Make a Difference. Build a Career. Be Part of a Team.
The Residential Counselor plays a critical role in supporting adolescents within a structured, trauma-informed, therapeutic residential setting. We are seeking compassionate, dependable, and values-driven individuals who are motivated to help young people build skills, confidence, and resilience on their path toward healthy adulthood.
This position is ideal for professionals who value meaningful, relationship-based work, thrive in a collaborative team environment, and want to make a lasting impact—while also earning additional compensation for weekend shifts.
Weekend Advantage
Residential staff who work weekend shifts earn a $1.50/hour shift differential, recognizing the importance of weekend coverage and your commitment to consistency and care.
What You’ll Do
As a Residential Counselor, you will provide structure, guidance, and support while building strong, therapeutic relationships with adolescents.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Serve as a positive role model by demonstrating integrity, emotional maturity, and healthy adult behavior.
- Build supportive, trusting relationships with youth through consistency, empathy, appropriate humor, and professional self-disclosure.
- Utilize and continue developing counseling, active listening, and crisis intervention skills.
- Consistently implement agency policies, program rules, and the citizenship system, ensuring fair, developmentally appropriate rewards and consequences.
- Review and apply knowledge of resident histories to provide individualized support.
- Support youth in maintaining daily routines, including educational, vocational, and social commitments.
- Promote growth in activities of daily living such as hygiene, emotional wellness, and physical self-care.
- Contribute to treatment planning by observing, documenting, and communicating relevant information to the clinical team.
- Encourage participation in healthy, age-appropriate community activities that reinforce treatment goals, life skills, and positive peer relationships.
- Safely transport residents to appointments (medical, therapeutic, educational, and vocational) in compliance with agency policies and state regulations.
- Plan and facilitate community-based, prosocial, and enrichment activities that support independence and positive use of free time.
- Provide consistent nurturance, structure, acceptance, and clear boundaries.
- Attend required staff meetings prepared, punctual, professional, and engaged.
- Collaborate with Administration to complete required in-service and annual training hours (minimum of 40 hours per year).
- Greet visitors and follow all visitor check-in/check-out and off-campus activity protocols.
- Maintain accurate, timely documentation in compliance with state and federal requirements.
- Work collaboratively with fellow Residential Counselors and seek guidance from the Lead Shift Supervisor as needed.
- Maintain state-mandated staffing ratios and remain on shift until properly relieved.
What We’re Looking For
Required Qualifications:
- Associate’s degree in a Human Services–related field (Bachelor’s degree preferred).
- Minimum of two years of professional experience, or experience working with youth involved in protective services.
- Must be at least 21 years of age, per state licensing requirements.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to safely transport residents in agency-approved vehicles.
- Ability to successfully pass criminal background checks and all required BEAS/DCF screenings.
Ideal Candidates Will Also Bring:
- Strong communication, leadership, and conflict-resolution skills.
- The ability to remain calm, supportive, and solution-focused in challenging situations.
- Exceptional patience, empathy, and compassion for youth from hard places.
- A passion for trauma-informed, ethical, and high-quality care.
- Commitment to professionalism in documentation, teamwork, and representation of the mission and values of Webster House.
Schedule
We are primarily looking to hire for second shift (1pm-11pm). Full time schedules are Sunday through Wednesday or Wednesday through Saturday. Part time positions are also available and include mostly weekend coverage.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Per diem
Pay: $21.75 - $23.39 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
