INSTRUCTOR COUNSELOR DEFINITION:
Under supervision in a state department, institution, or agency, holds formal and informal classes and discussions concerned with human relationships, personality, and the social and other factors affecting behavior to further the social adjustment, education, or reeducation of inmates, patients, or clients, and/or provides same with occupational, vocational, or educational counseling and instruction which may include teaching basic skills and concepts or instructing them in adaptive independent living skills; adjusts the content and level of counseling and instruction to suit the functional level of inmates, patients, or clients; does related work.
NOTE: The definition and 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.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Interviews newly admitted patients, inmates, or clients, and those about to leave the institution.
Assists in building up the initial institutional file on individuals.
Plans and conducts informal group discussions designed to encourage patient, inmate, or client participation within the bounds of discipline and with a view toward the development of positive attitudes, cooperative relationships, and social reeducation and adjustment.
Plans and conducts formal group discussions on a variety of subjects.
Conducts several group and recreation activities of the institution and stimulates interest in and cooperation with social and education programs.
Provides personal counsel and advice to individual patients, inmates, or clients on problems related to social behavior and personal relationships.
Develops and maintains personal contacts with individuals during their period of institutional life with a view toward their preparation for eventual release.
Keeps current with literature, trends of thought, and new techniques in group activities and counseling programs.
When assigned to a penal and/or correctional facility, prepares materials for the paroling authority including a prediction schedule.
Drafts correspondence relating to counseling and related programs.
Prepares informative, statistical, and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Establishes and maintains essential records and files.
Instructs patients, inmates, or clients to attain basic objectives of the education/vocation program.
Teaches basic educational and vocation skills such as telling time, identifying monetary units and their values, recognition of the letters of the alphabet, word formation, and the relationship between the word and the object it names to adult developmentally disabled clients.
Utilizes various teaching/instructional techniques based on individual differences.
Instructs and counsels individuals in their attainment of basic social skills.
Instructs individuals in adaptive independent living skills when their level of functioning requires this.
Takes the lead when working with direct-care employees to conduct programming periods for groups of individuals.
Assesses individual sexual and social awareness and otherwise evaluates individuals based on personal observation of their behavior, and reports findings orally and in writing.
Recommends new or revised objectives or programming to encourage each individual's maximum level of participation.
Develops and monitors adaptive independent living skills programming.
Coordinates recommendations from other professionals of the interdisciplinary team with the habilitation prescription for each individual.
Selects, obtains, and stores appropriate instructional materials.
Coordinates individual leisure-time activities and encourages individuals toward their constructive use of leisure time.
Attends Individual Habilitation Plan or other professional meetings to provide for the maximum development of each individual.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.
Five (5) years of professional experience in counseling, teaching, and/or guidance in an organized education program.
OR
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree; and one (1) year of the above-mentioned professional experience.
NOTE: "Professional experience" refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession's concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions.
LICENSE:
Appointee 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 AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures of the departments which operate them after a period of training.
Knowledge of problems involved in the social rehabilitation, care, custody, and treatment of persons deprived of their liberty and of the habilitation of mentally handicapped or developmentally disabled clients who reside in intermediate care facilities.
Knowledge of psychology, education techniques, and the theory and principles of counseling.
Knowledge of techniques used in group activities and individual personal counseling.
Knowledge of problems involved in dealing constructively with human relationships, personality disorders, social behavior, and social relationships.
Ability to organize assigned counseling work, analyze individual counseling problems, and develop effective work methods.
Ability to plan and conduct formal and informal discussions with groups of patients, inmates, or clients concerning the varied factors involved in human relationships, personality, social behavior, and rehabilitation.
Ability to talk constructively with individuals and give them the benefit of sound counseling and advice concerning personal problems.
Ability to plan and carry out recreation and other group programs and activities.
Ability to work effectively with superior officials, associates, other employees, inmates, patients, clients, and others interested in the programs being conducted.
Ability to plan and conduct interviews and group discussions in a manner which will gain the confidence of the inmates, patients, or clients and to assist them toward social habilitation or rehabilitation.
Ability to adjust the content and level of instruction and counseling to be most appropriate, useful, and effective for the functional level of the individuals involved.
Ability to prepare extensive correspondence in the course of official duties.
Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative statistical and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Ability to select, obtain, and store appropriate instructional materials.
Ability to establish and maintain essential records and files.
Ability to learn 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, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the 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 the 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.
