Group Home Counselor II

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

 

The Andrew B. Ferrari Argus House is seeking a Group Home Counselor II to join our team and support young men who face interpersonal, academic, and behavioral health challenges. This position will provide supervision, case management, and counseling within peer milieu to help residents resolve social problems, improve communication skills, and help others by providing support and feedback.

Specific duties include:

• Collaborating with clients, their families, mental health therapists, probation counselors, and educators to develop and implement effective treatment plans for each youth on counselor’s caseload;
• Planning and leading daily activities such as leisure education, homework completion, meal prep, and life skills training;
• Administering medications to youth as prescribed following the medical policies and procedures of the Argus House Program (training will be provided);
• Monitoring and documenting residents’ progress and adjusting interventions as needed to meet their evolving needs; 
• Participating in regular team meetings and case staffing to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care;
• Sending out and receiving residents who go on home passes, processing incidents that arise, and preparing residents for the coming week;
• Maintaining annual training requirements including first aid, CPR, Handle with Care, and other necessary trainings;  
• Maintaining accurate, confidential, and daily documentation of resident activities including, progress notes, medication logs, and confidential case files; and
• Transporting residents using a 15-passenger van.

 

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• A knowledge and understanding of the unique characteristics of Arlington’s diverse population and experience working with Northern Virginia boys and their families;  
• Expertise in using compassionate and evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, Positive Peer Culture, and Therapeutic Recreation approaches; and
• Schedule flexibility to meet the needs of clients outside of school-day hours. 

 

The Andrew B. Ferrari Argus House, operated by the Arlington County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, is a community-based group home that serves middle- and high-school aged adolescents and young adults who are transitioning to independence.  Our mission is to offer a behavioral and therapeutic residential program that fosters growth, while keeping clients close to their communities and away from the criminal justice system.  Residents and their family members work closely with their assigned Group Home Counselor to enhance the youth's functioning at home, in school, and in the community.   

Selection Criteria

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Adolescent Development, or a related field;
• Some experience counseling adolescents in a group home or outreach day program; and
• At least one year of experience conducting both individual and group counseling sessions. 

Substitution: 

• Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
    

Desirable Qualifications: Preference may be given to candidates with one or more of the following:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish; 

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Therapeutic Recreation, or a related field;

• Experience in providing culturally competent and inclusive care to adolescents and their families;

• Experience in using group interventions and approaches to effect positive behavior change in teenage boys;

• Substance abuse treatment and counseling experience;

• Certification in required training areas for Virginia group home staff:  Handle with Care, CPR and First Aide, Virginia Medication Aide certification, Food Service manager certification.

Special Requirements

A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted to include: an NCIC check, a Virginia State Police background check, an FBI fingerprint background check, and a Virginia Department of Social Services Child Protective Services Central Registry search. You may be