Group Counselor - Full Time - Behavioral Health

• Overview Our team members are the heart of what makes us better.
• At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed.
• With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members.
• Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning.
• It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.
• Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.
• The Group Counselor provides therapeutic and recreational group activities and leisure assessment and group counseling services to assigned caseloads of patients. *Hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm; adult behavioral health experience preferred.

Responsibilities

A day in the life of a Group Counselor at Hackensack Meridian Health includes: Provides therapeutic activities/leisure assessment and counseling services to assigned patient groups. Groups are of a psycho educational nature and include: social and recreational skills, grief counseling, substance abuse counseling, creative expressions, stress management, coping skills and physical activities. Completes the Group Counselor Assessment of the patient within 48 hours of admission. Provides a minimum of four therapeutic groups per day, an evening group one day per week, and weekend groups on assigned units. Participates in the Wellness Choices program to provide groups on other units. Understands and adheres to the organization's health and safety requirements. Understands and adheres to all Hospital, Federal, State, and Joint Commission requirements. Assesses the patient's learning needs, readiness and barriers to learning of patients and documents appropriately. Provides age appropriate learning opportunities (individual and group) and documents teaching and outcomes appropriately. Provides educational materials that are specifically appropriate for the patient/family, considering age, educational level, culture and disability. Takes the lead in unit preparations for holiday celebrations. Provides information to the treatment team regarding the patient's participation/progress in conducted groups. Develops a plan of care for the patient that reflects the assessed needs, strengths, preferences and goals, and stages in the recovery process. Attends multidisciplinary treatment plan conferences for assigned patients and works collaboratively with members of the treatment team to assess. Completes documentation of patient's progress toward achieving goals in a weekly progress note, weekly treatment plan review or revision and transfer or discharge summary in the context of specific treatment objectives. Participates in departmental meetings, unit meetings, in-services, and other meetings as requested. Maintains current knowledge in their field of specialization by attending continuing educational programs/offerings. Other duties and/or projects as assigned. Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.