Career Opportunities

Becoming part of the Sweetser family means you can make a difference in the lives of Maine children, adults, and families every day. As a nationally recognized and accredited leader, we offer competitive salaries, a wide range of benefits and the opportunity to join a passionate team of more than 700 employees. 

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ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Understands and bases performance expectations on the differences in responsibility between Youth & Family Counselors I, II and III's.
• Initiates resolution of compliance issues as they are identified.
• Direct care of clients.
• Connects and comments on relationship of training to current program issues.
• Functions as a mentor by managing access to providing input to those being coached appropriately.
• Works with families by demonstrating thorough understanding of the family-centered practice, communicating understanding of the systems, facilitating contact with the primary’s family system and being personally familiar with all involved families.
• Thoroughly understands and appropriately uses childcare terminology including, therapeutic crisis intervention, behavior management, active listening, positive and negative feedback as well as systems in client and family centered practice.
• Implement Case Management systems by maintaining communication with and contacting assigned case manager as needed, identifying the need for and managing interactions between client, family and case manager and facilitating appropriate professional relationships.
• Implements supervisory directions.
• Promote and maintain basic milieu practices regarding, structuring the environment (therapeutic and safety), safety, awareness, behavioral management and communication.
• Directs and participate in therapeutic interactions, recreation, role in modeling and shaping appropriate behavior, role in carrying out treatment plan, assuring life space interviews are consistently integrated into daily milieu and assisting in physical interventions by following proper TCI procedures when involved in a restraint, including preventative behavior techniques prior to the intervention.
• Direct, support, and participate in identifying, removing or reducing the likelihood of common safety concerns such as:
  • Unsafe client behavior
  • Threats directed at self, staff, client family, or residential peers
  • Unsafe staff behavior including escorting clients between buildings alone or transporting clients
  • Acute milieu or environment situational dangers including sharps, meds, dangerous chemicals, detergents and cleaners as well as personal items of staff or clients which could become safety concerns such as, key sets, small penknives, mace, contents of a wallet which could include credit cards, addresses, etc.
• CRMA certified, responsible for passing medicines and appropriate documentation.
• Assists or co-facilitates training as requested or required.
• Provide assistance, support and direction to the Youth & Family Counselors and Relief Staff in the absence of residential services supervisor.
• Provide Direct Care to clients by using the prescribed treatment strategies and observing and monitoring behaviors.
• Serve as Supervisor on Duty as needed.
• O/N – Provides administrative oversight and supervision by scheduling of staff, assisting the Residential Services Supervisor with supervision of relief staff and providing staff feedback as needed.

   

  GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:

• Ability to support and recognize the important role volunteers play.Sweetser employees work with, support, collaborate with volunteers, and promote opportunities for volunteer engagement
• Externally and internally seeks to improve processes’ quality and effectiveness.
• Understands role of compliance in maintaining quality, professional services.
• Consistently models effective, therapeutic behavior in interactions with clients or staff.
• Models professional, respectful behavior by participation.
• Asks questions, seeks clarification of theory and identifies application(s) of training information within program.
• Assists or co-facilitates training as requested or required.
• Facilitates and encourages relevant questions tied to professional growth.
• Seeks out opportunities to provide professional feedback and input.
• Encourages and reinforces individual, independent problem-solving.
• Confident in organizational knowledge regarding, professional behavioral expectations, all administrative protocols, program mission and management challenges.
• Oversees, initiates, and assures timely and effective communications with internal and external service providers, such as case manager, FCS Specialists, and involved state departments.
• Interacts with Sweetser families in programs and in the community.
• Participates and carries out directions of supervisor as requested.
• Functions in the community as a representative of the program and Sweetser.
• Initiates and facilitates discussions as identified.
• Follow Suicide safer care practices.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS:

Customer Focus Competency

• Anticipates customer needs and is responsive to customer feedback by taking action to make things better.
• Treats others with courtesy and respect, projecting an approachable manner at all times.
• Meets needs of customers thru reliable work attendance and completion of job duties. Arrives to work and meetings on time; returns from breaks and lunch at designated time.
• Works with, supports, collaborate with volunteers and interns, and promote opportunities for volunteer and intern engagement.
• Maintains professional boundaries with all clients, co-workers, visitors, and community partners.
• Shares responsibility by taking initiative to assist coworkers.

Team Orientation Competency

• Maintains confidentiality in client, family, and personal communications.
• Expresses ideas professionally, clearly, and concisely both verbally and in writing, without the use offensive language.
• Shares appropriate information necessary for team members (departmental and interdepartmental) to effectively plan, anticipate, and be proactive participants in the service provided.
• Communicates with individuals about issues as they arise, in a direct and timely manner that is positive and builds trust and confidence in the organization. Expresses disagreement constructively.
• Maintains alignment and collaboration with leadership and coworkers through respectful communication by providing consistent and coordinated messages.

Quality Competency

• Identifies, supports, and participates in continuous quality improvement activities by developing or participating in strategies to improve processes.
• Assesses problems and evaluates options by considering available resources, implications, and consequences.
• Uses the plan, do, check, act strategy to meet quality outcomes.
• Approaches tasks with diligence, timeliness, and attention to detail.
• Maintains alignment with team, supervisory, and management goals, objectives, and direction of the organization.
• Identifies ways to be fiscally efficient while supporting quality service and mission attainment.
• Enhances quality performance by participating in professional training and development opportunities.

Safety Competency

• Adheres to safety procedures and works to prevent accidents and injuries, including good ergonomic practices.Reports accidents, injuries, or emergencies to Supervisor and Human Resources within 48 hours.
• Maintains a professional appearance and is attired to support safe completion of assigned duties; utilizes personal protective equipment/safety devices to prevent injury.
• Demonstrates good housekeeping practices, helping to maintain the professional appearance and safety of facilities, to ensure they are easily and safely accessible.Returns all equipment to its proper place and cleans work areas promptly.
• Notifies facilities staff as appropriate of safety issues needing to be addressed.
• Wears and displays identification badge in Sweetser facilities and as appropriate when working in the community.Approaches individuals not displaying Sweetser identification, offering assistance and escorting them to their destination whenever possible.

5 Basic Principles Standard

• Focus on the situation, issue or behavior, not on the person.
• Maintain the self-confidence and self-esteem of others.
• Maintain constructive relationships.
• Take Initiative to make things better.
• Lead by example.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

  CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

• Maintain a valid state driver’s license.
• Must pass the competency tests of a Youth & Family Counselor Level I, II, and III.
• Must obtain certification as an Other Qualified Mental Health Professional within one (1) month of assignment.

  EXPERIENCE:

• Supervisory experience a plus.
• One (1) to three (3) years related experience working in the Youth & Family Counselor field required. Three (3) years is preferred.