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Master Correctional Counselor (#MDDP03)



Summary Statement

A class incumbent is responsible for advanced level professional counseling work providing rehabilitation services to adult offenders incarcerated in correctional institutions or assigned to Community Corrections.

Nature and Scope

A class incumbent works under the general supervision of a technical or administrative superior. Work at this level is differentiated from the Senior level by the responsibility for developing, implementing, and overseeing a specialized treatment  program for inmates requiring  intensive counseling (e.g., sex offenses and substance abuse). Work at this level also includes training counseling staff in program operations and treatment methods and providing technical guidance in the area of specialization. In addition to administering a specialized program, incumbents in this class conduct generalized counseling including conducting inmate assessments, developing and implementing treatment plans, and evaluating inmate progress. Incumbents also participate in special studies or projects as assigned. A significant aspect of the work involves dealing with criminally-oriented persons and motivating those persons toward re-socialization.

Essential Functions

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.
  • Identifies treatment need and develops program guidelines, operational procedures, and evaluation methods. Provides comprehensive, intensive counseling to inmates/clients in the area of specialty.
     
  • Provides training and technical guidance to security and treatment staff on the goals and objectives of the specialized program and application of treatment program methodologies.
     
  • Evaluates effectiveness of specialized program through review of inmate/client progress reports, case records, and related documentation. Makes recommendations to superior for revisions to program as required.
     
  • Conducts general individual and/or group counseling sessions with inmates/clients.
     
  • Develops treatment plan based on counseling sessions as well as information obtained from inmate file, records, and reports, family members, associates, former employers, and other counselors, or rehabilitation team members.
     
  • Assesses inmate progress efforts toward re-socialization and compliance with recommended treatment plan.
     
  • Prepares a variety of records, reports, and summary evaluations relative to inmate progress.
     
  • Maintains files on clients/inmates which include appropriate supporting documentation, classification reports, social histories, progress notes, and counseling records.
     
  • Serves on a variety of boards and committees such as the Multi-Disciplinary Team's classification committees and inmate grievance committees.
     
  • Makes recommendations relative to appropriate classification level of inmates/clients based on assessment of behavioral/attitudinal changes and positive effort made toward self improvement and compliance with program/institutional requirements.
     
  • Participates in case conferences regarding treatment alternatives of inmates/clients. Makes referrals to such resources as drug or alcohol treatment programs or educational programs.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The intent of the listed knowledge, skills and abilities is to give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSA’s listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the requirements of every position in the class.

  • Knowledge of human behavior with particular emphasis on criminally oriented or deviant behavior.
  • Knowledge of psychological counseling techniques, attitude/behavior assessment, and symptoms of maladaptive behavior.
  • Knowledge of social, psychological, and economic causes of deviant/criminal behavior.
  • Knowledge of the methods and techniques of specialized treatment program development and implementation.
  • Skill in eliciting information of a sensitive nature from a variety of persons of varying social-economic backgrounds.
  • Skill in the application of counseling methods.
  • Skill in assessing and interpreting information and developing appropriate treatment plans.
  • Ability to oversee and administer a specialized treatment program.
  • Ability to recognize symptoms and patterns of abnormal or anti-social behaviors/attitudes and develop the appropriate course of action.
  • Ability to provide training and technical guidance to treatment and security staff.
  • Ability to work harmoniously with other professionals involved in inmate/client treatment programs with an appreciation for other points of view and professional judgement.
  • Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
  • Ability to prepare reports of findings and recommendations.
  • Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with other staff, family members, employers, and inmates.

Job Requirements

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Master Correctional Counselor
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

  1. At least three years experience providing rehabilitation services to adult offenders OR a Masters degree or higher in Behavioral/Social Science and at least one year experience providing rehabilitation services to adult offenders OR a Bachelors degree or higher and at least two years experience providing rehabilitation services to adult offenders. 
  2. Three years experience in behavior management which includes understanding, explaining, describing and predicting behavior, studying the connection between behavior and its causes and identifying appropriate behavior modification strategies for individual situations. 
  3. Three years experience in case management which includes assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individuals human service needs.
  4. Six months experience in providing rehabilitation services to adult offenders which includes evaluating progress in attainment of goals and adjusting treatment plans; analyzing social and criminal history; participating in interdisciplinary conferencing.
  5. Six months experience in interpreting laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures.
  6. Six months experience in narrative report writing.
  7. Six months experience in using an automated information system to enter, update, modify, delete, retrieve/inquire and report on data.
  8. Knowledge of staff training. 

CLASS:
MDDP03
EST:
7/1/1995
REV:
FORMERLY JOB CLASS:
78833