Residential Counselors - Part Time

About the Role

Are you driven by compassion and a desire to help others reach their full potential? Do you find purpose in advocating for the people you support and helping them build meaningful connections within their communities? Are you committed to ensuring health, safety, and a sense of home for those in your care? If you’re someone who enjoys solving problems, works well both independently and as part of a team, and has experience supporting individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities, we’d love to meet you. Join our team of Direct Support Professionals.

Our mission is rooted in the belief that every person deserves dignity, respect, self-direction, and recognition of their unique worth. As a member of the Residential Support Team, you will play a key role in supporting adults with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities in a residential environment. All duties are performed in accordance with Department Policy, City of Alexandria Administrative Regulations, State Regulations, Human Rights guidelines, and applicable state policies and best practices. This position requires flexibility, including availability for various shifts such as evenings, overnights, and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Support residents in developing and carrying out individualized service plans grounded in person-centered practices.
• Provide instruction and guidance to help residents build skills in daily living activities, including personal hygiene, household cleaning, laundry, financial management, planning social and leisure activities, grocery shopping, meal preparation, making healthy choices related to nutrition and safety, and accessing community resources.
• Transport residents using a city vehicle as needed.
• Observe and/or administer medications in accordance with guidelines, monitor residents’ medication management, and promptly report any concerns to the support team or supervisor.
• Monitor, assess, and document resident progress through clear and accurate written progress notes.
• Complete all required assessment documents to support the development of person-centered service plans; prepare progress notes and incident reports; and maintain clinical records in compliance with licensing and Medicaid regulations.
• Ensure routine cleaning and maintenance of both interior and exterior areas, submit maintenance requests for needed repairs, and follow up to confirm completion.
• Attend supervisory and staff meetings on a regular basis.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Requirements

The Residential Counselor should have foundational knowledge of supporting adults with developmental disabilities in ways that promote individual choice, community inclusion, and self-determination. This includes familiarity with person-centered practices, the use of respectful and universal language, and positive behavioral support strategies.

• Understand techniques that foster meaningful relationships, community engagement, and participation in recreational and social activities.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build effective working relationships with individuals, families, and colleagues, as well as the ability to communicate clearly in both written and verbal formats.
• Solid understanding of coordinating and maintaining a large household.
• Knowledge of mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and developmental delays, and the role residential support services play in enhancing quality of life.
• Demonstrate empathy for the challenges individuals may face and recognize behaviors that signal a potential crisis.
• Teach basic living skills, identify progress and learning needs, gain cooperation in difficult situations, and exercise sound independent judgment within established policies, regulations, and guidelines.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Basic computer skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least three (3) years of recent experience working in a residential setting with adults with developmental disabilities.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, holidays, and during inclement weather when required.

Schedule

This position requires flexibility, including availability for various shifts such as evenings, overnights, and weekends. Shifts available:

• Shift #1: Saturday & Sunday, 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. — 16 hours per week — Taylor Run
• Shift #2: Monday – Thursday, 6:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., and Friday, 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. — 28 hours per week — Linden
• Shift #3: Saturday & Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. — 16 hours per week — Linden
• Shift #4: Saturday & Sunday, 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. — 16 hours per week — Parkstone

As an Essential Employee, you are expected to report to work for scheduled shifts, including weekends, nights, holidays, and during inclement weather.

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.

Notes

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