Job Description

Job Location: Saint Petersburg - 1735 Martin Luther King S Floor 1 - Saint Petersburg, FL 33705
Position Type: Full TimeEducation
Level: 4 Year Degree
Salary Range: $50,000.00 - $50,000.00 Salary/year
Job Category: Professional ServicesPOSITION SUMMARY:
The Lead Counselor is responsible for overseeing and delivering high-quality counseling services in our residential facility. The Lead Counselor will provide clinical guidance, support, and supervision to a team of counselors as assigned, while also carrying a caseload (minimum 13). A Lead Counselor’s expertise will help ensure high-quality services, promote a positive treatment environment, and drive program development.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Provide regular individual supervision to counselors assigned, focusing on case consultation, skill development, and professional growth.
- Conduct performance evaluations, identify areas for improvement, and develop growth plans.
- Collaborate with the Program Director/Clinical Manager to develop, implement, and evaluate treatment programs, groups, and services.
- Stay up to date on best practices, research, and industry trends to inform program development.
- Carry a caseload (13 minimum), providing individual and group counseling services to residents.
- Facilitate and lead group sessions in accordance with the rotating schedule, with responsibility for leading 1–3 groups as assigned.
- Conduct one-to-one sessions with caseload as needed.
- Check in with Structure group daily.
- Cover groups when other counselors are unavailable, ensuring continuity of care.
- Utilize counseling and psychotherapy to evaluate and treat emotional and mental problems and conditions, whether cognitive, behavioral, or affective.
- Conduct client screening and assessment and developing and implementing a treatment plan based on the client’s individual strengths, needs abilities, and preferences.
- Monitor, assess, and document client behavior and progress, ensuring treatment goals are met.
- Develop and implement individualized treatment/service plans in collaboration with clients and interdisciplinary teams
- Participate in decision to refer clients for ancillary services, i.e., family support groups, continuing care groups, etc.
- Maintain a secure distance delivery system that ensures client informed consent, confidentiality, and safety.
- Provide guidance, support, and mentorship to counselors, promoting a positive and productive team environment.
- Participate in morning and afternoon huddles with the Residential Clinical Coordinator to support effective communication and ensure the smooth operation of program activities.
- Foster collaboration and communication among team members.
- Participate in staff meetings, treatment team meetings, and other relevant meetings.
- Provide consistent communication with the Residential Clinical Coordinator.
- Facilitate treatment team or counselor meetings when the Residential Clinical Coordinator is out of the office or unable to attend.
- Report any unusual incidents that should be brought to the attention of the Residential Clinical Coordinator, Program Director, Regional Vice President, or regulatory agency.
- Assist Residential Clinical Coordinator with developing and implementing crisis response plans, ensuring timely and effective responses to resident crises.
- Participate in risk management activities, such as root cause analyses and quality improvement initiatives.
- Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant documentation of resident treatment plans, progress notes, and other relevant records.
- Monitor and maintain adherence to documentation standards.
- Requires regular and consistent attendance to ensure continuity of counseling services to clients.
- Follow all WestCare policies and procedures.
- Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of WestCare Foundation.
- All other duties as assigned to meet programmatic needs.

QualificationsESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the duties and responsibilities satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required:
- Maintain the highest ethical and professional standard as to clients and employees required.
- Strong clinical supervision and leadership skills required.
- Excellent communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills, with a high level of initiative required.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment required.
- Familiarity with relevant regulations, laws, and industry standards required
- Ability to avoid all dual relationships with clients (any personal, financial, business, social or sexual relationship or other activity outside the context of the traditional therapist-patient relationship) required.
- Experience with specific populations (e.g., Adults with cooccurring disorders) preferred.
- Knowledge of evidence-based practices and treatment modalities preferred.
- During your tenure with WestCare there may be new requirements, including, but not limited to vaccinations that are issued by local, State, Federal, and/or Funders that WestCare may have to comply with. Should this occur Human Resources or appropriate personnel will inform you.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
- Minimum Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in counseling, social work, psychology, nursing, rehabilitation, special education, health education, or related human services field.
- 2+ years of experience in a similar setting, with experience in group and individual counseling.
LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:
- Licensure/certification (e.g., LMHC, LMFT, LCSW, CAP, CAC) or working towards licensure certification.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Indoor and outdoor settings.
- Group and/or individual counseling sessions.
- Direct contact with clients of all ages and levels of functioning.
- Fast paced environment.
- Potential for high noise level at times.
- A minimum of 40 hours per week is expected but significantly more hours will be required from time to time.  Completion of job duties may require working before and after normal working hours.  Regular attendance is required.  Being able to work as many hours as is necessary to complete job tasks is a required and essential duty of this position.
WestCare is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment at WestCare is contingent upon
successful completion of a pre-employment drug test,
pre-employment physical and criminal background check.