Family Counselor

DEADLINE TO APPLY

Open Until Filled

COMPENSATION

$86,444.80 – $104,852.80 Annually

Plus excellent benefits package: See the 2018 Benefit Summary on the City’s Human Resources webpage for more details.

THE POSITION
 The City of Hayward is excited to announce its recruitment for the position of Family Counselor. Under general direction, the Family Counselor provides crisis intervention, counseling, and referral services to youth, families, and individuals and performs other related duties as required, such as school based, case management, and gang prevention/intervention services. This position is partially funded by Alameda County Probation Department, Delinquency Prevention Network, RFP 901499.

In addition to the Regular Full-time opportunity, candidates may also be considered for a one-year Limited-term Temp Family Counselor position. Candidates will be afforded the opportunity to indicate their preferred position term during the application process of this recruitment.  

THE DEPARTMENT 
The Youth and Family Services Bureau (YFSB) is a unique part of the Hayward Police Department where police officers and professional counselors work side by side offering a variety of services to the residents of Hayward. For more than 40 years, YFSB has focused on helping families succeed at home, school and in the community. YFSB seeks to strengthen the Hayward community through creating opportunities for kids to grow up in healthy and safe neighborhoods and schools. The dedicated YFSB staff strives to reduce delinquency and crime through a range of services that address the specific needs of each family. YFSB also offers a variety of prevention services that encourage youth to stay out of trouble and provide them with positive ways to engage with their peers and the community.
 
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
 This is a journey level professional classification and the incumbent performs the full range of counseling duties within the Youth and Family Services Bureau of the Hayward Police Department.  Employees at this level receive occasional instruction as new or unusual situations arise. Positions in this classification differ from the higher level Counseling Supervisor in that the latter is responsible for providing direct supervision to professional and clerical staff.

Essential Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

Provides crisis intervention services to youth, families, individuals, and couples including but not limited to crises involving incorrigible youth, dependent children under the court’s custody, domestic violence, first time offenders, and the hospitalization of individuals dangerous to self and others.
 
Provides counseling to youth, families, couples, individuals and groups.
 
Maintains crisis intake log, case files and service statistics.
 
Provides referral information to the public, and other agencies.

Participates in division, department, community and school meetings.

Provides support service, consultation and training to patrol officers on juvenile and mental health topics.
 
Provides case management services to youth and their families.
 
Provides school based services to students and their families, including consultation and training for school administrators and teachers, implementation of school climate initiatives, and coordination of site-based student support services.
 
Provides gang prevention and intervention services to at risk and gang involved youth and their families.
 
Maintains formal and informal liaison with mental health professionals and service providers including courts, schools, private therapists, hospitals, probation and other agencies.
 
Provides emergency psychological evaluation and recommendations.
 
Responds to critical incidents and other in-field emergency situations.
 
Performs related work as necessary.

A complete job description and list of duties can be found at www.hayward-ca.gov. 

JOB RELATED AND ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• The theory and principles of human development, particularly child development.
• The theory and principles of social aspects of mental and emotional adjustment, including normal and abnormal behavior.
• Principles, methods and current practices of crisis intervention and counseling, which includes interviewing techniques, assessment and treatment modalities.
• Principles, methods and current practices of social casework.
• The theory and principles of child abuse, elder abuse and domestic violence treatment.
• The theory, principles and current practices of gang prevention and intervention.
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V) system of diagnosis.
• Proficiency in the use of computer skills, including multiple software formats, email and storage of digital files.
• Community resources in the mental health and human services areas.

Ability to:

• Perform crisis intervention and counseling services.
• Establish effective and productive casework relationships with youth, families, and individuals.
• Establish cooperative working relationships with police officers in the handling of crisis calls.
• Establish cooperative working relationships with educators and school site personnel.
• Work independently, make sound decisions and set priorities under stressful conditions.
• Work collaboratively in the highly structured environment of a police department while maintaining accepted professional standards of clinical practice.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Maintain records, including statistics, and to prepare reports.
• Work varied shifts.
• Effectively manage time, meet deadlines and prioritize workload.

Minimum Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Any combination of experience and education equivalent to that which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills and abilities would be:

Experience:  One (1) year providing counseling or psychotherapy to youth, families, groups and individuals.  Experience with probation involved or at-risk youth and experience with school based mental health services are highly desirable; experience working in school settings is highly desirable.
 
OR
 
One (1) academic year of graduate level internship experience. One (1) relevant clinical internship placement is desirable.

Education: Equivalent to a Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Clinical Social Work or a closely related field or a Doctorate in Clinical or Counseling Psychology. (Note: Applicants with a related Master’s Degree in progress are also encouraged to apply. Selected candidate will need to provide proof of graduate degree completion by the start date of employment.)

Licenses & Certificates: Possession of a valid License in Marriage and Family Therapy (L.M.F.T.), Licensed Clinical Social Work (L.C.S.W.), Licensed Professional Counselor (L.P.C), Licensed Clinical Psychologist or a closely related field is highly desirable.

Possession and maintenance of a valid Class C California Driver’s License.

Supplemental Information

PROBATIONARY PERIOD: One (1) year.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

COVID POLICY: The City of Hayward has adopted a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for all new employees issued formal offers of employment on or after February 1, 2022. Under this policy, proof of full vaccination is required as a condition of initial and continued employment with the City unless the employee has applied for an exemption and is awaiting the City’s response or has been granted an exemption, or unless stricter State or Federal legal requirements apply.  If offered employment, you will receive instructions regarding how to provide verification of vaccination or how to apply for an exemption, which will be required prior to your start date.  You may read the full policy here: COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Mandate (Download PDF reader) 

Candidates must submit a completed City of Hayward job application and responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire, which fully describe the nature of their professional experience and qualifications. Applications submitted without all required materials will not be considered.

If you possess any licenses or certifications, please attach copies of them.

The selection process will include: Pre-qualifying background questionnaire via Survey Monkey, a review of qualifications, and an oral panel will determine eligibility to advance in the process. 

Final selection and job offer is contingent upon successful completion of a comprehensive police background investigation, including personal history, prior job performance and activities that may negatively affect job performance, as well as a medical examination, psychological examination, and polygraph examination. 

Pre-qualifying background questionnaire via Survey Monkey is the first step of this process and will be sent to all applicants who meet minimum qualifications for the position.  Truthful disclosure is required for advancement in the process

The examination process will result in a ranked eligible register of candidates for hiring consideration by the department.  Actual hire depends on success in the departmental selection process.

Candidates under final consideration for employment with the City should expect to undergo an employment background/reference check that may include, but is not limited to: employment history, confirmation of educational credentials and degrees, licenses including driver’s license, registrations, certificates, and other credentials as part of the appointment process. Some positions, depending on the nature of the work, also require a credit check and a review of Summary Criminal History obtained from the State Department of Justice through Live Scan Fingerprinting.

Applicants will be notified electronically via Government Jobs as to their status in the selection process.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they can receive email notice from Neogov/Government Jobs and the City of Hayward.

Candidates are encouraged to apply online at www.hayward-ca.gov under the Current Vacancies tab or at www.GovernmentJobs.com.  Paper applications can be obtained by contacting Human Resources at employment@hayward-ca.gov.  Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.