JOB TITLE: EDUCATIONAL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, CORRECTION EDUCATION

JOB CODE: 25950

DEFINITION: This is professional educational work in providing academic and vocational counseling to inmates at a state correctional facility.

An employee in this job provides counseling and guidance services to inmates to encourage participation in educational and training programs. Work involves assessing inmate abilities and needs through tests and individual interviews to determine placement in a setting which will afford the inmate with educational growth to meet identified needs and objectives. Work includes assisting inmates with selecting courses and making determinations about post educational goals, occupational choices, and continuing education; and providing guidance and counseling for inmates and teachers to help resolve problems in areas such as attendance, discipline, educational progress, or motivation. Work also includes maintaining records of inmate progress; preparing reports of inmate achievements for classification, parole, and employment reference purposes; and participating in parole planning and in making recommendations regarding furlough, special privileges, or other changes in inmate status. Work is performed under the general direction of a school principal or administrator and is reviewed through conferences and an evaluation of results.

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.)

• Interviews newly admitted inmates to examine educational objectives and orient inmates on availability of academic and vocational training courses.

• Administers, scores, and interprets diagnostic tests to determine educational difficulties and placement of inmates in suitable educational programs for academic or vocational development.

• Assists and counsels inmates in the selection of courses or educational programs, tutorial programs, post educational goals, or in pursuing higher education opportunities.

• Provides counseling and guidance to inmates in selecting and enrolling in specialized vocational training in a trade based on academic achievement, interests, experience, aptitude, duration of sentence, and labor market needs in the inmate's geographic area after release from confinement.

• Establishes and maintains centralized educational files for each student enrolled in educational programs.

• Counsels inmate students on behavior, attitude, and career development problems relative to their participation in academic or vocational training programs.

• Assists teachers in handling discipline and inmate progress through intervention and follow-up with inmates.

• Maintains records and prepares reports on individual progress and performance for inmate review and parole purposes.

• Participates in parole planning and in review of inmates for furlough, special privileges, treatment plan changes, or release to community corrections centers.

• Assists inmates on job interview techniques, preparing resumes, and job search techniques prior to release.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of educational guidance and educational counseling.

• Knowledge of individual and group behavior.

• Knowledge of teaching principles and practices.

• Knowledge of course planning as applied to academic and vocational education.

• Knowledge of the administration, scoring, and interpretation of academic and vocational diagnostic, aptitude, and achievement tests.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

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

• Two years of professional experience in educational guidance and educational counseling, and a bachelor's degree in the social sciences, behavioral sciences, education, social work, counseling, or a closely related field;

or

• Two years of professional experience in educational guidance and educational counseling, and four years of paraprofessional experience in education, social work, or counseling;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training, which includes one year of professional experience in educational guidance and educational counseling.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Certain positions assigned to an institution that houses state mandated school-age students require a valid and active Educational Specialist 1 or Educational Specialist 2 certification in the field of elementary or secondary school guidance or school counseling issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. When no candidates possess the named certifications, the selected candidate must be eligible for an Emergency Permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education that is appropriate to the position.

• Employees assigned to an institution that houses state mandated school-age students, and who were hired based on eligibility for an Emergency Permit, must obtain a valid and active Educational Specialist 1 or Educational Specialist 2 certification in the field of elementary or secondary school guidance or school counseling issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.