Residential Counselor

Northern Rivers Family of Services•Albany, NY

5d•$24 - $26•Onsite

About The Position

The Residential Counselor provides daily therapeutic care and programming for elementary-aged children in accordance with agency policies and requirements of governing bodies. The position is on-site at the Albany campus and reports to the Residential Supervisor. Travel may be up to 25%. Duties and level-specific expectations vary across Residential Counselor levels 1–3. The counselor provides for clients’ physical and psychological needs, including safety, hygiene, clothing, food, cooking, and medical care, while maintaining a reliable and nurturing environment. For 1:1 assignments, the counselor follows the youth’s individual expectations plan, ICMP, and safety plans; engages the youth in developmentally appropriate activities and conversation; documents each shift; learns the youth’s history and needs; obtains relevant training; manages crises safely; and transports the youth for essential needs. Residential Counselor 1 duties include working within a trauma-informed framework, building positive relationships with youth, completing required training, demonstrating basic competency in TCI techniques, following program routines and therapeutic plans, collaborating with colleagues and support staff, communicating respectfully with internal and external contacts, maintaining required documentation, and transporting clients for essential needs. Residential Counselor 2 performs all Level 1 duties and additionally facilitates groups and coached visitation using appropriate curricula and practice models, takes on dorm or cottage leadership responsibilities, helps coordinate activities and program-wide committees, takes a lead role on a team, and builds positive relationships with more challenging youth and families. Residential Counselor 3 performs all Level 1 and Level 2 duties and additionally uses critical thinking and sound judgment to address program needs and make decisions about routines, therapeutic plans, and program protocols. This level also leads, delegates, and plans work for other team members.

Requirements

Must be at least 20 years old.
High school diploma or GED required.
Experience working with an emotionally disturbed population.
Valid, clean driver’s license required.
Must pass a physical.
Must be able to complete TCI training.
Residential Counselor 2: at least six months of related experience and demonstrated competency in Level 1 essential job duties.
Residential Counselor 3: at least one year of related experience and demonstrated competency in Level 2 essential job responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Residential Counselor 1: experience with an emotionally disturbed population is preferred.
Residential Counselor 2: one year of related experience is desired.
Residential Counselor 3: two or more years of related experience are desired.

Responsibilities

Provide for clients’ physical and psychological needs, including safety, hygiene, clothing, food, cooking, and medical care.
Provide a reliable, nurturing environment for youth.
For 1:1 assignments, follow the youth’s individual expectations plan, ICMP, and applicable safety plans.
Engage youth in age-appropriate activities and developmentally appropriate conversation.
Document a written summary of each shift and maintain documentation to programmatic and regulatory standards.
Learn the history and specific needs of youth assigned to 1:1 care, and learn to manage crises safely.
Seek and obtain training specific to the needs of youth assigned to 1:1 care.
Transport clients for medical, mental health, and other essential needs.
Work within a trauma-informed framework, including identifying and using coping and safety plans, maintaining consistency and routine, and managing one’s own responses to youth.
Build positive relationships with youth and, at higher levels, with more challenging youth and families.
Complete mandatory training and demonstrate basic competency in TCI techniques.
Follow program routines, youth therapeutic plans, program rules, and protocols.
Collaborate with residential counselors, clinicians, on-call staff, supervisors, and administrative and functional support staff.
Communicate respectfully with internal and external contacts, including county workers, medical staff, and parents.
At Level 2, facilitate groups and coached visitation using applicable curricula and practice models.
At Level 2, take leadership responsibilities for a dorm or cottage, coordinate activities, and participate in program-wide committees.
At Level 2, take a lead role within a team.
At Level 3, apply critical thinking, problem-solving, judgment, and decision-making to residential program needs and routines.
At Level 3, lead, delegate, and plan work for other team members.