Assistant Director of Counseling, Health & Wellness Services

This position supports the academic mission of the college by collaborating with the Director of CHWS to provide a safe environment for clients experiencing mental health issues. This position will also be able to provide brief counseling to clients as needed.

Responsibilities/Duties/Tasks/Essential Functions:

• Manages potentially dangerous clients and situations. Coordinates with Campus Safety Officers and Residential Life regarding difficult client issues and referrals.

• Engages in personal counseling sessions with clients (brief solutions focus) to help clients in meeting their academic, personal, and career goals.

• Participates in On-call assessment.

• Provides crisis intervention support and refers clients to community agencies for personal counseling as needed.

• Performs post-mental health incident evaluations and wellness plans with clients.

• Acts as liaison for Woman’s Center.

• Oversees substance abuse programming which includes teaching classes, data reporting, and development and implementation of projects.

• Refers clients to Counseling, Health, & Wellness Services when appropriate.

• Serves as Aquinas community Counseling, Health & Wellness consultant.

• Supervises a personal counselor, interns (masters counseling), Health & Wellness interns (undergrad); supervises Office Project Manager and Coordinator when director is not available.

• Represents Aquinas when creating and maintaining professional relationships with internal and external organizations.

• Represents Counseling, Health & Wellness Services when interacting with other West Michigan communities.

• Documents, tracks, and analyzes administrative data.

• Adheres to ethical and legal requirements of profession.

• Adheres to CHWS Scope of Practice and Operations Manual.

• Maintains current knowledge through regular professional development activities, belongs to professional organizations, attends and participates in department meetings and serves on college committees as required.

• Complete additional duties as assigned by the Director

• Attends and participates in spring graduation ceremony.

• Trains first time responders, paraprofessionals, and professionals.

• Oversees digital media and marketing.

• Manages day-to-day electronic clinical records.

• Designs and implements office automation (including paperless) procedures.

• Performs other job duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Education Requirements

• Must have Master’s degree in social work, personal counseling, or related mental health field from an accredited university.

• Must be professionally licensed by the State of Michigan.

• At least three years’ counseling experience in a college/university setting preferred.

• Experience managing personnel and programs a plus.

• Must be able to manage crises effectively.

• Must be able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

• Must demonstrate ability to train.

• Must be able to manage a budget.

• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and practice discretion regarding client information.

• Must have experience working with diverse populations (age, race, socioeconomic class, gender, culture, religion, disabilities).

• Must be able to adhere to professional boundaries when working with clients.

• Must have clinical experience with individual/group counseling.

• Must be a licensed driver and/or must have reliable transportation.

• Must be able and willing to work on-call as needed.

• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, able to use Google documents, and work effectively with various counseling software programs/databases.

• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

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Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Actively monitoring on-call cell phone

• Potential threats from aggressive clients

• On-call for after hours emergencies

• Ability to occasionally lift or exert force on items up to ten pounds

MISSION, VISION, VALUES:

Aquinas College, an inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic and Dominican traditions, provides a liberal arts education with a global perspective, emphasizes career preparation focused on leadership and service to others, and fosters a commitment to lifelong learning dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the common good.

Aquinas College is recognized as the exceptional Catholic liberal arts college that prepares individuals for careers of leadership and service in developing a sustainable and just global community. Aquinas College is recognized by its values: Faith, Service, Learning and Community.

Aquinas College prides itself as a leader in sustainability, and this requires the participation of every member of the college community. In this regard, employees and their supervisors are expected to engage in the process of “appreciative inquiry” to identify ways that each position can advance sustainability in the employment experience.

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties, all employees are expected to conform to the Aquinas College Service Statement:

The College serves our community with excellence and respect through an institutional commitment to quality, accountability, cooperation, professionalism and responsiveness.

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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Aquinas College is an equal opportunity employer and an inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic Dominican tradition. Aquinas College provides a liberal arts education with a global perspective, emphasizes career preparation focused on leadership and service to others, and fosters a commitment to lifelong learning dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the common good. Aquinas College values: Faith, Learning, Service and Community.

Aquinas College offers an excellent benefits package that includes affordable medical, dental, and vision plans, generous paid vacation each year, 16 paid holidays, paid sick time and short-term disability, and college-paid life and AD&D insurance. Additionally, Aquinas employees and their dependents are eligible for free tuition at Aquinas after one year of full-time employment.