Assistant Counselor - Ithaca, NY

ST JOHNS COMMUNITY SERVICES•City of Ithaca, NY

3d•$21 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

St. John’s Community Services is seeking a compassionate, dependable, and motivated Counselor Assistant for Serenity House, a residential treatment program in Ithaca, NY. Serenity House supports people recovering from substance use disorders through client-centered, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented residential care, helping residents reintegrate into the community and work toward long-term wellness. The role provides day-to-day case management for reintegration residents, leads educational life-skills groups, coordinates referrals, and supports residents in progressing toward independent living. The position also includes resident meetings and home visits, practical assistance, non-clinical intake and orientation, basic crisis response, overdose prevention education, and accurate recordkeeping. The employee works collaboratively with residents, colleagues, outside providers, and community resources in a residential setting.

Requirements

Minimum high school diploma or equivalent.
CASAC-T/P certification or current enrollment in a 350-hour CASAC educational program, with scheduled completion within three months of hire.
Valid state-issued driver’s license and a current driving record in good standing.
Obtain a valid health certificate to meet current funding-authority requirements, as required.
Meet SJCS and funding-authority criminal-background and record-check requirements.
Ability to provide trauma-informed and culturally responsive care to diverse populations.
Understanding of professional ethics, boundaries, and confidentiality requirements.
Commitment to empowering residents to achieve individualized treatment and recovery goals.
Ability to work collaboratively while remaining flexible and proactive, and to seek clarification, support, and feedback when needed.
Ability to use crisis-intervention and de-escalation techniques appropriately.
Knowledge of substance use disorders, recovery principles, current treatment trends, and recovery culture.
Familiarity with mental health first aid principles and behavioral health support strategies.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to complete timely, accurate, and professional documentation using electronic systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience in substance use, mental health, or human services.
Lived experience in recovery.
Associate or bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field.

Responsibilities

Meet with residents at least weekly to support goals outlined in their service plans.
Help residents address practical needs such as housing, benefits, identification documents, transportation, employment, and education.
Refer concerns requiring counseling, assessment, or service-plan changes to the House Manager or Clinical Supervisor.
Complete weekly home visits at scattered-site locations.
Lead psychoeducation and life-skills groups using written curricula, including topics such as budgeting, job readiness, community living, personal care, parenting, and social skills.
Co-facilitate other groups as assigned.
Make and track referrals to outpatient treatment, vocational, educational, legal, mental health, and social services; follow up on outcomes and document them in resident records.
Help residents connect with primary care providers and obtain medical records, including records from outpatient or OTP providers.
Coordinate with prescribers and the program’s OTP partner to support access to medication for addiction treatment.
Obtain and track 42 CFR Part 2 consents for outside contacts.
Conduct substance use disorder and co-occurring disorder screening.
Conduct non-clinical intake and resident orientation, including instruction on house rules and resident rights.
Provide basic crisis response, including naloxone use, and escalate situations to on-call clinical staff.
Provide residents with overdose-prevention and naloxone education.
Complete reporting and recordkeeping in compliance with OASAS, HIPAA, and Medicaid requirements.
Support structured recreation and community activities.
Complete timely, accurate, and professional documentation using electronic systems.
Perform other duties as assigned.