Residential Counselor Assistant

Job Summary: In accordance with FLACRA's mission, vision, and values, the Residential Counselor Assistant provides direct client care, clinical support, and residential services within OASAS-certified substance use disorder treatment programs. Working collaboratively with clinical, nursing, medical, and other residential staff, the Counselor Assistant supports client engagement, recovery-oriented programming, implementation of established treatment goals, and daily residential operations while maintaining a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment. Responsibilities include client supervision, recovery support, admissions, discharges, safety rounds, room inspections, transportation, medication observation when authorized, cleaning, laundry, and other residential responsibilities.

 

Duties

1. Assist qualified clinical staff with implementation of established treatment and recovery goals, client engagement, discharge planning, referrals, and coordination of services.
2. Conduct assigned client check-ins, provide recovery-oriented support, and communicate client progress, barriers, behaviors, and concerns to appropriate clinical staff.
3. Assist clients in developing coping skills, healthy routines, communication skills, independent living skills, and other recovery-supportive behaviors.
4. Assist with substance use disorder screening, orientation, case management, basic crisis response, and care coordination within the employee's authorized scope.
5. Co-facilitate groups with appropriately qualified staff or provide assigned psychoeducational and recovery-oriented activities consistent with OASAS regulations.
6. Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, case conferences, and clinical discussions as assigned.
7. Assist qualified clinical staff with gathering information, tracking deadlines, preparing documentation, and coordinating activities related to treatment planning, utilization review, and continuing care.
8. Complete assigned client supervision, safety rounds, room inspections, and environmental checks.
9. Assist with admissions, client orientation, discharges, room preparation, client belongings, and other residential processes.
10. Provide transportation to appointments, treatment services, and approved activities as assigned.
11. Assist with meal supervision, client movement, daily routines, and activities of daily living.
12. Complete assigned cleaning, laundry, room preparation, restocking to ensure a safe and orderly residential environment.
13. Support scheduled programming, recovery activities, and therapeutic interactions throughout the residential setting.
14. Respond appropriately to behavioral concerns, emergencies, and crisis situations using approved intervention and de-escalation procedures.
15. Provide medication observation and associated documentation when assigned.
16. Assist with urine toxicology specimen collection and other authorized screening procedures in accordance with agency policy.
17. Observe and promptly report changes in client physical condition, withdrawal-related symptoms, mental status, behavior, or other health-related concerns to nursing or appropriate clinical personnel.
18. Follow applicable medication observation, infection prevention, emergency response, and client safety procedures.
19. Complete assigned client contact notes, observations, progress-related documentation, incident reports, shift checklists, and other required records accurately and within established timeframes.
20. Participate in shift handoffs and communicate significant client concerns, pending responsibilities, incidents, and changes in condition to incoming staff.
21. Collaborate with Medical Technicians, Behavioral Health Technicians, Peers, nursing, clinical staff, and program leadership to ensure continuity of care and completion of daily residential responsibilities.
22. Assist with orientation and training of new residential employees as assigned, without assuming formal supervisory authority.
23. Participate in required supervision, staff meetings, training, competency evaluations, and quality improvement activities.
24. Maintain client confidentiality, professional boundaries, and compliance with FLACRA policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
25. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: High school diploma or high school equivalency required. Must meet current OASAS Counselor Assistant qualifications, including enrollment in a 350-hour CASAC educational program or completion of OASAS-designated one-time training requirements within three months of hire, as applicable. Must complete required agency training, maintain competency in assigned responsibilities.

Other Skills/Knowledge and Experience

1. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
2. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with culturally diverse persons, staff and community service providers.  
3. Working knowledge of behavioral health issues. 
4. Comfort/ability to intervene in crisis/support de-escalation of struggling clients
5. Ability to multi-task, have good problem solving & time management skills and the ability to remain calm in crisis.