JOB TITLE: CORRECTIONS COUNSELOR 2

JOB CODE: 47540

SERIES NATURE OF WORK: The Corrections Counselor job series describes professional work performing case work and counseling services for the Department of Corrections.

DEFINITION: This is advanced professional work in providing counseling and casework services to inmates or residents in a state correctional facility.

An employee in this job performs a variety of complex counseling and casework duties to inmates at a state correctional institution or residents at a community corrections center. Work involves providing counseling to inmates or residents who demonstrate significantly disruptive, violent, or insubordinate behavior, which requires considerable independence in selecting an appropriate course of action. In a state correctional institution, work includes utilizing casework, group, or individual counseling methods and techniques to help inmates who display behaviors resulting from difficultly adjusting to institutionalized living; assisting inmates in solving social, economic, and emotional problems to the extent of influencing changes in attitude and behavior; and enabling inmates to develop a sense of dignity and responsibility. Work in a community corrections center includes assisting in the administration of individualized recovery plans; providing individual and group counseling to residents; and assisting residents in adjusting to pressures, problems, and rules of conduct in society during their transition from a structured, supervised institutional environment to a less structured environment. Supervision is received from a professional or administrative supervisor, and work is reviewed for effectiveness through observation, conferences, and evaluation of results.

   DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

     •Work in a state correctional institution is distinguished from the lower level based on the responsibility for independently providing counseling and casework services to inmates who demonstrate significantly disruptive or violent behavior that prevents them from functioning with the general inmate population.

     •Work in a community corrections center is distinguished from the lower level based on the responsibility for independently providing counseling and casework services to residents who have significant physical, mental, or emotional problems including those who have received sanctions for behavior while on parole or are pending return to a state correctional institution due to their behavior.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

•Provides intensive and extensive counseling services to inmates or residents.

•Provides counseling to inmates assigned to restricted housing units, special needs units, or special management units as a result of disruptive and violent behavior; or due to physical, mental, or emotional limitations that prevent them from functioning within the general inmate population.

•Provides counseling to residents at a community corrections center who have significant physical, mental, or emotional problems; including residents who have received sanctions for behavior while on parole or residents pending return to a state correctional institution due to their behavior.

• Provides individual and group counseling services to inmates during reception and throughout their entire facility assignment, to include providing ongoing risk and needs assessments.

• Assists community corrections center residents, through individual counseling and group therapy, in the transition from a structured, supervised institutional environment to a less structured environment.

• Administers and analyzes aptitude and interest tests.

• Compiles individual socio-demographic histories.

• Maintains case records, including initial medical, psychological, and psychiatric evaluations; tests and measurements; and final clinical evaluations.

• Resolves, through the support team, problems related to the implementation of individualized recovery plans, including housing, academic and vocational training, job placement, and social and behavioral adjustments.

• Coordinates treatment objectives with other institution staff.

• Participates in parole planning and makes recommendations regarding furloughs, special privileges, recovery plan changes, and release to a community corrections center.

• Promotes, through speaking engagements, personal contact with business and community leaders, and facility tours, community understanding and acceptance of the institutional inmate treatment program and the resident and non-resident community corrections program.

• Assists residents in pursuing employment opportunities, provides instruction on job application procedures, and conveys job retention requirements.

• Provides assistance in resolving personal and family problems, utilizing leisure time in recreation and entertainment, and managing finances.

• Applies rules for eligibility and continued assignment in a community corrections center.

• Provides information regarding availability of medical and social services through community and other state and local government agency sources.

• Engages in continuity of care planning to facilitate successful reentry of returning citizens.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of counseling and casework methods and techniques.

• Knowledge of individual and group behaviors.

• Knowledge of medical and social services available in correctional facilities and the community.

• Knowledge of the use and functionality of Microsoft Office Suite software.

• Ability to analyze and interpret written information.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• One year as a Corrections Counselor 1 (commonwealth title);

or

• One year of professional counseling or casework experience in a correctional facility, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology, counseling, psychology, social work, corrections, criminal justice, or a related field;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes one year of professional counseling or casework experience in a correctional facility and 18 college credits in sociology, counseling, psychology, social work, corrections, criminal justice, or a related field.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

• All employees must obtain Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network (CLEAN) and Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET) certification within two months of employment and maintain certification for the duration of employment in this job.