FT Residential Youth Counselor

Children's Home Society of South Dakota; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Group life insurance

AD&D

Short-term disability

Long-term disability

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Holidays

Volunteer Day

Retirement plan

Referral bonuses

Job summary

Children's Home Society of South Dakota is seeking a compassionate and dependable Full-Time Residential Youth Counselor to support children in our residential program. You will supervise, guide, and provide trauma-informed care within a dedicated team focused on helping youths navigate challenges and build brighter futures.

This role offers a meaningful career with equity and inclusion commitments, a rotating schedule, and opportunities for professional development as you contribute to a

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
• 1-2 years of experience working with children, especially those with behavioral issues, is preferred.
• We offer training if you’re new to this field.

Responsibilities

• Supervise children with engaging activities and maintain vigilant supervision.
• Participate as a treatment team member and keep the unit clean and orderly.
• Document handoffs and complete daily/weekly logs; finalize behavior/restraint/incident reports.
• Ensure safety standards and supervise phone calls and visits as directed by the child’s therapist.
• Attend required training and weekly staff meetings; contribute to quality improvement goals.

Skills

Team player

Effective communication

Organizational skills

Discretion with confidential info

Cultural sensitivity

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Description

Starting Pay: $20.00/hour+ (based on experience and education)

Shift Differential: Up to an additional $2.00/hour for weekday evening, overnight and weekend work.

Schedule:

• Wednesday: 11:00 AM–10:00 PM or 10:00 AM–6:00 PM (hours rotate every other week)
• Thursday: 2:00 PM–10:00 PM
• Friday: 2:00 PM–10:00 PM
• Saturday: 8:00 AM–10:00 PM
• Schedule rotates every 6 months to a Sunday–Wednesday schedule with similar hours.

Make a Difference Every Day

Children's Home Society is seeking a compassionate and dependable Full-Time Residential Youth Counselor to join our residential program team. In this role, you’ll provide supervision, guidance, and trauma-informed care while working alongside a dedicated team committed to helping children navigate challenges and build brighter futures.

This is more than a job—it’s an opportunity to be a positive, consistent presence in a child’s life when they need it most. At CHS, we are committed to equity, inclusion, and compassionate care in everything we do. By joining our team, you’ll be part of a mission-driven organization where your work has a lasting impact on children, families, and our community.

What You’ll Do:

• Child Supervision: Nurture children through interactive and engaging strategies. Maintain vigilant supervision of children. Facilitate structured activities, i.e., games, outdoor recreation, etc., if applicable. Assist children with hygiene, diet, getting ready for school, etc. Respond to emotional dysregulation in a trauma informed manner, supporting as needed.
• Team Participation: Participate as member of treatment team and maintain communication with the team. Assist in keeping unit clean and orderly.
• Data Management and Communication: Document required hand off communication. Complete daily/weekly logs on assigned children. Complete behavioral/restraint/incident reports before leaving shift.
• Safety First: Ensure safety standards and policies and procedures are followed. Monitor and supervise phone calls and visits as set by child’s therapist.
• Professional Development: Work on Quality Improvement goals. Attend required annual training and demonstrate competency in required areas. Attend and participate in weekly staff meetings.

What We'll Love About You:

• You are a team player that promotes a positive work environment.
• You are capable of handling highly sensitive, confidential information.
• You are able to effectively communicate.
• You align with our mission, vision, and values.
• You are organized and are able to pay strong attention to detail.
• You are able to have professional and kind client and public interactions.
• You are able to show awareness and respect for the diverse cultural backgrounds of our employees and clients.

Benefits of Employment at CHS:

• Work-Life Balance: 4 days of work with 3 consecutive days off
• Comprehensive Benefits: Equal up to 30% of your salary. Two health insurance options (Traditional Plan & High Deductible Health Plan with HSA), vision, dental, employer-paid Group Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Short Term & Long-Term Disability, and additional voluntary life and critical illness plans.
• Financial/Education Assistance: Up to $200 per month in tuition reimbursement or student loan repayment for qualifying employees.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Includes a generous PTO package with 40 hours upfront, 10 paid holidays, and 8 hours "Day of Service" for volunteering in the community.
• Retirement Plans: Once entry into the plan, employees receive a 3% employer contribution each pay period and up to an additional 5% annual contribution. Employees are 100% vested after 4 years of credited service.
• Referral Bonuses: Earn up to $1,000 for referring new employees.

Requirements

Education:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• A Bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required.

Experience:

• 1-2 years of experience working with children, especially those with behavioral issues, is preferred.
• We offer training if you’re new to this field.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you’re ready to do meaningful work, build relationships, and help create positive change every day, we’d love to have you join our team.

Must successfully complete all required background and pre-employment checks EEO/AA.