"Wellness Counselor (Coordinator of Health Services) - RISE Program"

Wellness Counselor (Coordinator of Health Services) - RISE Program

MCCC Unit Professional position, Grade 6

Campus Location: Lynn

Work Schedule: 37.5 hours per week

SALARY: Anticipated starting salary is $80,066.00 - $83,000.00. Actual salary will be commensurate with education and experience in accordance with the MCCC/MTA collective bargaining agreement. Full time benefited employees at North Shore Community College are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package offered through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

The SUCCESS Fund (Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services) was created specifically for Massachusetts community colleges to invest in wraparound supports and services using models proven to strengthen outcomes for students facing systemic barriers. RISE (Realizing & Inspiring Student Excellence) is an iteration of the statewide SUCCESS Fund at North Shore Community College.

The RISE Wellness Counselor will provide programmatic and individualized support for students participating in NSCC's SUCCESS/RISE program and the general student population. This includes, but is not limited to, support services that address the life experiences of first-generation, low-income, Black, Queer, and Latine student populations. The Wellness Counselor will provide consultation, psychoeducational opportunities to promote student wellness, crisis intervention, and debriefing services to encourage, foster and support the well-being of NSCC students, as well as specific opportunities for RISE students. The individual will work collaboratively with faculty, staff and other well-being services in a holistic manner while committed to diversity, equity and inclusion across all areas of their work.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Uses an equity-minded and culturally responsive lens to provide psychoeducational training to enhance the personal, professional, and educational development of students.
• Provides wellness support to students utilizing a solution-focused and trauma-informed paradigm with specific focus on supporting RISE students.
• Assesses individual student needs utilizing a range of mental health or wellness screenings for a diverse range of behavioral health concerns.
• Responds to reports of student wellness concerns, working to assist students in finding resources that will help them persist and complete coursework.
• Assists with behavioral health awareness and/or substance use prevention efforts for the campus community.
• Records all student interactions and provides wellness and safety planning as necessary.
• Prepares summaries and reports of aggregate data to enhance the services rendered by the department.
• Coordinates and consults with community partners and social service providers, when necessary, to support student wellness.
• Assists with professional development opportunities for faculty, staff and students as it pertains to wellness and behavioral health.
• Assists with the de-escalation of a student in crisis, on campus, and works collaboratively to seek a resolution.
• Maintains and promotes the highest ethical and professional standards and works collaboratively with departments across campus to address coordinated student support while adhering to federal, local, and state guidelines.
• Help coordinate and refer students who are food and home insecure to community resources.
• Serves on the Student Outreach and Support Team SOS and/or related teams to support the wellness of our students.
• Serve as a member of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training team on campus.
• Develops and delivers psychoeducational wellness programming for RISE and general population students
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Executive Director of Wellness & Accessibility Services

Job Requirements:

• Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Social Work, or closely related field; with 10 years of experience in psychological counseling or case management.
• Independent license in the state of Massachusetts for Social Work or Mental Health Clinician.
• Experience working with underserved populations in addressing mental health and wellness matters.
• Demonstrated knowledge of case management systems and experience with referrals, documentation, and active follow-up.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including both oral and written communications.
• Understanding of and sensitivity to meeting the needs of the diverse academic, socio-economic, cultural, disability, and ethnic background of the student population.
• Candidates will be required to pass a CORI/SORI and/or National background check as a condition of employment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of mental health and wellness issues in the community college student population.
• Knowledge of risk management strategies and approaches and how to apply them in a college setting. Experience working with distressed individuals within a higher education or community setting.
• Bilingual in Spanish.