Ascentria Care Alliance employees and volunteers take pride in the impact they have on the people they serve. It’s more than just a job, it’s an opportunity our employees have to care for and share in the lives of people who greatly need and appreciate their presence. Ascentria Care Alliance focuses on every child, elder, disabled person, refugee, endangered teen or teenage mom in order to build stronger communities one person at a time. This is an excellent opportunity to enhance the operations of a $75m non-profit social services organization with programs throughout New England. 

Summary:

The Residential Counselor I provides support, counseling, training and advocacy to residents in the Teen Parenting Programs. The Teen Parent Programs provide transitional living in a supportive environment for low income and often homeless mothers and their young children. The Residential Counselor I provides a safe and nurturing environment that will assist residents in acquiring the skills necessary to manage life successfully when they leave. Teen Parent Program staff show positive role modeling to all residents to encourage a better environment. The Residential Counselor participates in some or all stages of the treatment process, by implementing interventions that assure resident goals are met.

The schedule for this position is: 

Thursday 11 pm to 9 am, Friday 11 pm to 9 am, Saturday 11 pm to 9 am

 Essential Responsibilities: 

• Demonstrates an understanding of the developmental needs of the population as well as the associated environmental and mental health factors that contribute to challenges that clients face.
• Models, reinforces, re-directs and sets limits to trauma related behavior through specific behavior management techniques to ensure that program guidelines are followed at all times.

• Ensures that residents maintain appropriate hygiene and appearance.
• Coaches and assists residents with daily routines and responsibilities, including completion of chores, schoolwork, meal preparation, clean up, activities, hygiene, laundry and recreational activities.
• Monitor residents to ensure a safe, secure and healthy environment free from disruptive and inappropriate behavior.
• Complete documentation including incident reports and progress notes and maintain documentation at all times in accordance with contractual standards, policy and procedure, including activities logs, incident reports, treatment plans, etc.
• Provides counseling to residents regarding ADL’s and facilitates the adjustment to living environment including explaining program rules and expectations of new residents.
• Demonstrate de-escalation skills and handle crisis in a manner which minimizes disruption and assures safety; interventions must be proactive and placement disruptions should be kept to a minimum.

• Responsible for completing all mandatory training on a timely basis.
• Job must be conducted at all times in a way that demonstrates professionalism, respects the rights, privacy and dignity of the client and adheres to all contractual regulations.
• Assurance that the environment promotes opportunities and services to individuals to reach independent goals.
• Ability to work within a team environment that assures safety, treatment goals and services are consistent with client interests and program expectations.
• Active support and follow through with team goals and team building.
• Perform light household responsibilities.
• Ability to set limits and be consistent.
• Attend and participate in regular staff meetings
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications: 

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; Associates Degree in Human Services or related preferred. 
• Minimum of one (1) year of related experience working with women, adolescents and/or children in a residential, community setting.
• Valid driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance to transport residents and children in Ascentria vehicles.
• Ability to be certified in First Aid, CPR, and Crises Intervention within 90 days of date of hire required. 
• Must be 21 years of age per contractual standards.
• Knowledge of federal, state and local regulations, protocols and/or procedures preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills required.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment and to problem solve unexpected or unpredictable circumstances calmly.
• Ability to use independent judgment and discretion.
• Ability to effectively manage client behavior.
• Ability to handle people and situations with compassion, diplomacy and tact.
• Ability to write accurate, legible, and professional documentation on a daily basis.

Trainings Required:

• Ascentria Organizational Orientation.

• Maintain mandatory training and certifications as required.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the position.

Physical Demands are generally:

Medium - While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; talk; hear; climb or balance; and stoop kneel crouch or crawl. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee must have the ability to regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

• Required to stand for long periods of time.
• Frequent medium physical effort required.
• Requires driving own vehicle to various sites.

Mental Demands are generally:

• Ability to do detailed work with high degree of concentration.
• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively to various levels of staff, clients and community members.
• Ability to work under stress or in a fast-paced environment. 
• Ability to maintain composure and deescalate others during crises.