JOB SUMMARY
The Residential Support Specialist plays a vital role in maintaining the safety, structured, and therapeutic environment within the residential treatment facility. This position is responsible for conducting client head counts, supervising clients to ensure safety and program compliance, observing behavior and interactions, and administering urine analysis (UA) testing in accordance with facility policy.
Residential Support Specialist support to the overall treatment process by monitoring client participation and adherence to program expectations, promptly reporting any safety concerns or notable behavioral observations to the treatment team, and helping ensure all daily facility operations run smoothly during assigned shifts.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Client Safety & Supervision
- Conduct regular client head counts at assigned intervals to ensure all clients are accounted for.
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Monitor clients throughout the facility to maintain safety, structure, and compliance with program rules.
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Conduct urine analysis (UA) testing and document results in accordance with established protocols.
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Observe, monitor, and report client behavior, mood, interactions, and participation in treatment activities.
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Enforce facility rules, structure, and boundaries with professionalism and consistency.
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Identify and respond appropriately to emergencies, safety concerns, and behavioral incidents in accordance with training and policies.
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Maintain a clean, safe, orderly, and therapeutic residential environment.
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Monitor and support the client discharge process in coordination with the treatment team.
Facility Operations
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Attend and participate in required trainings, workshops, conferences, and special events as assigned.
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Engage in ongoing in-service training and professional development activities to maintain compliance and job competence.
Team Collaboration & Communication
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Monitor and supervise client movement during scheduled activities, meals, and group sessions.
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Conduct room and area inspections to ensure cleanliness, safety, and compliance with facility standards.
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Accurately document shift activities, headcounts, observations, and incidents in daily logs and electronic records.
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Communicate client concerns, incidents, safety issues, or policy violations promptly to supervisory and clinical staff.
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Work collaboratively with counselors, clinical staff, and other multidisciplinary team members to support client care and program operations.
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Attend staff meetings, trainings, and shift handoffs as required.
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Perform administrative support tasks, including filing, copying, and answering phones, as assigned.
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Assist with transportation coordination, meal service, and other program support functions as needed.
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Participate in safety drills, crisis response activities, and emergency preparedness procedures.
Additional Duties and Scope of Responsibility
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The duties listed represent the essential functions of the position and are not exhaustive.
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Employees may be assigned additional job-related duties, consistent with their role, training, licensure (if applicable), and applicable laws, to support operations, regulatory compliance, safety, and client care.
COMPETENCIES
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Assesses own strengths and weaknesses, seeks feedback to improve performance, pursues training and development opportunities, strives to continuously build knowledge and skills, and shares expertise with others.
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Displays courtesy and sensitivity, manages difficult or emotional customer situations, meets commitments, responds promptly to customer needs, and solicits customer feedback to improve services.
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Prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently, plans for additional resources, integrates changes smoothly, sets goals and objectives, works in an organized manner.
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Identifies problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully, develops alternative solutions, resolves problems in early stages, and works well in group problem-solving situations.
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Balances team and individual responsibilities, exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views, gives and welcomes feedback, contributes to building a positive team spirit, and puts the success of the team above own interests.
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Demonstrates required skills, adapts to new technologies, troubleshoots technological problems, uses technology to increase productivity, and keeps technical skills up to date.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Experience
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Previous experience working in a residential or behavioral health setting. (Preferred)
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Experience in client monitoring and safety/security roles. (Preferred)
- Bilingual in English and Spanish (read, write, and speak proficiently). (Preferred)
Education
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High School Diploma or GED. (required)
Certification
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Must hold current CPR and First Aid certification or obtain certification within 30 days of hire (training provided by employer).
Other Requirements
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Valid California Driver’s License (required) and insurability under company policy.
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Successful completion of FBI/DOJ fingerprint clearance, negative TB test, and pre-employment drug screening, consistent with regulatory requirements.
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Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and overnight shifts as operationally required.
Regulatory & Program Compliance Requirements
As an employee of a licensed substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facility, staff must meet and maintain all regulatory requirements, including:
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Adhering to the Company’s drug-free workplace standards and all DHCS licensing requirements.
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Employees in recovery from substance use must maintain a minimum of two (2) years of continuous sobriety, consistent with SUD program standards for client-facing, safety-sensitive, and supportive care roles.
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This position is classified as safety-sensitive and requires ongoing compliance with the Company’s drug-free workplace, safety, and emergency response policies, including random drug testing, consistent with applicable law and regulatory requirements to ensure client and workplace safety.
Knowledge & Skills
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Working knowledge of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment principles, recovery support services, and relapse-prevention frameworks.
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Ability to interact effectively with individuals from diverse cultural, social, and clinical backgrounds with professionalism and sensitivity.
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Knowledge of professional boundaries and ethical standards applicable to client-facing roles in licensed residential treatment settings.
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Strong observational awareness with the ability to recognize changes in client presentation and follow reporting protocols appropriately.
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Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to collaborate within multidisciplinary teams.
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Functional proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and electronic documentation systems used in healthcare or residential environments.
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Ability to maintain reliability, punctuality, accuracy, and attention to detail in a structured, compliance-driven environment.
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Working knowledge of HIPAA, confidentiality standards, and regulatory requirements applicable to licensed SUD treatment facilities.
PHYSICAL, SENSORY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALIFICATIONS
The physical and environmental conditions described below are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions, in accordance with applicable law.
Physical Requirements
This position primarily operates in an office or clinical environment. The role requires sufficient physical ability and mobility to:
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Sitting, standing, and walking for extended periods, including movement between buildings and use of stairs as required for job-related and emergency response duties.
- Lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling up to 50 pounds as required for client care, safety, or operational needs
- Assisting with client mobility and repositioning as necessary.
- Performing repetitive hand movements, including keyboarding, grasping, and reaching to operate standard office and medical equipment (e.g., computer, telephone, blood pressure cuffs).
- Occasionally stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and twisting.
- Performing CPR and other emergency response procedures as required by the position, following training and organizational protocols.
Vision Requirements
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Ability to effectively perform job duties requiring close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception, with or without reasonable accommodation.
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Ability to visually monitor work areas, read documents, and use computer systems and medical equipment.
Communication Requirements
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Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, supervisors, clients, and medical professionals, verbally and in writing, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Ability to receive and respond to auditory information necessary for job performance and emergency situations, with or without assistive devices.
Work Environment
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Work is performed in an office and/or clinical setting with frequent client interaction and occasional interruptions.
- May involve exposure to bodily fluids, odors, cleaning agents, and other environmental conditions consistent with a healthcare setting.
- Must be able to respond to emergencies throughout the facility, including areas that may require stair access, subject to reasonable accommodation where feasible.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
A.B.C. Recovery Center, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. It is our policy to abide by all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on a person’s race (including hair texture and hairstyles), color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status, veteran status (including protected veterans), marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer-related or HIV/AIDS-related conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law.
Fair Chance Employment
ABC Recovery Center follows California Fair Chance hiring and employment practices and complies with all applicable laws governing the consideration of criminal history. Employment decisions are not based solely on an individual’s criminal history. Where permitted by law, the organization conducts individualized, job-related assessments consistent with business necessity, regulatory requirements, and client safety.
