Interviews institution residents and their relatives to secure information; counsels and assists them to improve adjustment to institution and to effect rehabilitation and recovery.

Counsels with and advises patients, residents, or students to assist in improving personal outlook, institutional and social adjustment; 

Interviews patients, residents, or students to secure and compile personal data and social history; 

Contacts friends, relatives, teachers and public and private agencies to secure information on client's background, personality and social adjustment; 

Contacts and assists persons and their families in contacting other agencies and organizations to arrange for employment, post‑institutional care, pensions, and similar services; 

Compiles and prepares reports on individual's progress, reactions, and overall adjustment; makes or assists in making recommendations on treatment, training and release of individuals; 

Follows up on post‑institutional adjustment of those released; 

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of:  of: principles and practices of interviewing; individual and group behavior; social and economic factors; laws and rules related to institutional care, custody and treatment. 

Ability to: interview effectively, evaluate persons or situations and adopt a proper course of action; speak and write effectively; establish and maintain successful personal relationships with others.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

One year as an Institution Counselor 1.

OR 

A Bachelor's degree preferably involving major study in sociology or other social science; or satisfactory completion of two years of college, preferably with emphasis in one of the social sciences and two years' experience in mental health, mental retardation or social casework. 

AND 

One year of social service experience. 

Graduate training in behavioral social science may be substituted for experience.

Revises minimum qualifications, title change January 1, 1967
Revises minimum qualifications May 4, 1970
Revises minimum qualifications October 16, 1975
New class code: (formerly 35450) effective July 1, 2007.
Base range salary adjustment adopted 6/30/2017, effective 7/1/2017.

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.