Part-Time Residential Counselor

Salary : $20.85 - $27.92 Hourly

Location : Alexandria, VA

Job Type : Part-Time

Job Number : 2025-00015

Department : Department of Community and Human Services

Division : CENTER FOR ADULT SERVICES

Opening Date : 08 / 02 / 2024

Bargaining Unit : N / A

Part-Time Residential Counselor

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Residential Counselor position.

An Overview

The Residential Counselor provides residential services to individuals with serious mental illnesses, substance abuse disorders and / or developmental disabilities, completes assessments, provide information to develop service plans, help and train residents in their daily living skills.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate should have Good knowledge of large household coordination and maintenance; good knowledge of the nature of mental illness, intellectual disabilities, or developmental delay and the role of residential support services; an ability to work with not only the individual in residential service, but also their family members; empathy with the problems of people with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, or developmental delay; ability to identify behavior which indicates movement toward a crisis situation; ability to plan and supervise the work of clients; ability to instruct clients in difficult situations; ability to understand the needs and abilities of individuals with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and substance use disorders; and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.

The Opportunity

• Remains on site daily to provide individual or group assistance based on the individual needs.
• Completes documentation at a minimum of one shift note for each resident for each shift worked.
• Maintains clinical records following all applicable licensing and Medicaid regulations.
• Instructs and guides residents in the completion of tasks to ensure the development of skills and confidence, and monitors, evaluates and records resident's performance through written progress notes.
• Monitors medication management of residents by observation and reporting medication concerns to treatment team and / or supervisor; participates in treatment team meetings as applicable.
• Assist residents in planning recreational and educational activities.
• Reports all maintenance issues of the facility.
• Assist residents with grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and other ADL skill building.
• Provides transportation for residents using City vehicles.
• Performs related work as required.

About the Department

The Center for Adult Services (CAS) provides programs and services in Aging; Adult Protective Services; Clinical & Emergency Services; and Community & Residential Support Services for seniors and for persons with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders. CAS provides compassionate and effective person-centered services based on best practices. Our teams support self-determination, safety and recovery for Alexandria residents affected by abuse, neglect, mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance abuse disorders.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

High School Diploma or GED plus completion of post-high-school training / education pertaining to behavioral health, medical health, substance abuse and / or mental health; at least one year of direct work experience with individuals served by the specific program where the position is located (Intellectual Disability, Mental Illness, and / or Substance Abuse / Dependence); or an equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Employees in this class must possess a valid driver's license issued in the state of their residence.

Preferred Qualifications

Possession of a bachelor's degree in a social science field; At least one year of experience working with individuals living with mental illness and / or substance use disorder. Meet the criteria for Qualified Mental Health Professional status.

Notes

This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment checks to include : FBI Record Check; VA State Child Abuse / Neglect Registry; Drug Testing; Medicare / Medicaid Fraud Database; Driver's License from state of residence and education / certifications.

Schedule

This position is a part-time position (18 hours / week). The shift for this position will be Wednesday through Friday, 5 : 00PM - 11 : 00PM. As an essential employee, staff will be expected to be at work during weekends, holidays, or inclement weather if they have been scheduled.

We are proud to welcome you to explore the City of Alexandria's excellent benefits and programs!

The benefits referenced on this site, may be changed from time to time without notice. Also, temporary and some part-time positions are not eligible for these benefits. For further information, please contact the Benefits Division of the Department of Human Resources at 703.746.3785 or email

In Virginia or any other location, have you ever been or are the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect? If yes, list all cases and explain. If no, indicate "N / A."

All positions in DCHS require successful completion of pre-employment background checks in the Virginia State Child Abuse / Neglect Registry and national Medicare / Medicaid Fraud Database. Some positions require criminal records check, and scrutiny of any found criminal records against the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services list of Barrier Crimes. Some positions require drug testing, and verification of driver's license and education / certifications.

To answer yes to this question, you must answer yes to all the following questions :

If you answered "No" to question 3, do you have any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities for this position? (If you answered "Yes' to question 3, please answer "Yes" to this question).

Do you possess a Bachelor's degree in a Social Science field?

Do you have at least one (1) year of experience working with individuals living with mental illness and / or substance abuse disorders?

Are you licensed as a Qualified Mental Health Professional - Adult (QMHP-A)?

This position is a part-time position (18 hours / week). The shift for this position will be Wednesday through Friday, 5 : 00PM - 11 : 00PM. As an essential employee, staff will be expected to be at work during weekends, holidays, or inclement weather if they have been scheduled. Are you flexible with these hours?

Required Question

Salary : $21 - $28