SENIOR YOUTH SERVICES COUNSELOR

Code: 03658 Local Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction takes the lead over other counselors; coordinates public and private youth activity programs designed to remotivate juveniles and deter juvenile delinquency; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Takes the lead over work performed by counselors at a lower level.
• Gives counselors advice and instruction in the performance of their work.
• Plans and conducts various programs, discussion sessions, field trips, movies, and so forth to improve juvenile attitudes.
• Interviews juveniles, parents, teachers, police, juvenile authorities, and others to obtain information concerning causes and prevention of juvenile delinquency.
• Tutors youths in academic studies and arts and crafts and offers vocational guidance.
• Visits homes to gain knowledge of home environment so as to better understand juvenile behavior.
• Acts as liaison between schools and the Bureau of Children's Services in helping problem children.
• Operates and maintains recreation rooms and the library.
• Discusses individual youth's problems with members of the family to determine cause of the behavioral problem.
• Conducts individual and group structured counseling sessions.
• Identifies behavioral problems of youths and prepares plan of treatment based on evaluation of individual case so as to achieve behavior modification.
• Through discussion and counseling, attempts to get youngsters to interact properly within peer group and society in general.
• Makes referrals to appropriate community agencies.
• Administers specific aptitude and interest test batteries and counsels individuals.
• Informs individual youngsters of career education/training opportunities available, and of the qualifications, work attitudes, and skills required for entry into employment.
• Prepares reports and selects, redesigns, and implements various testing programs to determine behavioral trends and social/cultural developments of juveniles.
• Attempts to remotivate youth through psychological testing and group/individual counseling. Is responsible for ensuring that work assignments of supervisors are carried out by other counselors.
• Maintains a current knowledge and answers questions of other counselors concerning procedures, policies, written instructions, and other directives.
• Provides other counselors with advice, direction, and guidance in handling the more complex cases.
• Informs supervisor of status of work assignments of other counselors and of any problems encountered.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Possession of a Master's degree in Sociology, Vocational Rehabilitation, Educational Counseling and Guidance, Psychology, or Social Work from an accredited college or university.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience in professional counseling and guidance of juveniles.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of psychological, social, and economic problems of juveniles.
• Knowledge of methods used in remotivating juveniles.
• Knowledge of public agencies that can afford help in stimulating youths.
• Knowledge of guidance and counseling techniques.
• Ability to organize assigned work and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to utilize counseling and guidance techniques.
• Ability to understand juvenile attitudes and motives.
• Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to administer and interpret various psychological and vocational aptitude tests.
• Ability to identify causes of behavioral problems and to prepare appropriate treatment plans based on evaluation of individual cases.
• Ability to understand the dynamic of family, economic, sociological, and other factors that cause behavioral problems among youth.
• Ability to maintain records and files.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.