SENIOR YOUTH SERVICES COUNSELOR

 DEFINITION

 Under direction takes the lead over other counselors; coordinates
 public and private youth activity programs designed to remotivate
 juveniles  and  deter juvenile delinquency;  does  other  related
 duties as required.

 NOTE: The  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:

 Takes the lead  over work performed by counselors at a lower
 level.

 Gives  counselors  advice and instruction in the  performance  of
 their work.

 Plans  and conducts various programs, discussion sessions, field
 trips, movies, and so forth to improve juvenile attitudes.

 Interviews juveniles, parents,  teachers, police, juvenile authorities,  
 and others to obtain information concerning causes and prevention 
 of juvenile delinquency.

 Tutors youths in academic studies and arts and crafts and offers
 vocational guidance.

 Visits homes to gain knowledge of home environment  so as to
 better understand juvenile behavior.

 Acts  as  liaison  between schools and the Bureau  of  Children's
 Services in helping problem children.

 Operates and maintains recreation rooms and the library.

 Discusses individual youth's problems with members of the
 family to determine cause of the behavioral problem.

 Conducts individual and group structured counseling sessions.

 Identifies  behavioral problems of youths and  prepares  plan  of
 treatment based on evaluation of individual case so as to achieve
 behavior modification.

 Through discussion and counseling, attempts to get youngsters  
 to interact properly within peer group and society in general.

 Makes referrals to appropriate community agencies.

 Administers  specific aptitude and interest  test  batteries  and
 counsels individuals.

 Informs   individual   youngsters  of  career  education/training
 opportunities   available,  and  of  the   qualifications,   work
 attitudes, and skills required for entry into employment.

 Prepares  reports and selects, redesigns, and implements  various
 testing    programs   to   determine   behavioral   trends    and
 social/cultural developments of juveniles.

 Attempts  to  remotivate youth through psychological testing  and
 group/individual counseling.
 Is  responsible for ensuring that work assignments of supervisors
 are carried out by other counselors.

 Maintains  a  current knowledge and answers  questions  of  other
 counselors concerning procedures, policies, written instructions,
 and other directives.

 Provides other counselors with advice, direction, and guidance in
 handling the more complex cases.

 Informs  supervisor  of  status  of  work  assignments  of  other
 counselors and of any problems encountered.

 Will  be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic
 and/or  manual  recording and information  systems  used  by  the
 agency, office, or related units.

 REQUIREMENTS:

      EDUCATION:

 Possession of a Master's degree in Sociology, Vocational Rehabilitation,
 Educational  Counseling and Guidance, Psychology, or Social  Work
 from an accredited college or university.

 EXPERIENCE:

 Three (3) years of experience in professional counseling and guidance of
 juveniles.

 LICENSE:

 Appointees  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  psychological, social, and  economic  problems  of
 juveniles.

 Knowledge of methods used in remotivating juveniles.

 Knowledge  of public agencies that can afford help in stimulating
 youths.

 Knowledge of guidance and counseling techniques.

 Ability  to  organize  assigned work and develop  effective  work
 methods.

 Ability to utilize counseling and guidance techniques.

 Ability to understand juvenile attitudes and motives.

 Ability  to  prepare  clear,  sound,  accurate,  and  informative
 reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

 Ability  to  administer and interpret various  psychological  and
 vocational aptitude tests.

 Ability  to identify causes of behavioral problems and to prepare
 appropriate  treatment  plans based on evaluation  of  individual
 cases.

 Ability   to   understand  the  dynamic  of   family,   economic,
 sociological,  and  other factors that cause behavioral  problems
 among youth.

 Ability to maintain records and files.

 Ability  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, and  communicate  in
 English   sufficiently  to  perform  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  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.

 This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
Job
Spec
Code
Variant
State,
Local or
Common
Class of
Service
Work
Week
State
Class
Code
Local
Class
Code
Salary
Range
Note
03658
L
C
  
N/A
29
-

This job specification is for local government use only.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.

 9/02/1998