Under general supervision, Correctional Counselor 1 serves as a member of a multidisciplinary team providing services to an assigned caseload of juvenile residents within a West Virginia Juvenile Correctional Treatment Facility. This position performs entry-level counseling and support duties focused on the daily care, treatment, and rehabilitation of residents. Responsibilities include conducting assessments, intakes, orientation sessions, and providing PREA education and counseling. The Correctional Counselor 1 facilitates a variety of therapeutic and psycho-educational groups, including life skills, coping skills, large muscle movement activities, team-building exercises, and crisis intervention support in collaboration with security staff.
Additionally, this position contributes input to the Unit Manager for recommendations to the courts regarding residents’ progress and needs. Counselor 1 addresses the general and routine needs of residents, complementing the more complex responsibilities of higher-level treatment staff. The role includes providing therapeutic communication with the more complex responsibilities of higher-level treatment staff. The role includes providing therapeutic communication, behavior redirection, de-escalation strategies, and facilitating family interactions and legal access for residents. Under the direction of the Unit Manager, Counselor 1 may lead team-building activities and assist in multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) video visitations, behavior documentation, and maintain accurate records in the Offender Information System (OIS). The position may also support Correctional Officers and higher-level counseling staff as needed to ensure a safe and effective rehabilitative environment.
Click The APPLY Link To Apply Online.
IMPORTANT: Your eligibility will be based on information provided in your application or on your resume; therefore, make sure your application or resume is detailed and complete. You MUST complete ALL parts of the application, including the Work Experience section, or you may attach a detailed resume.
ATTENTION: Applicant must verify post high school education by submitting an official transcript or diploma, training or licensure earned pertaining to this position by the closing date of the posting, if not previously verified. If you are claiming Veterans preference, please submit "MEMBER 4" form and/or your VA Letter. Protecting your personal information is our highest priority. If your official transcript, training/licensure, or Veterans documentation contains your Social Security Number and/or birthdate, please redact that information before submitting it to the Division of Personnel.
Please attach documents to the online application before submitting it. Or, you may email it to: applicantservices@wv.gov or by mail to: WV Division of Personnel, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E., Building 3, Suite 500, Charleston, WV 25305.
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Training: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in criminal justice, corrections, psychology, sociology, counseling, counseling and guidance, criminology, social work, education, therapeutic recreation or closely related field.Substitution: Experience in the area of corrections or related fields may be substituted for the required training on a year-for-year basis.
***Your complete work history is needed to qualify you for positions. Please be as detailed as possible and list all of your past employment***- In accordance with SPB 3088 effective 10/7/23, $5000 will be added to the minimum starting rate of pay for all classifications within a Critical Vacancy Pay Supplemental Facility. Critical Vacancy Pay Facilities: Huttonsville Correctional Center and Jail, Mount Olive Correctional Complex and Jail, Western Regional Jail and Corrections Facility, Northern Correctional Facility (including Ohio County Correctional Center), Northern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility, Chick Buckbee Juvenile Center, Vicki Douglas Juvenile Center, Potomac Highlands Regional Jail and Correctional Facility, and Eastern Regional Jail and Corrections Facility (including Martinsburg Correctional Center) (SPB 3088)
- Employees in this classification shall receive an annual base building pay differential each fiscal year of $250 after completing one year of service.
- If an employee is hired into a Critical Vacancy Pay Facility (CVPF) and leaves the facility, the additional pay differential of $5,000 shall be removed from their salary, unless transferring to another CVPF.