Residential Specialist - Youth Mental Health Residential Services (Anaconda, MT)

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with individuals to assess their strengths and skills in daily living, empowering them to identify, develop, and participate in meaningful activities that foster functional independence and personal growth in a safe, supportive environment.
• Support individuals in navigating personal challenges or conflicts by responding with empathy, providing therapeutic guidance, and offering empowering alternatives to help build resilience and positive coping strategies.
• Report to the Residential Manager, identify missing documentation, client issues, and/or staff issues.
• Assist the Residential Manager with scheduling, interviews, training, and other related matters.
• Aid the Residential Manager with various tasks on an as-needed basis.
• Read the Day Program Communication Log daily and communicate any issues to the Residential Manager.
• Daily documentation checks: Treatment Plans, Clinical Notes, Staff Notes, Communication Log, Structured Leisure Activities etc.
• Ensure an appropriate menu is posted for each week and ensure meals are prepared properly.
• Organize structured group activities daily.
• Provide attentive supervision and companionship for individuals with developmental disabilities during daily activities, such as work, recreation, and community outings, ensuring a sense of safety and inclusion.
• Offer gentle assistance with basic care, including hygiene, meal preparation, mealtimes, household chores (such as laundry), and maintaining a safe, welcoming, and comfortable living space that honors each person's dignity and preferences.
• Plan, accompany, participate in, and oversee community and group activities (including recreational, leisure, vocational, and educational opportunities) to help individuals build skills, develop coping mechanisms, and experience empowerment through choice and collaboration.
• Implement and adhere to Individual Treatment Plans, Behavior Management Plans, Independent Living Plans, and Personal Support Plans, adapting them in a trauma-informed way to respect individuals' experiences and promote trust.
• Observe, report, and accurately document individuals' physical, emotional, and behavioral well-being in daily logs, critical incident reports, and AWARE's Electronic Medical Records System, using a strengths-based, non-judgmental approach.
• Shop for residence and individual needs as directed, prioritizing choices that support autonomy.
• Assist with phone calls and family visits when assigned, facilitating connections in a respectful and supportive manner.
• May assist, as assigned, in medication distribution programs, ensuring safety and adherence to protocols.
• Transport individuals to and from work, recreational activities, appointments, etc., when necessary, promoting independence and accessibility.
• Use trauma-informed de-escalation techniques, such as H.E.L.P. (including therapeutic holds only when necessary to ensure safety), and perform basic First Aid/CPR if needed, always prioritizing the least restrictive interventions to protect individuals from harm to self or others.
• Attend and participate in mandatory training, in-services, staff meetings, and committees as assigned.

Qualifications

• At least three (3) years of experience is required and/or an associate degree in a Human Services field, or a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in any field, and a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in Human Services.
• Ability to, under AWARE’s Unconditional Care Philosophy, implement individual support plans with the knowledge of behavioral techniques, interventions, skill-building techniques, and understanding of the emotional and behavioral needs of individuals within the residence.
• Requires computer literacy skills, including the ability to navigate, record, and overall basic computer skills needed for performance-based software as well as an electronic medical records system.
• The Residential Specialist must have interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills to work as a team member, make observations, report them accurately, learn resident care methods, and follow oral and written instructions.

Pay

AWARE Residential Specialists earn $21.00 - $23.00 per hour.

Schedule

Details on the schedule can be found in the job description or provided upon hire.