Residential Counselor

When you join The Home for Little Wanderers, you join a team of professionals dedicated to creating better, brighter futures for kids.

The Home’s Therapeutic After School Program (TASP), a clinically-focused partial-day program that serves youth aged 12 to 16 based in Roslindale, MA, is seeking a Per Diem Residential Counselor. The program utilizes a strength-based, family-centered model to deliver specialized and supportive services. The Department of Mental Health, the Department of Children and Families, and other state and community agencies refer many youth to TASP as an alternative to out-of-home placement and who would benefit from therapy and psycho-educational services.

The interdisciplinary program works to ensure youth are having a positive and fun after-school experience while integrating therapeutic, recreational, educational, and family services working towards achieving each child’s goals based on their individualized treatment plans.

**Position Description**

Under the direction of supervisor, primarily responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for clients. The Residential Counselor is expected to be knowledgeable of the program’s mission, treatment philosophy, and policies and procedures and to implement this understanding in their direct care and supervision of clients.

In this position, the beneficiary will counsel, observe, and provide behavioral training, outreach support, advocacy and treatment to children and their families to facilitate reunification and/or long-term out of home placement. Additional case management duties include ensuring that the individuals served are supported to lead emotionally and physically healthy lifestyles in preparation for long-term placement. This may include, but is not limited to, exercise and nutrition training, community integration, psycho
- educational therapeutic counseling, human rights advocacy, medical advocacy, medication administration, social and life-skills training, as well as educational and life planning.

**Essential Functions**
- Participate in supporting the development of behavior interventions, collecting data, and facilitating youth progress. Implement strategies contained within behavior intervention plans identified through functional behavior assessments.
- Provide training, advocacy, needs assessment, and treatment to youths and their families with the goal of reunification and/or the reduction of long-term out of home placement. Supervise and coordinate activities of daily living for students, including hygiene, clothing, chores, and other activities. Assist children with the transition from each scheduled activity.
- Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary clinical team to lead to the development and implementation of individualized comprehensive treatment plans that provide for individual counseling, group therapy, nutrition, medical, recreational, and social programming.
- Maintain a therapeutic and professional relationship with students; provide required supervision of students (i.e., eyesight, earshot).
- Report any instance/allegation of student abuse to Supervisor.
- Comply with Mandated Reporter status.
- Report potential safety hazards immediately.
- Demonstrate awareness of environment.
- React promptly and appropriately, to any situation that should arise.
- Ensure completion of all documentation required for safe and effective student care, operation, and compliance.
- Develop an understanding of level system (cards, behavior contracts, etc.)
- Provide First Aid appropriately as needed
- May plan and participate in activities with clients/students on an individual and small group (less than 6) level in accordance with treatment plans and goals. Teach age-appropriate life skills and social skills through modeling, counseling, and other techniques. Participate in groups and activities designed to enhance growth and development.
- Participate in off campus recreational/educational activities
- Maintain a safe and supportive environment. Manage living, dining, educational, recreational areas to provide a clean, organized environment for students. Insure adequate supervision of students through coordination of care with other staff.
- Provide group and individual behavior support and intervention as trained, including the use of TCI appropriate physical restraint as necessary. Coordinate medical and emergency situations with the supervisor.
- Communicate through written and verbal means with other program staff on positive skills and accomplishments as well as difficult or challenging client issues
- Complete all assigned paperwork including time sheet, level card, goal/ level tracking, incident reporting, and 51A’s in a thorough and timely manner
- Attend trainings
- Participate in supervision meetings with supervisor
- May be asked to prepare weekend meals
- May be required to carry a mobile device
- Perform other duties as assigned

**Driving Requirements**
- May be required to operate a veh