Residential Counselor - Afternoons/Evenings

Default Brand; Blaine (MN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Room for advancement

401(k) plan

Life Insurance

Long-Term Disability

Training & leadership programs

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Volunteers of America MN/WI in Blaine, MN seeks a Residential Counselor for afternoon/evening shifts. You will provide direct care, supervise youth, and support trauma-informed routines to promote safety and growth. The role includes mid-day and evening shifts, with weekend rotation and regular team meetings.

Starting at $18.50/hr with shift differentials and a $1,000 retention bonus based on performance, paid quarterly during the first year. On-site location at 22426 St. Francis Blvd NW, Blaine.

Qualifications

• Must be 21+ years old with a valid driver’s license.
• Must pass criminal background checks.
• CPR/First Aid and crisis intervention trainings provided.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care, supervision and therapeutic support to youth.
• Support morning routines and readiness for school.
• Support evening routines, activities, and skill-building.
• Respond to crises using trauma‑informed de‑escalation techniques.

Skills

Driver's license

Background checks

CPR/First Aid

Youth experience

Education

High School diploma

Associate's/Bachelor's in Human Services

Job description

Residential Counselor - Afternoons/Evenings

Job Category: Entry Level/Direct Care

Requisition Number: RESID002251

• Full-Time
• On-site

Locations

Showing 1 location

Blaine, MN 55449, USA

Description

Come join our life-changing team building hope, resilience and well-being as a Residential Counselor at Avanti in Blaine, MN!

We are offering a generous retention bonus of $1,000 based on performance!

Shift Details: Mid-day Shift & Evening Shift

• Every other weekend required
• Team Meetings required once per week on a designated day from 8:00am-11:00am

Schedule:

• Mid-Day Shift: 11:30am-7:30pm
• Evenings: 2:00pm-10:00pm

Compensation: $18.50/hr starting, plus $2/hr shift differential for overnights, $1 differential for PM shifts and weekends!

Location: 22426 St. Francis Blvd NW, St. Francis, MN 55303

Hiring Bonus: $1,000, based on performance and paid in increments, every 3 months for the first year of employment

About the job:

Provide direct care, supervision, and therapeutic support to youth during morning and evening hours, ensuring safety, dignity, compassion, professionalism, accountability, and trauma-informed, whole-person support.

Morning Routine Support:

• Support youth with daily routines and programming, using calm, encouraging, and predictable approaches.
• Provide coaching for morning regulation and readiness for the school day.
• Ensure youth transition to breakfast, medications (if trained), and school safely.
• Communicate morning concerns or successes to the team and document appropriately.

Evening Routine Support:

• Support youth with returning from school or programming with relational, compassionate engagement.
• Facilitate structured activities, chores, and recreation while modeling healthy skills.
• Facilitate programming groups, skill-building, or therapeutic activities as directed.
• Assist with evening hygiene, transitions to quiet time, and bedtime preparation.
• Promote consistency, predictability, and trauma-responsive routines.
• Contribute to a structured, trauma-informed, healing-centered environment.
• Model and teach health communication, problem-solving, social skills, and emotional regulation.
• Support positive peer interactions and intervene early to prevent escalation.

Crisis Response & De-Escalation:

• Respond to emerging conflicts or crises using trauma-informed de-escalation techniques.
• Use verbal, relational, and environmental interventions before physical strategies.
• Implement safety holds only if required and trained, following all policies.
• Participate in post-incident debriefs, documentation, and restoration.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Support cross-team activities or program needs.
• Assist with group facilitation, outings, or enrichment activities.
• Complete administrative duties that support program effectiveness as assigned.

Job Highlights:

• Room for professional advancement
• Entry-level position into the mental health career field
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Employer Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
• Quality training, continuing career education and leadership programs
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Holiday & Sick Days)

Required Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age or older; Must pass criminal background checks; Must have a current and valid Driver's License.
• High School diploma required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Psychology, Social Work, Education, or related field preferred.
• Experience with youth in residential, school, recreation, or behavioral health setting, preferred.
• CPR/First Aid, crisis intervention, and other mandated trainings as provided by VOA.

About Us:

Bar None is part of Volunteers of America MN/WI which serves as an affiliate of the Volunteers of America parent organization.

Volunteers of America Minnesota/Wisconsin is a nonprofit health and human services organization that annually serves more than 25,000 children, adolescents and their families, older adults, students, persons with disabilities and special needs, and adults completing incarceration. Since 1896, we have helped people gain self-reliance, dignity, and hope.

Take pride in helping others and join us today!

At VOA, we celebrate sharing, encouraging and embracing diversity. Equal employment opportunities are available to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We believe that blending individual strengths and unique personal differences nurtures and supports our organizations’ shared commitment to our mission and creates an inclusive and diverse environment where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to do their personal best.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.