Lead Residential Counselor (Mental Health Services)

Vinfen • Hanson, MA

6d

About The Position

Provides direct services in a GLE/SIE residential setting, helping Persons Served (PS) overcome barriers to independent living and prepare to live independently. Implements treatment-plan interventions with coaching and support from the Team LPHA Clinician. Supports the Program Director by taking on administrative officer roles, liaises with families as needed, helps PS obtain and understand medical and psychiatric care, administers medication under Medication Administration Program (MAP) requirements, and provides crisis intervention when needed. The role also includes maintaining the physical site and ensuring a safe, comfortable, and clean environment.

The counselor uses recovery-oriented, person-centered, harm-reduction, trauma-informed, culturally competent, and strengths-based approaches. The position requires collaboration with integrated team members, support for residents’ participation in daily household activities, required documentation and quality-improvement contributions, and compliance with licensing, safety, human-rights, maintenance, and medication policies.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to establish supportive, trusting relationships with Persons Served, families, and neighbors.
• Sensitivity to cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender issues.
• Ability to balance competing priorities and make independent judgments and decisions.
• Ability to work professionally and maintain confidentiality.
• Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment.
• Valid driver's license presented at employment; must be at least 21 years old, have held a valid U.S. driver's license for at least six months, and pass a driver's screening background check.
• If using a personal vehicle, maintain adequate insurance and a safe driving record subject to annual checks.
• CPR certification required within two weeks of hire.
• First Aid certification required within two weeks of hire.
• MAP certification required within 150 days of hire.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb, sit, reach, climb stairs, and maneuver through narrow spaces or hallways.
• Ability to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or a two-person lift.
• Ability to assist Persons Served with activities of daily living.
• Ability to remain stationary for 50% of the time as needed and to bend, reach, file, sit, stand, and move around the facility.
• Ability to operate a computer and office equipment such as a calculator, copier, and printer.
• Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with Persons Served, staff, and external representatives.
• Visual abilities including close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

• Associate’s degree in a human service discipline.
• One year of experience as a residential counselor in a setting serving people facing mental health challenges.
• One to two years of job-specific experience in the human services field.
• Bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatric conditions are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Program Director in orienting Persons Served who are new to the residence.
• Collaborate with Integrated Team members to address the needs of Persons Served and implement treatment-plan interventions with coaching and support from the Team LPHA Clinician.
• Perform day-to-day assignments as directed by the Program Director.
• Use recovery-oriented, person-centered, harm-reduction, trauma-informed, culturally competent, and strengths-based approaches.
• Follow safety, maintenance, Human Rights, and other operational policies and procedures.
• Serve as Medication Officer, Safety Officer, or Human Rights Officer when assigned by the Program Director.
• Schedule and facilitate weekly resident group meetings, including menu input.
• Complete primary grocery shopping weekly or as needed.
• Comply with physical-site licensing standards and regulations.
• Store, administer, document, and dispose of medication in accordance with MAP requirements, funding-source regulations, and company policy; support compliance with Vinfen MAP protocols and teach residents medication management.
• Create opportunities for residents to participate in operating the residence, including meal preparation and physical-site maintenance.
• Encourage social interaction and help foster a collaborative environment in which residents, families, friends, and other important people are welcomed, respected, and valued.
• Serve as a resource for neighbors and advocate for Persons Served.
• Help residents prepare meals and use crisis-intervention techniques when needed; access on-call backup when needed.
• Support evidence-based and best-practice interventions, including Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Housing First, Stages of Change, WRAP, Seeking Safety, and Cognitive Behavioral interventions.
• Participate in trainings and attend supervision and staff meetings as requested.
• Complete required documentation and incident documentation as needed.
• Contribute to the program’s quality-improvement goals and objectives.
• Complete the residence’s Infection Control Inventory and assist the Program Director with organizing surveillance testing of staff and residents as needed.
• Perform physical-site maintenance according to the maintenance schedule.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Fully funded 401(a) employer-sponsored retirement plan requiring no employee contribution.
• Employee-funded 403(b) plan.
• Medical, dental, and vision plans for employees scheduled to work 30 hours per week or more, with an employer contribution toward medical insurance.
• Employer-paid life, accidental death and dismemberment, and long-term disability insurance.
• Employer-paid short-term disability insurance for qualifying employees.
• Health and dependent-care flexible spending reimbursement accounts.
• Voluntary term life, whole life, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance.
• Generous paid time off for employees scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED