Assistant Counselor - Ithaca, NY (35200)

To be considered for any SJCS careers all applicants must apply using this link SJCS Careers

About St. John’s Community Services

Founded in 1868, St. John’s Community Services is a private not for profit organization driven by our mission of advancing inclusive communities where every person, regardless of circumstances, has the opportunity to live their best life.

About Serenity House

Serenity House is a residential treatment program located in Ithaca that welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds who are recovering from substance use disorders and seeking long-term rehabilitation support. Through client-centered residential care, we work collaboratively with residents to support their reintegration into the community through counseling, vocational opportunities, life skills development, and connections to local resources.

Our team is committed to providing compassionate, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented services that promote dignity, growth, and long-term wellness.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking a compassionate, dependable, and motivated Counselor Assistant to join our residential treatment team. In this role, you will provide person-centered support to residents while assisting with the daily operations of the program, including staff scheduling, training, supervision support off staff, and maintaining a structured and supportive residential environment.

The ideal candidate is passionate about helping others, committed to recovery-oriented care, and aligned with SJCS’s mission and values. This individual should be flexible, team-oriented, organized, and able to maintain professionalism in a fast-paced residential setting.

Ideal Qualities and Skills:

• 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

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum High School Diploma or Equivalent
• One of more years of relevant experience
• CASAC-T/P certification or currently enrolled in a 350 Hour CASAC Educational Program with a scheduled completion of the program within 3 months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in human services or related field
• CASAC

Core Responsibilities:

• Supporting residents in meeting the goals outlined in their treatment plans.
• Prioritizing best practices in person-centered care concerning each resident’s individual dignity and integrity, including their unique goals.
• Providing orderliness, cleanliness, and structure to the program’s day-to-day operations.
• Developing, fostering, and maintaining positive, collaborative relationships with residents, their families, and the SJCS team.
• Scheduling residential staff for 24/7 coverage, facilitating and at times providing coverage when staff call-out.
• Train, orient, and support incoming residential counselors and staff members
• Managing the coordination of health care appointments for residents (e.g. clinical testing, physical examinations) as required by OASAS.
• Facilitating group sessions within credentialed scope of practice
• When needed supporting and/or providing coverage for counselors within credentialed scope of practice.
• Works closely with program leadership to ensure compliance with applicable OASAS regulations.
• Participates and supports the intake process from referral through admission.
• Ensuring program and resident confidentiality.
• Complete timely, accurate, and professional documentation using electronic systems

This list of responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this position is not in its entirety as other duties may be assigned and are expected to be followed.

All SJCS employees must:

• 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.

Physical and environmental conditions include:

• Work requires no unusual demand for physical effort except the normal risks or discomforts, requiring special safety precautions for operating a motor vehicle.
• Some travel – less than 10%.

The hiring range for this position ranges from $21/hr to $22/hr and is dependent on experience.

Other benefits include the following:

• Medical, dental, vision, STD, and other benefits and company contributions
• Retirement plans.
• Company paid LTD.
• Connectivity reimbursements (some employees)
• PTO, Vacation, and sick time off.
• Flexibility
• Helping other people live their best life!

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Salary : $21 - $22