Residential Counselor

WellSpan Health•Lancaster, PA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Provides structure and support for LADV residents within program guidelines. Exercises leadership during shifts for specific LADV programs. This role involves teaching and supervising daily living skills, intervening to promote milieu safety and security, implementing treatment interventions, and completing progress notes and shift summaries. The Residential Counselor also provides guidance to other RC staff, assists in the operation and management of the milieu, orients new staff, and helps delegate resident assignments and milieu tasks. They ensure all tasks for a given shift are completed and documented, assign staff to implement groups and activities, develop curriculum for therapeutic groups, and coordinate primary RC staff assignments. Additionally, they monitor behavioral interventions, report job performance issues, serve as a resource for medication assistance and other program aspects, and modify daily resident schedules as needed. The role also includes collaborating with on-duty staff to manage resident behavioral crises, providing medication assistance, meeting for 1:1 goal reviews with residents, planning and running therapeutic and recreational activities, and organizing and participating in activities with residents. The position requires maintaining a positive working relationship with staff and a respectful living relationship with neighbors and the community.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED
Human Services or Nursing experience
Must possess a valid driver's license in the current state of residence.
Driving record must meet requirements established by WellSmith Risk Management.
Knowledge and experience that include the skills necessary to provide structure, support, and a "home-like" atmosphere.
Interpersonal skills (including verbal and listening skills) are necessary in order to establish rapport with the residents and maintain open communication with staff.
Analytical skills necessary to evaluate communication (verbal and nonverbal) in order to determine what is being communicated and give and document clear, objective, and accurate feedback concerning changes in resident behavior to appropriate persons.
Knowledge and ability in the care and handling of adults is required, including consideration of the special needs and behaviors of this group.
Ability to learn and implement Therapeutic Crisis Intervention techniques as needed.

Nice To Haves

College coursework related to nursing or human services.

Responsibilities

Provides direct care for LADV residents under the guidance of Treatment Plans.
Teaches and supervises daily living skills.
Supervises off-site activities and encourages resident involvement.
Intervenes to promote milieu safety and security.
Implements treatment interventions for specific residents according to individualized needs, strengths, and service plan guidelines.
Completes progress (“DAR”) notes, shift summaries and other essential documentation.
Provides guidance to other RC staff.
Helps program leadership to implement programming.
Assists director/managers/nurse in operation and management of the milieu for a specific LADV program.
Orients new RC staff to LADV.
Assists LADV director/managers in delegating resident assignment, activities, and milieu tasks.
Ensures all tasks for a given shift are completed and documented (shift assignment sheet).
Assigns specific RC staff to implement groups and activities.
Develops and selects curriculum for therapeutic groups and activities.
Coordinates primary RC staff assignments for particular residents.
Uses shift summary to ensure continuity of approach across shifts and among all team members for LADV.
Oversees functioning of RC staff, including role modeling positive staff/resident contacts and monitoring behavioral interventions.
Reports job performance issues (excellence and problems) to Program Manager or Program Director.
Serves as resource and role model for medication assistance procedures and other program aspects.
Modifies daily resident schedule as needed.
Implements safety and resident supervision guidelines according to established procedures.
Collaborates with on-duty staff to assess, direct response to, and manage resident behavioral crises and implements interventions recommended by clinical/administrative personnel.
Provides medication assistance to residents.
Provides structure and support for individual and group activities within LADV.
Meets regularly for 1:1 goal review with residents.
Plans and runs therapeutic and recreational activities and groups.
Organizes and participates in activities with residents.
Works to maintain a positive working relationship with staff and a respectful living relationship with neighbors and the community.