Overnight Residential Counselor

Elk Hill Farm, Inc.; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Supportive work environment

Training and development opportunities

Job summary

A non-profit organization is looking for dedicated team members to support youth in a group home environment. Responsibilities include maintaining childcare standards, building relationships with youth, and providing behavior support. Ideal candidates should have a passion for helping children with mental health diagnoses and be sensitive to diverse backgrounds. Flexible hours and relevant certifications are required.

Qualifications

• At least six months of experience in a related setting.
• Ability to provide sound documentation during routines.
• Sensitive to cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of youth.

Responsibilities

• Maintain high childcare standards and documentation.
• Build positive relationships with youth.
• Assist in training new personnel.

Skills

Experience with children with mental health diagnoses

Strong relationship skills

Knowledge of cultural diversity

Flexibility in work hours

Ability to work effectively with others

Education

High-School Diploma or equivalent

Up-to-date CPR/First Aid certifications

Tools

Behavior Management Program certification

Medication aide training

Job description

Elk Hill Farm, Inc. is a non-profit organization serving youth and families in Central Virginia. Elk Hill was honored as a 2025 Top Workplace USA and 2025 Richmond Times-Dispatch Top Workplace, recognizing a strong culture based on employee feedback. Elk Hill is celebrating 50+ years of supporting youth and families across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Primary Function

To participate as a team member in creating and maintaining an environment that enables youth to develop and maintain positive changes in attitude, values, and behavior through a community-based group home model.

Responsibilities and Job Expectations

• Maintain a high standard of childcare during coverage, including documentation of each shift and overseeing the physical care of the facility’s youth, their development of acceptable habits and attitudes, providing behavior support and intervention, and helping youth meet their goals as outlined on their service plan.
• Provide a positive example and be a positive role model at all times
• Build positive, caring relationships with youth
• Model high personal and professional standards in interactions with residents, families, agency workers, and fellow staff
• Work towards annual goals for personal, professional and educational development
• Assist in training new personnel
• Organize and facilitate group activities
• Facilitate medication dispersal and medical visits
• Assist in constructing and implementing individual service plans for students
• Participate in appropriate and ongoing supervision and staff development training
• Assist in organizing, scheduling, and leading a wide range of group activities and community service projects
• From time to time, may be asked to work in a group home other than the regularly assigned group home
• Perform other duties as requested by the facility’s residential Program Director

Core Competencies and Experience

• At least six months of experience working with children with mental health diagnoses, to include children in residential care, juvenile corrections, or other clinical settings, preferred
• Successful experience and demonstrated competence in working with youth in a group home or other residential setting, preferred
• Open to giving and receiving professional feedback
• Knowledge and understanding of cultural diversity and the impact of various socioeconomic characteristics on our youth
• Must demonstrate sensitivity to Elk Hill’s service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics
• Knowledge of professional boundaries and an ability to role model appropriate behaviors to youth
• Working knowledge of group dynamics and a basic understanding of psychiatric diagnosis
• Ability to provide sound documentation during routine shift coverage
• Strong relationship skills with the youth being served as well as with professional colleagues
• Ability to work effectively with others, including the treatment team and other internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to be flexible in work hours
• Ability to support constructive family contact and involvement in community activities as appropriate
• Ability and willingness to work towards a QPPMH certification
• Sense of humor

Credentials and/or Education

• High-School Diploma or equivalent - preferred
• Must have up-to-date certification in the facility’s Behavior Management Program and be willing and able to apply such skills as needed in day-to-day interactions with youth
• Must have up-to-date certifications in approved courses for CPR/First Aid
• Must have a valid certificate in an approved medication aide training class
• Maintain valid driver’s license and good driving record, preferred (note: those without a valid driver’s license or approved driving record will not be allowed to drive on behalf of Elk Hill)

Physical Requirements

• Good physical health and stay current with annual TB screening and other certifications
• Ability to physically perform all functions of the facility’s Behavior Management Program
• Ability to traverse inside and outside of the property including uneven terrain
• Periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Occasionally lift up to 25 pounds

Travel Requirements

• Periodic transportation of a client as needed or required

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is at the forefront of what we do at Elk Hill, and we enforce respectful communication and cooperation between all. Elk Hill does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. It is the policy of Elk Hill to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or candidate with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship for Elk Hill. Contact Human Resources for more information.

Note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities or actions may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. Elk Hill Farm, Inc. reserves the right to change or reassign job duties or combine positions at any time.