Residential Program Specialist

Mountain Home Montana; Missoula (MT); On-site; USD 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Mountain Home Montana is seeking a dependable Residential Program Specialist (RPS) to support a structured, trauma-informed residential environment for residents and their children. The role involves hands-on daily routines, safety checks, medication procedures, and accurate documentation.

The RPS will work alongside Residential Family Support Specialists to ensure consistent coverage, assist with meals and transportation, and promote resident independence while maintaining compliance with

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in residential services, human services, behavioral health, housing, childcare, healthcare, or another direct-service setting.
• Ability to follow established procedures, schedules, and expectations.
• Strong communication, observation, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to remain calm and professional during conflict, crises, and unexpected situations.
• Ability to pass required background checks and obtain CPR/First Aid certification within 60 days.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an active, visible presence in residential common areas and monitor resident, child, household, and safety needs.
• Support residents and children with daily routines, meals, childcare transitions, appointments, transportation, and activities.
• Encourage resident independence by providing guidance and practical assistance with daily living tasks.
• Complete medication-support procedures when trained and authorized and document accordingly.
• Conduct safety and environmental checks and report maintenance or safety concerns.
• Communicate effectively with staff to ensure continuity of care and proper shift handovers.

Skills

Communication

Observation

Organization

Problem-solving

Conflict management

Trauma-informed practices

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

CPR/First Aid certification

Job description

Residential Program Specialist (RPS)

Mountain Home Montana is seeking a dependable, compassionate, and organized Residential Program Specialist (RPS) to support the daily operations of our residential program. This position helps maintain a safe, structured, and trauma-informed living environment for residents and their children while promoting independence, accountability, and positive daily routines.

The Residential Program Specialist provides practical residential support, assists with household responsibilities, supports daily routines, completes assigned safety and medication procedures, and ensures accurate documentation. Working alongside Residential Family Support Specialists, the RPS helps maintain consistent residential coverage so residents receive the support they need throughout the day.

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys hands-on work, building positive relationships, maintaining structure, and supporting families in a residential setting.

What You’ll Do

Residential Support and Daily Routines

• Maintain an active, visible presence in residential common areas and remain attentive to resident, child, household, and safety needs.
• Support residents and children with daily routines, meals, childcare transitions, appointments, transportation, and evening or morning activities, depending on the assigned shift.
• Encourage resident independence by providing guidance, coaching, and practical assistance with daily living responsibilities.
• Provide routine residential coverage while Residential Family Support Specialists deliver treatment-plan-directed services.
• Assist with childcare pickup, resident transportation, and approved community activities as assigned.

Household Responsibilities and Program Standards

• Prepare and support meals according to established schedules, including ensuring dinner is available each evening.
• Complete assigned cleaning, organizing, restocking, kitchen duties, and general household responsibilities.
• Conduct scheduled chore, bedroom, bathroom, shared-space, and other residential checks.
• Communicate household expectations respectfully and consistently, supporting residents in completing their responsibilities.
• Identify and report maintenance concerns, sanitation issues, damaged property, low supplies, and safety hazards.

Medication, Testing, and Documentation

• Complete medication-support procedures when appropriately trained and authorized.
• Conduct scheduled or random urine analyses (UAs) and breath alcohol tests (BAs) as assigned.
• Properly handle, label, document, and prepare applicable samples for laboratory submission according to established procedures.
• Maintain accurate weekly tracker entries, shift notes, medication and testing records, incident reports, and other required documentation.
• Record only activities personally completed, directly observed, or appropriately verified.
• Promptly communicate missed medications, testing concerns, discrepancies, and other issues to the appropriate personnel.

Safety and Crisis Response

• Monitor resident, child, staff, and facility safety throughout the shift.
• Complete assigned room, environmental, and safety checks, including room searches when directed and authorized under agency procedures.
• Respond to conflict, behavioral escalation, and unexpected situations using trauma-informed de-escalation practices.
• Follow established emergency, visitor, curfew, supervision, security, and mandated-reporting procedures.
• Immediately communicate urgent safety concerns and complete required incident documentation.

Communication and Teamwork

• Coordinate with residential staff to support continuity of care, consistent expectations, and smooth shift transitions.
• Communicate resident needs, scheduled activities, incomplete responsibilities, incidents, and required follow-up to incoming staff and the Residential Program Manager.
• Follow established program procedures, schedules, and assignments.
• Participate in supervision, staff meetings, training, and professional development as assigned.
• Maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality, and respectful communication with residents, children, coworkers, and community partners.

Important Role Distinction: The Residential Program Specialist provides residential coverage and practical support. This position does not independently provide, document, or bill HSS services.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in residential services, human services, behavioral health, housing, childcare, healthcare, or another direct-service setting.
• Ability to follow established procedures, schedules, and expectations.
• Strong communication, observation, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to remain calm and professional during conflict, behavioral escalation, crises, and unexpected situations.
• Ability to balance consistent expectations and accountability with resident independence and dignity.
• Willingness to learn and apply trauma-informed and strengths-based practices.
• Ability to complete accurate documentation and maintain confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA requirements.
• Valid driver's license, acceptable driving record, and ability to meet agency transportation requirements.
• Ability to pass required background checks.
• Current CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain certification within 60 days of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• One or more years of experience in residential services, human services, childcare, healthcare, or another direct-service setting.
• Experience supporting young families, parents, or children.
• Coursework or education in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Behavioral Health, Early Childhood Education, or a related field.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

This is an on-site position in a residential setting. The role requires the ability to move throughout the facility, including climbing stairs, standing and walking for extended periods, bending and kneeling, and lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling up to 25 pounds. The position may involve assisting residents and children with routine activities, driving to approved community locations, and responding to emotionally challenging or unpredictable situations.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to support individuals with disabilities in performing the essential functions of the position.

Schedule and Benefits

Employees are generally assigned a regular, recurring Day or Swing Shift schedule based on the position for which they are hired. Assigned schedules may include weekends and holidays, and adjustments may be made based on program needs. Local travel may be required for transportation, appointments, errands, and approved residential activities.

Benefits are provided according to employment status, scheduled hours, organizational policy, and applicable benefit-plan requirements.

Join Mountain Home Montana

If you are dependable, adaptable, and passionate about helping families build stability and independence, we encourage you to consider joining Mountain Home Montana’s residential team. Your work will help create a safe, supportive, and consistent environment where residents and their children can thrive.

Pay Range: $18.00–$23.00 per hour

All offers of employment at Mountain Home are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check. The following factors will be considered for applicants with a criminal and/or less-than-ideal driving history:

• The nature of the conduct/behavior and its relationship to the position
• The recency of and circumstances surrounding the conduct/behavior
• The age of an individual at the time of the conduct/behavior
• Societal/cultural conditions that may have contributed to the conduct/behavior
• The probability that an individual will continue the conduct/behaviorThe individual’s commitment to rehabilitation and changing the behavior