Residential Counselor

Italian Home for Children; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 24,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Italian Home for Children is seeking a Residential Counselor to directly supervise clients and engage with children in a therapeutic setting. The role supports youth with trauma, ASD, and IDD in a structured living environment, with emphasis on safety, empathy, and teamwork.

The position requires evenings, weekends, and holidays, with training in de-escalation and crisis intervention. A Massachusetts driver’s license, First Aid/CPR certification, and confidentiality are essential.

Qualifications

• Commitment to the highest quality of care for children and families.
• Reliable and consistent attendance, able to work evenings/weekends/holidays.
• Massachusetts Driver’s License required and CPR/First Aid certification.
• Ability to lift up to 75 pounds and manage safety protocols.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise clients and attend to their needs.
• Engage with children to support emotional, behavioral, and educational development.
• Provide a therapeutic milieu and maintain a safe living environment.
• Plan and participate in social and recreational activities.
• Implement treatment plans and crisis intervention as trained.
• Document incidents, logs, and required reports accurately.

Skills

Therapeutic care

Empathy

Teamwork

Crisis de-escalation

Job description

The Residential Counselor (RC) will be directly responsible for the daily care of Italian Home for Children clients – youth with complex trauma, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD), and co-occurring psychiatric needs. Residential Counselors support clients in reaching their full potential through providing positive and nurturing relationships and a stable, consistent, and structured living environment. RCs are expected to model care, empathy and patience for children and families, while staying committed to providing the highest quality of care for children. Evenings, weekends, and holidays are required. Schedules are subject to change based on the needs of the Program to ensure safety of clients and employees. This position is considered essential as the Program operates 24 hours per day/7 days per week, year-round.The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title, but additional responsibilities may be required. Employees are expected to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.Functions:• Directly supervise clients• Engage with and fully attend to children, monitoring behavior and interactions closely• Provide a therapeutic milieu environment for clients, maintaining a safe and healthy environment; and meeting the physical and emotional needs of clients• Work as a part of a multidisciplinary team to further the emotional, behavioral, and educational development of clients• Plan, implement, and participate in social and recreational activities for clients• Implement treatment protocol established in client’s treatment plans and individual behavior plans• Interactions with clients must demonstrate a therapeutic and caring purpose• Apply treatment philosophy and training• Provide therapeutic intervention, including physical restraints done safely and by training standards• Communicate effectively with coworkers, supervisors and the clinical team• Maintain clean dorm areas and client bedrooms• Transport clients to community activities, schools, and other appointments• Attend shift change meetings and provide regular updates about youth• Complete serious incident, restraint, and all other required reports, logs and documentation• Responsible for ensuring all logs are accurate• Attend required meetings and trainings, including weekly staff meetings• Actively participate in supervision and professional development opportunitiesQualifications:• Commitment to the highest quality of care for children and families• Demonstration of compassionate, sensitive, and empathetic care for clients• Strong commitment to supporting, nurturing, teaching, and empowering children• Reliability, show for shifts on time, regular/consistent attendance, abide by procedures for tardiness and absenteeism• Demonstration of support and belief in IHC’s mission and values• Ability to bend, reach, move and lift 75 pounds• Skilled interpersonally and demonstration of teamwork• Flexible in thought and scheduling• Strength in working collaboratively• Responsive to emergencies quickly and safely; respond to unexpected circumstances calmly with a quick change of plan/strategy• High performance in a stressful and fast paced environment• Demonstration of understanding and application of principles taught in trainings and seminars, including therapeutic crisis intervention• Integrity in the handling of sensitive and confidential information related to clients and employees• Maintenance of strictest confidentiality regarding clients and employees; adhere to all HIPPA guidelines and regulations• Receptive and responsive to supervision and professional development• Exceptional communication skills (verbal and written)• Valid Massachusetts Driver’s License required• Acquire and retain First Aid and CPR certification• Acquire and retain certification in de-escalation and restraint curriculumItalian Home for Children is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, height, weight, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.We are dedicated to ensuring a fair hiring process and an equitable work environment. If you require accommodations during the application, and/or interview process, please contact [e-mail] hourly wage for this role is $21 per hour USD. This number does not reflect additional compensation-related benefits such as PTO, medical and life insurance, EAP, and the Italian Home for Children 403(b) retirement plan.#JoinIHC