School 1:1 Classroom Support Counselor

The Home for Little Wanderers' Clifford Academy is a Massachusetts Chapter 766 Special Education School. The campus is located on 166 scenic acres in Walpole and offers recreational activities such as a state of the art gym, and walking trails for youth to explore. Our strength-based clinical services help youth learn to manage their behaviors while preparing them for life in the community.

Under the direction of Supervisor and Principal, primarily responsible for providing a safe and secure school environment for school clients.  The 1:1 Classroom Support Counselor is expected to be knowledgeable of the school’s therapeutic mission, treatment philosophy, and educational and behavioral support policies and procedures in order to implement this understanding in their direct care and supervision of clients. The 1:1 Classroom Support Counselor is primarily responsible for providing individual academic and therapeutic support to students with emotional disabilities. The 1:1 Classroom Support Counselor coordinates with school staff in implementing intervention strategies based on the student’s IEP, ICMP, and treatment.  The 1:1 Classroom Support Counselor will engage assigned students with academic support, behavior intervention, and co-regulation strategies to help them maintain sustained participation in classroom activities. *The position is dependent on the student continuing to be enrolled at Clifford Academy. 

• Participate in a classroom environment, supporting individual clients and our classroom groupings in maintaining safe and appropriate classroom participation.
• Knowledgeable of school and program routines and structures. Maintain a general understanding of the population of students with whom we work.
• Foster healthy, appropriate relationships with our clients through daily interactions based on social/emotional and behavioral support goals outlined in IEP and treatment plans.
• Coordinates with teaching faculty to plan and participate in activities with students on an individual and small group (less than 8) level in accordance with treatment plans and goals. Teach age-appropriate life skills and social skills through modeling, counseling, and other techniques.  Participate in groups and activities designed to enhance growth and development. May join classroom activities as a teacher support.
• Assist children with the transitions between each scheduled school activity.
• Provide First Aid appropriately as needed
• Maintain a safe and supportive environment. Manage living, dining, educational, recreational areas to provide a clean, organized environment for students.  Insure adequate supervision of students through coordination of care with other staff.
• Provide individual and behavior support and intervention as trained, including the use of TCI appropriate physical restraint as necessary. Coordinate medical and emergency situations with the Principal.
• Communicate through written and verbal means with other program staff on positive skills and accomplishments as well as difficult or challenging client issues
• Complete all assigned paperwork including time sheet, daily shift communication logs, behavior data collections, and incident reporting in a thorough and timely manner.
• Participate in all school faculty meetings and trainings.
• Participate in supervision meetings with supervisor and/or Principal.

• High school diploma or equivalent
• One year child care experience in an academic or residential setting with similar population of children
• Computer literate, including Microsoft Office with the ability to learn new software applications

• May be required to operate a vehicle 
• May be required to have a valid driver’s license and a “satisfactory” driving record
• If required to transport clients, must maintain the minimum amounts of liability insurance as required by The Home and/or other regulatory requirements and vehicle registration must be current

In addition to the chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of the youth we serve, The Home for Little Wanderers offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Health, Vision and Dental Insurance are available
• Generous time off including up to 15 days per year for new full-time employees, plus 11 holidays, and 5 sick days
• Extensive training to new staff
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $3,000 per fiscal year
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer match
• Employer paid Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance, plus Basic Life and AD&D Insurance

 The pay range listed represents the company’s good faith estimate of the salary or wage range for this position at the time of posting, as required under applicable law. Actual compensation will be based on a variety of factors, including a candidate’s relevant experience, education, skills, and internal equity relative to other employees in similar roles. Candidates with less directly related experience may be placed toward the lower end of the range, while those with extensive or specialized experience may be placed toward the higher end. Market conditions and budget considerations may also influence final pay decisions.

We are committed to excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion, while simultaneously creating a culture that supports those values. We believe the differences we bring enhance our ability to provide exceptional service and care to diverse children, families, and communities. Moreover, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging align with our values and our mission to help vulnerable children and their families build permanent, positive change.