Residential Counselor

Advantage Behavioral Health; Lancaster (OH); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Advantage Behavioral Health is seeking a Residential Counselor in Lancaster, Ohio, to provide essential support to clients in a mental health residential setting. This role is ideal for emerging professionals pursuing a Bachelor's degree in social work or psychology, offering valuable hands-on clinical experience.

The Residential Counselor assists with direct client care, case management, and crisis intervention, while fostering a safe therapeutic environment. Flexible hours are required, including weekends.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or a related field is highly preferred.
• Experience in a mental health or human services setting is a plus, depending on educational background.
• Strong crisis de-escalation and intervention skills are necessary.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct support to clients in a residential setting.
• Assist with case management and coordinate client appointments.
• Co-facilitate psychoeducational and skills-based groups.
• Participate in risk assessments and client safety monitoring.

Skills

Client care support

Crisis intervention

Case management

Effective communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in human services

Associate’s degree or 60 credits in human services

High school diploma or equivalent with experience

Job description

Overview

Position Summary: The Residential Counselor provides direct support to clients in the Mental Health Residential Treatment setting. This role is designed for emerging professionals with a bachelor’s degree or in the final stages of completing coursework in social work, psychology or a related field who wish to gain hands on clinical experience. The Residential Counselor assists with direct care support, group facilitation, case management, risk assessment and crisis intervention, while contributing to a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Client Care and Case Management
  • Assist with ongoing case management tasks, including coordinating appointments, maintaining communication with providers, and supporting discharge/aftercare planning.
  • Transport clients safely to and from appointments, community activities and recovery related outings, maintaining professionalism and therapeutic rapport.
  • Support clients in developing daily living skills, self-care routines, and household responsibilities consistent with treatment goals.
  • Document all client interactions, observations, and incidents accurately and timely in accordance with program and licensing standards.
• Therapeutic and Clinical Support
  • Co-facilitate psychoeducational, skills-based and process groups under clinical supervision (e.g., DBT, mindfulness, relapse prevention, emotional regulation, ADL skill building).
  • Assist clients with setting and achieving recovery goals.
  • Support clients with developing and achieving treatment plan goals and documenting progress as needed.
  • Conduct ongoing behavioral observations and report relevant information to the clinical team for treatment planning.
  • Participate in the completion of risk assessments (e.g., C-SSRS, SAFE-T) under supervision to monitor client safety and risk status.
  • Assist with crisis de-escalation and intervention, utilizing trauma-informed communication, grounding techniques and emergency protocols when necessary.
  • Provide supportive one-on-one check-ins to reinforce coping skills, emotional regulation and safety planning within the scope of training.
• Milieu and House Management
  • Maintain structure and consistency within the daily schedule, ensuring adherence to treatment programming and program guidelines.
  • Foster a positive, recovery-oriented community by modeling healthy communication, emotional regulation, and conflict resolution skills.
  • Support the upkeep of the home environment by assisting clients with chores, meal preparation, and maintaining cleanliness in shared spaces.
  • Ensure the facility is maintained in a safe, clean, and orderly condition.
  • Monitor self-administration of medication as per program policy and report any deviations or safety concerns to the supervising staff immediately.
• Professional Development and Team Collaboration
  • Engage in supervision and ongoing training to enhance professional competence and clinical judgment.
  • Demonstrate openness to feedback, willingness to learn, and commitment to developing skills in strength-based communication, risk management, and crisis response.
  • Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team—including therapists, medical staff, and BHTs—to ensure continuity and quality of care.
  • Uphold confidentiality, ethical standards, and all company policies and procedures.

Qualifications

Educational and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree Track
  • Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a human services field (Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, etc.).
  • Experience: Typically requires no prior experience at this level, as the degree serves as the primary qualifier for entry-level MHW status.
• Associate’s Degree / 60 Credits Track
  • Education: An associate’s degree or 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university in a human services field.
  • Experience: Requires at least 3 years of experience in a mental health or human services setting.
• High School Diploma Track (Equivalency)
  • Education: A high school diploma or equivalent.
  • Experience: Requires at least 5 years of documented experience in a mental health or human services setting.

Core Competencies

• Trauma-informed and strength-Based Approach
• Crisis de-escalation and intervention skills
• Risk assessment and safety monitoring
• Effective communication and documentation
• Collaborative and team-oriented mindset
• Commitment to ongoing learning and professional growth

Work Environment

• Residential home setting with 24/7 client care.
• Requires flexibility to work on weekends, evenings, or holidays.
• Frequent driving and direct client contact.

Tuesday-Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm

Sunday-Thursday 9:00am-5:00pm