Seasonal Respite Counselors (September 2024 - June 2025)

• Come to New Jersey! Live at the Jersey Shore!
• Position available September through June
• Located In Oakhurst NJ
• Will provide room and board for hires
• $821/Week

Seasonal Respite Counselor positions require living at the camp during the entire respite season from mid-September until early June, with training and then approximately 130 days of scheduled respite days of work out of approximately 250 days from mid-September through early June. Housing and meals are provided throughout the approximate 8 months. 

In addition, we are in need of weekend and holiday per diem respite counselors, and occasional other shifts available for emergency respite counselors. Not only do such respite counselors live with our clients, they are responsible for their care, safety, and welfare, and assist them with daily living skills and activity participation. Candidates must have a high energy level and good interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities: Live-in cabins with our campers and be responsible for their care, safety, and welfare. Assist campers with daily living skills and activity participation. We are seeking caring individuals with a desire to work with special populations. Must have a high energy level and good interpersonal skills. All employees at Rising Treetops must be COVID-vaccinated, and have received a COVID booster shot, if booster-eligible, prior to beginning work with campers.  We can assist with setting up vaccination appointments.

Since 1906, Rising Treetops at Oakhurst is open all year, serving children and adults with special needs through our summer sleep away camp, year-round overnight respite (planned and emergency) and day respite care programs. We have caring and attentive staff that provide full personal care and support to our clients. We train our team to support our clients and meet the specific needs of every client that comes to Rising Treetops, both children and adults with a broad range of special needs, including autism.

GOAL: The goal is to help clients make a successful adjustment to RTO, meet their physical care needs in a manner consistent with our policies and procedures and provide them with opportunities to enjoy a program of adapted therapeutic recreational activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE DIRECT CARE OF CLIENTS:

• Ability to lift more than 50 lbs.
• Assist clients with dressing, bathing, feeding, toileting and transferring.
• Become familiar with the care needs of clients by talking directly to them, attending briefings and reading briefing outlines.
• Remain alert to the individual needs of each client including toileting routines, medication schedules, allergies and health precautions.
• Meet care needs with sensitivity and in a manner that is safe; lifting safely, washing hands, using vinyl gloves, etc.
• Report real and apparent discrepancies in care needs between the written briefing summary and actual practice to supervisor.
• Log care needs discrepancies within 72 hours of client’s arrival

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HELPING CLIENTS ADJUST TO RTO

• Prepare for the arrival of each client by making beds, decorating the cabin, posting signs, tagging bed and cubby space, etc.
• Help clients develop a feeling of belonging.
• Keep the cabin safe and orderly.
• Encourage cooperation and respect for the rights of others, including the right to privacy and respect for the belongings of others.
• Discourage aggressive behavior, bullying, teasing and disrespect for the ethnic heritage of others.
• Set limits consistently after consulting with co-counselors.
• Reinforce limits using the acceptable methods of behavior modification as set forth in this manual.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE CONDUCT OF ACTIVITIES

• Plan and lead cabin group activities such as games, trips, hobbies, storytelling, singing, socials, crafts, etc.
• Take care of program supplies and see that they are returned so the next group can use them.
• Become sensitive to the needs of individuals during group activities; help those who need encouragement or assistance.
• Adapt activities to the individual physical limitations of the client.
• Evaluate the quality and range of activities to which clients have access and work to improve both.
• Help other activity leaders by becoming involved and enthusiastic in their programs.
• Use personal skills to lead counselor-run activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE CONDUCT OF ACTIVITIES

• Assume the responsibilities of OD when assigned.
• Follow duty schedules and program schedules making every effort to arrive and depart on time.
• Attend client briefings, write client evaluations and abide by the principles of confidentiality.
• Report health problems and accidents to the nurses.
• Conduct inventories of client clothing at the beginning and end of the session, report losses to supervisor.
• Remain on duty during emergencies.
• Report acts of abuse and/or neglect, suspected, reported or observed to the supervisor or director immediately.

Please submit a resume for review to csutherland@risingtreetops.org and await our call.

Feel free to look at our Facebook page for more insight: Facebook.com/RisingTreetops'

Salary : $821