Occ. Code 8122005

Correction Counselor Aide, GRADE 13

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS

Positions in this title assist in counseling, case management, and service to inmates.  Incumbents assist the counseling staff in their casework, including: interviewing inmates; assisting with inmate group sessions; maintaining case files; providing personal assistance to inmates for the maintenance of family contacts via telephone and written correspondence; assisting inmates in completing complex written forms; and explaining rules and procedures.  In addition, Correction Counselor Aides assist in the care and confinement of inmates sentenced to the custody of the Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) and, as such, assist in the overall operation of the facility to which incumbents are assigned.

RELATED CLASSES

Correction Counselors use social casework techniques in helping their clients resolve their social and emotional adjustment problems to life in a correctional setting.

Education Counselors are responsible for providing counseling service to aid inmates in making effective adjustments to facility education programs in facilities that have large education programs.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors plan and coordinate the vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabling physical and/or mental handicaps with the primary goal being to help vocationally handicapped individuals retain optimum employment

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

CORRECTION COUNSELOR AIDE:  entry level; assist counseling staff with providing counseling services to inmates. 

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

Provide individual counseling, case management, and service to assigned inmates.

· Assist the Senior Correction Counselor in obtaining and reviewing all pertinent records, reports and information concerning family, education, employment, health and other personal matters.

· Interview inmates in response to inmate requests and provide appropriate assistance concerning any adjustment issues.

· Provide informal follow-up to an inmate after a crisis intervention by a Correction Counselor.

· Perform outreach activities by informally providing information and support to inmate counselors.

· Contact various sources for needed records and related information relative to classification as required.

Secure information from inmates by means of an informal, semi-structured interview in order to obtain inmate data for analysis by the Senior Correction Counselor. Obtain information to complete various Departmental Guidance forms.

· Coordinate the administration of routine standardized tests and appraisal instruments.

· Secure specific information concerning inmates, relative to the inmates behavior adjustment and classification.

· Secure follow-up information of a routine nature for the Senior Correction Counselor that may impact on an inmates classification and placement.

· Maintain appropriate inmate and information records for the Senior Correction Counselor.

· Prepare standard reports of contacts with inmates, in order to identify potential inmate counselor referrals.

Provide personal assistance to inmates in areas such as maintaining family contacts via telephone and written correspondence and in personal matters, such as assisting in completing complex written forms and explaining rules and procedures.

· Assist inmates in making appropriate contacts with referral agencies by providing assistance in preparing applications for agencies, e.g., the Veterans Administration, Social Security Administration, legal aid organizations and job placement organizations.

· Assist inmates in making general contacts with personnel at the facility, e.g., facility chaplain, property clerk, correspondence clerk, finance officer, institutional parole officer, etc.

· Transmit information to inmates regarding daily facility procedures, and respond to inquiries from inmates regarding institutional procedures or rules.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Promotion:  one year of permanent competitive service in a position allocated to Grade 6 or higher and either an Associate's Degree or completion of 60 credit hours of undergraduate study; or 30 credits of undergraduate study and one year of full-time professional or paraprofessional experience working with clients in drug counseling programs; mental hygiene programs; alcoholism, parole or probation programs; juvenile offender programs; or in programs dealing with ex-offenders or incarcerated offenders.

Date:  11/09

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.