Part- Time Sober Living Residential Counselor - Ithaca, NY

ST JOHNS COMMUNITY SERVICES•City of Ithaca, NY

10d•$20 - $21•Onsite

About The Position

St. John's Community Services (SJCS), founded in 1868, is a private not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing inclusive communities where every person has the opportunity to live their best life. Serenity House is a residential treatment program in Ithaca that supports individuals recovering from substance use disorders. We provide client-centered residential care, including counseling, vocational opportunities, life skills development, and community resource connections, to aid residents in their reintegration. Our team is committed to delivering compassionate, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented services that foster dignity, growth, and long-term wellness.

Requirements

High School diploma or equivalent
A year or more of relevant experience
Ability to provide trauma-informed and culturally responsive care to diverse populations
Strong understanding of professional ethics, boundaries, and confidentiality requirements
Commitment to empowering residents to achieve individualized treatment and recovery goals
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team while remaining flexible and proactive
Willingness to seek clarification, support, and feedback when needed
Ability to appropriately utilize crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to maintain a safe environment
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
Commitment to maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards in residential care services
Obtain a valid health certificate to meet current funding authority requirements as required.
Having a valid state-issued driver’s license with a current driving record in good standing is required.
Meet SJCS and the funding authority requirement of criminal background and record checks.

Nice To Haves

CRPA or working toward a CRPA certification
CASAC or working towards CASAC certification
Associate or bachelor’s degree in human services, or related field

Responsibilities

Ensure the safety and well-being of all residents, staff, and visitors within the residential program.
Provide person-centered, recovery-oriented care that respects each resident’s dignity, integrity, autonomy, and individualized treatment goals.
Facilitate and co-facilitate educational groups and community events.
Maintain orderliness, cleanliness, structure, and consistency within the program’s daily operations to support a safe and therapeutic environment.
Develop, foster, and maintain positive, collaborative, and professional relationships with residents, families, referral sources, and SJCS team members.
Orient residents to the program.
Conduct safety checks for unsafe items in residents' rooms and common areas.
Complete daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to assist in maintaining operations of the house.
Maintain a safe residential environment by minimizing unsafe items, monitoring community safety concerns, and maintaining awareness of resident and staff whereabouts in accordance with emergency protocols and program expectations.
Maintain the therapeutic integrity of the residential community by actively engaging with residents, modeling healthy behaviors, reinforcing positive decision-making, and redirecting unsafe or counterproductive behaviors using empathy and professionalism.
Support residents through teachable moments by modeling communication skills, emotional regulation, healthy coping skills, conflict resolution, and recovery-oriented decision-making.
Complete all required documentation, reports, shift notes, and electronic records accurately and within established timeframes.
Participate actively in shift transitions, team communication, supervision, training, and other assigned program activities.
Assist residents with daily living skills (e.g., routines, hygiene, time management, accountability).
Monitor resident behavior, mood changes, and overall functioning, and report concerns appropriately.
Support residents with self-medication administration, completing daily MAR, and medication counts at shift changes.