facilitate faculty effectiveness in interacting with students/persons served;
• Consults with family members and provides treatment-specific strategies to facilitate positive parent/child interactions in the home and the carryover of treatment plans; Communicates with faculty, staff, and family members regarding student therapeutic treatment, cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral needs and progress;
• Consults with medical/healthcare providers, specialists, family members, and agencies working with students regarding cognitive and behavioral needs and progress.

5. Facilitates a team approach to program development, implementation, and monitoring by effectively collaborating with all specialty/clinical disciplines, Behavior Analysts across Programs, parents/guardians, school districts, etc., to identify and best meet the individual learning needs of each student/person served.

6. Provides ongoing technical support to, and serves as a member of the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT); e.g., residential staff members, family members, healthcare personnel, etc., regarding behavior intervention programs. Formulates methods and techniques for use by IDT to ensure a functionally-sound behavior plan, as needed for students/persons served in accordance with the IEP and the IPP.

Education & Experience:

Masters degree in School, Clinical, Counseling, Psychology or a related psychological field required. N.J. State certification as School Psychologist and/or School Counselor required. Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) and National School Psychology Certification preferred.

When functioning in Autism Schools, BCBA certification is preferred.

Special Skills:

Ability to effectively communicate medical information, test results, diagnoses and/or proposed treatment in a manner easily understood is required. Knowledge of psychosocial counseling techniques, and interviewing and psychological/developmental assessment skills required. Knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations, policies, and standards pertaining to the provision of psychosocial services to disabled individuals required.

Effective communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills required with a strong desire to work with neurologically-challenged individuals. Ability to work independently and as an integral part of a team required. Ability to implement crisis intervention techniques required. Attainment of CPR, First Aid, and Crisis Prevention and Intervention certification within first 90 days of employment required. Valid driver's license required in incumbent's legal name and current address with no provisional restrictions. Minimum 18 years of age required.

An incumbent in this position who has graduated from an accredited college with a BA in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech/Language Pathology, Social Work, Recreation, Art, Dance, Music, Physical Education, Nutrition, Sociology, Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, or Psychology AND possesses at least one year of experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities or brain injuries OR four years of experience as a Habilitation Plan Coordinator or Senior Community Program Specialist may also function as a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional (QMRP).

Bancroft stands strong against racism and hate of all kinds and supports actions leading to respect, equality, fairness and peace. We advocate for and embrace an inclusive and just world. One world. For everyone. We work with heart, respect and collaboration. We are communicators, listeners, problem solvers, partners and collaborators. Bring your authentic self to our team.

Bancroft is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and supports diversity, equity and inclusion in its hiring and employment practices, so that every team member can feel a true sense of belonging, and maximize their unique potential. To this end, all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

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