Wellness Counselor-Durham

NCSSM is ranked as the #1 Public High School in America

POSITION TYPE: Permanent, 11-month, EHRA Faculty, FLSA Exempt, 1.0 FTE

HIRING SALARY RANGE: Commensurate with education and experience

NCSSM and the Student Life division foster an environment of collaboration across departments and divisions and support community-engaged service and research. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. If you are an individual with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process, please contact us at hr@ncssm.edu.

Description of Duties:

This position reports to the Dean of Counseling and provides counseling and programming. The primary focus of this position includes providing wellness counseling, especially at the acute and chronic levels, and coordinating and developing support plans with students and families. This position will also connect students to mental health resources to address their mental health needs and collaborate with the NCSSM clinic, mental health providers, parents, faculty, and staff to provide and coordinate support for students; exchange information in support of students' needs, this communication includes direct contact and messaging; and participate in residential school programs including social, recreational, and advisory responsibilities. Other duties include developing and implementing mental health and wellness programming for students, parents/guardians, and staff.

Preferred Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Knowledge and understanding of individual and group counseling theories, skills, techniques, and strategies that promote and benefit mental health and well-being as well as personal and social growth;

• Individual and group counseling skills, techniques, and strategies that address and support personal and academic success;

• Human development and growth mindset;

• Legal, ethical, and professional issues related to minors, students, and school settings;

• Mandatory reporting laws;

• Knowledge of and adherence to the ethical standards for licensed clinical professionals.

Skilled in:

• Providing wellness counseling to students utilizing a variety of best-practice, evidence-based theories, techniques, skills, and strategies;

• Providing crisis intervention to students with acute needs and chronic mental health needs;

• Assessing students in crisis for possible suicide and/or harm to self or others, providing necessary follow-up with family/guardian and NCSSM community; as well as collaborating and referring to mental health providers;

• Sharing emergency on-call with Protocall services and other counseling team members for students experiencing significant, time-sensitive mental health-related needs and concerns;

• Developing individualized support plans to meet the emotional, personal, and academic needs of students and assist in the implementation of those plans;

• Developing safety plans with students to address suicidal plans, ideation, and/or self-harm;

• Supporting families in identifying and accessing mental health providers;

• Collaborating with mental health providers to address student needs;

• Facilitating parent/guardian-student meetings;

• Overseeing the planning and coordination of psychoeducational programming for students. Topics may include coping strategies, resilience, healthy relationships, mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, emotional regulation, and stress management, which would benefit them now and as they move from high school to a UNC system school or other college/university, or job/career;

• Developing and implementing mental health and wellness programming for parents/guardians;

• Developing and implementing mental health programming for faculty and staff;

• Providing referrals for both Durham and Morganton families and students to mental health providers, which includes private pay and need-based NCSSM funding for mental health needs;

• Building and maintaining community mental health resources to be utilized by student and family referrals;

• Collaborating with mental health providers to address student needs and assisting with contracts, and billing;

• Assisting students in their transition to higher education. This includes developing a support plan and connecting students to college mental and medical healthcare services;

• Assigning counselors to reports submitted by community members to provide needed follow-up and assist students in need;

• Acting as liaison between Clinic and Counseling Services;

• Collaborating and facilitating communication with students, parents, teachers, faculty, staff, medical personnel, administrators, and mental health professionals to ensure that students' emotional, residential, academic, and other needs are supported;

• Participating in residential school programs including social events and activities;

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

Ability to:

• Serve as a key member of a professional team, engaging with students, parents, and the NCSSM community through presentations, events, and wellness initiatives;

• Utilize technology to enhance counseling services, streamline procedures, and support student needs;

• Maintain professionalism, initiative, and accountability while fostering positive relationships with diverse stakeholders;

• Communicate effectively, uphold NCSSM policies, and ensure compliance with reporting requirements for student safety;

• Provide guidance for disability services, accommodations, and referrals;

• Demonstrate flexibility to meet student needs and adhere to deadlines.

Master's degree in Counselor Education, Social Work, or a related human services field.

Requires a minimum of two years of experience providing support to high school or college students with mental health needs within an educational environment.

Preferred Education and Experience:

Licensed clinical mental health professional, i.e., LCMHC, LCSW, or other equivalent NC clinical licensure.

Please attach a cover letter and a resume to the online application before submitting.

Team NCSSM Benefits

Free On-campus Parking

Vacation: EHRA Faculty earn from 14 days to 26 days per year based on years of state service. Leave is pro-rate for part-time and less than 12-month employees. Leave is earned monthly.

Sick Leave: 12 days per year.

Additional Leave: Family Medical Leave (FMLA), Paid Parental Leave (PPL), Civil Leave, Extended Illness, Short/Long Term Disability, Family Illness Leave, Military Leave, Community Service Leave, Bonus Leave, Voluntary Shared Leave and Leave Without Pay.

Holidays: 12 days per year

Retirement: Required participation for all employees working 3/4 time or more. Option (1) Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS) requires 6% of gross salary. Employees are vested for retirement after 5 years. Option (2) The Optional Retirement Program (ORP) requires 6% of gross salary. Employees in ORP are vested after 5 years of participating in ORP. As a participant in either retirement program, you are automatically covered for short-term disability (eligible after 1 year of service/no cost), long term disability (eligible after 5 year of service/no cost). Death benefit of minimum $25,000/maximum $50,000 based on previous 12 month salary (eligible after 1 year of service/no cost).

Supplemental Retirement Plans: Supplemental retirement plans provide an additional opportunity to help you reach your retirement goals. Supplemental Plan offerings such as a 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) on a Roth (after-tax) or pre-tax contributions from several different vendors.

Health Insurance: Employee-only coverage under the State Health Plan (PPO) is provided to employees that work 30 or more hours a week. The cost is determined by the type of coverage elected by the employee. Dependent coverage is available by payroll deduction.

NC Flex Plan: Plan offers Health Care Flexible Spending, Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending,Dental Insurance,Vision Care Plan,Critical Illness,Cancer Insurance,Core Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance,Accident, and Group Term Life. All plans are pre-tax basis / Cost varies depending on selections,

Voluntary Group Term Life Insurance: Securian (This is an after-tax plan and is portable)

Longevity: Payable to SHRA employees after 10 years of creditable state service (EHRA employees are not eligible).

Tuition Waiver: Three courses per academic year tuition-free (at any of UNC 17 campuses that offer courses) for permanent full-time employees. Under Educational Assistance, tuition reimbursement may be available for attendance at Community Colleges provided courses taken pertain to current job or upgrades current job skills.

State Employees Credit Union: Membership welcomed. Contact the SECU Credit Union for information.

Community Service: 24 hours leave credited each calendar year (prorated for part-time) unless you choose the Mentoring/ tutoring option - 1 hour each week up to a max of 36 hours that schools are in session as documented by the elected board of the local education agency or the governing authority of any non-public school.

Facilities: Library & Gymnasium - other athletic facilities available at no cost to employees. Cafeteria on site.

About NCSSM:

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) is a world-class public high school with statewide reach empowering academically talented students from diverse backgrounds from every corner of the state to design their own future. We offer residential high school programs in Durham and Morganton for juniors and seniors or virtual high school courses and programs that students can take alongside their local curriculum, all tuition free. Our wide array of summer offerings for rising 5th- through 12th-graders includes free opportunities for in-state students alongside paid options for students from anywhere in the world. NCSSM Extended Learning partners with communities and regions to advance student learning and outcomes.

Specializing in science, technology, engineering, and math, and embracing the fine arts and humanities, NCSSM has become the model for 18 such specialized schools around the globe since its founding in 1980 and is a full constituent of the University of North Carolina System. NCSSM's Ignite + Transform comprehensive campaign seeks to raise $50 million in private support for our mission.

The new NCSSM-Morganton campus opened in 2022 for summer programs and its first fall academic term. NCSSM-Morganton focuses on the booming fields of data science and artificial intelligence, preparing the leaders of tomorrow to navigate a future driven by data and machine learning, with emphasis on the humanistic implications and ethical use of these tools.

Nearly two-thirds of NCSSM graduates earn a bachelor's degree in a STEM field -- over three times the national average, including 58 percent of our underrepresented minority graduates, which is nearly four times the national average. Nearly three-quarters have earned or are seeking a graduate degree. A 2020 economic impact study found that 54 percent of our alumni continue to live and work in North Carolina, catalyzing nearly $1.3 billion in annual economic activity. NCSSM values the diversity in our student body, and all members of the NCSSM community are expected to foster a safe environment of respect and inclusion for all faculty, staff, and students.

For more information, please read the NCSSM strategic plan and visit ncssm.edu.

How to Apply:

Submit an electronic application via this link: Wellness Counselor-Durham.

Please attach a cover letter and a resume to the online application before submitting.

Please complete your application in full. All required Competencies, Work History, and Credentials must appear on the application in the Education and Work Experience sections of the application to receive consideration during the selection process. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the State Application form in its entirety. "See Attached Resume or an Embedded Text Resume" will be considered incomplete and will not be processed. Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, along with the state application. Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS) if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. If applicants are a former member of the NC National Guard who served for at least six years and was discharged under honorable conditions, they must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22 along with their state application.

Final candidates are subject to criminal and sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require a motor vehicle check. If the highest degree is from an institution outside of the U.S., final candidates are required to have their degree equivalency verified atwww.wes.org or equivalent service. NCSSM participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Please refrain from submitting multiple applications. However, if multiple applications are submitted to a posting, only the most recent application received prior to the posting close date will be accepted. There is a 24-hour waiting period before an applicant can re-apply to a position.

If you have questions, please contact Tracy Fullgraf at fullgraf@ncssm.edu.

NCSSM is an EEO/eVerify/VEVRAA Employer