Residential Youth Counselor

Children's Home Society of South Dakota; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 27,552 - 30,307; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance options

PTO and holidays

Tuition reimbursement or student loan

Job summary

Children’s Home Society of South Dakota is seeking a Residential Youth Counselor to join a team providing supervision and trauma-informed care for children in the residential program. You will foster a safe, supportive environment and lead structured activities that promote wellbeing.

This role requires 1–2 years of related experience or training, a High School Diploma or GED (Bachelor’s preferred), and the ability to respond to behavioral challenges.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience: one to two years related experience and/or training.

Responsibilities

• Supervise children and provide care in a residential setting.
• Collaborate with treatment team and maintain unit cleanliness and organization.
• Document handoffs and complete daily/weekly logs; prepare incident reports.
• Monitor safety standards and supervise visits as directed by therapist.
• Participate in required trainings and weekly staff meetings.

Skills

Team player

Communication

Trauma-informed care

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Overview

Work For Good!

Wage: $20 to $22 an hour (DOE)

Schedule: Sunday 8 AM–10 PM; Monday & Tuesday 2–10 PM; Wednesday 7 AM–4 PM or 2–10 PM; Thursday & Friday until 10 PM; Saturday 8 AM–10 PM. Schedule rotates every 3 months.

Position Overview: Children’s Home Society of South Dakota is seeking a Residential Youth Counselor to work as part of a team providing supervision and trauma-informed care of children within the residential program. As a leader in compassionate, trauma-informed care, CHS is committed to fostering equity and inclusion in all aspects of our work.

By joining our team, you will make a difference every day—creating positive change for individuals, families, and communities. Each smile, hug, and heart you touch will reflect the meaningful impact of your work.

Benefits of Employment

• Work-Life Balance: 4 days on, 3 days off in a row.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Health insurance options (Traditional Plan & High Deductible Plan with HSA), vision, dental, employer-paid life insurance and AD&D, short-term & long-term disability, and additional voluntary life and critical illness plans.
• Financial/Education Assistance: Up to $200 per month in tuition reimbursement or student loan repayment for qualifying employees.
• Competitive Compensation: $20–$22 per hour (DOE) with yearly merit-based raises.
• Paid Time Off: PTO plus 40 hours upfront, 10 paid holidays, and 8 hours Day of Service for volunteering.
• Retirement Plans: 3% employer contribution each pay period and up to 5% profit sharing; 100% vesting after 4 years of credited service.
• Referral Bonuses: Earn up to $1,000 for referring new employees.

What You Will Do

• Child Supervision: Nurture children through interactive and engaging strategies; maintain vigilant supervision; facilitate structured activities; assist with hygiene, meals, and getting ready for school; respond to emotional dysregulation in a trauma-informed manner.
• Team Participation: Act as a member of the treatment team and maintain communication; help keep the unit clean and orderly.
• Data Management and Communication: Document handoffs; complete daily/weekly logs; prepare behavioral/restraint/incident reports before leaving shift.
• Safety & Compliance: Ensure safety standards and policies are followed; monitor and supervise phone calls and visits as directed by the child’s therapist.
• Professional Development: Work on quality improvement goals; attend required annual training and demonstrate competency; participate in weekly staff meetings.

What We’ll Love About You

• You are a team player who promotes a positive work environment.
• You can handle highly sensitive, confidential information.
• You communicate effectively.
• You align with our mission, vision, and values.
• You are organized with strong attention to detail.
• You can engage professionally and kindly with clients and the public.
• You show awareness and respect for diverse cultural backgrounds of our employees and clients.

Requirements

Education

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Experience

• One to two years related experience and/or training. Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Licensure

• Social Work Associates preferred.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Residential environment focused on care of children with behavioral issues. Employee must be able to physically restrain a child as taught by the Agency and must be able to verbally communicate with the child and other staff. Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds.

Must successfully complete all required background and pre-employment checks. EEO/AA.

Join us at Children’s Home Society and truly "Work for Good" every day, helping to change the world one child, one family, and one smile at a time.

Salary: $20.00/hr plus up to $2.00/hr shift differential