Overnight Residential Counselor
Overnight Residential Counselor
Overnight Residential Counselors provide safety, structure, and emotional support for youth with significant emotional and behavioral challenges during some of the most difficult times in their lives. By building trusting relationships and creating a calm, home-like environment, you help youth feel secure, supported, and ready to work toward permanency and stability. This role is especially critical during evening and overnight hours, when consistency, responsiveness, and thoughtful intervention can make a meaningful difference in a young person’s sense of safety and well-being.
What We Offer:
- Competitive salary
- Generous medical, dental, vision, life and accident insurance – WCMHS covers 82.5 – 92% of premium costs.
- Matching 403(b) – match begins at 4.25% and increases based on years of service.
- Employee assistance plan.
- Generous sick and vacation accruals. Full- and part-time regular positions receive 12 days’ vacation and 12 days sick time annually - prorated based on standard hours.
- 12.5 paid holidays annually.
- Mileage reimbursement for agency related travel.
- Fun and engaging environment and the ability to give back to the local community
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide overnight and evening supervision in a residential home for youth with significant emotional and behavioral needs.
- Identify potential risk situations and use de-escalation strategies to support youth safely.
- Implement individualized behavior and crisis plans consistently and compassionately.
- Provide supportive counseling and therapeutic interventions during nighttime hours as needed.
- Maintain familiarity with each youth’s needs, triggers, and goals to support effective intervention.
- Complete required documentation each shift, including logs, medication entries, point sheets, timesheets, and assigned paperwork.
- Maintain a collaborative, team-based approach with coworkers, consultants, and supervisors.
- Ensure the physical safety of youth and others in the home.
- Participate in required trainings and follow supervision directives and agency policies.
- Provide transportation for youth as assigned, using a personal vehicle when required.
- Perform additional duties as assigned to support youth and program needs.
Qualifications:
Education Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field preferred.
- Relevant experience working with youth with emotional or behavioral challenges may be considered in lieu of formal education.
Knowledge and Competencies
- Ability to build positive, respectful relationships with youth.
- Flexibility and adaptability to respond to the changing needs of youth and residential settings.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to remain calm in high-stress situations.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Willingness to learn and apply crisis de-escalation and passive restraint techniques.
- Experience providing direct instruction or therapeutic services to youth with challenging behaviors (preferred).
- Commitment to following individualized treatment plans, supervision guidance, and agency policies.
Work Environment:
This position is based in a residential treatment home and primarily consists of evening and overnight shifts, including weekends. Staff provide supervision during nighttime hours and may need to respond to behavioral or emotional crises to ensure safety. The role requires physical activity, including lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds and implementing physical restraints when necessary. Driving youth using a personal vehicle may be required, and staff must maintain appropriate insurance coverage. The environment can be fast-paced and emotionally demanding, requiring alertness, professionalism, and compassion throughout overnight shifts.
Compensation:
This position starts at $23.83 and includes comprehensive benefits including paid time off, employer-sponsored health, dental, life, and disability insurances; a 403(b) retirement plan with generous employer match; and educational benefits such as tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment.
To apply:
We encourage applicants to apply via the WCMHS website Careers page. WCMHS strives to make our application process accessible to all. If you need language assistance or an accommodation in the application process, please contact us at [email protected] or 802-229-1399.
Washington County Mental Health Services is an equal opportunity employer. Grounded in our understanding that diversity makes us stronger, we are committed to inclusion in our workplace and services. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and consider applications for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, health care coverage status, military status, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
About the agency:
For more than 50 years, Washington County Mental Health Services (WCMHS) has served the Washington County community and the towns of Orange, Washington and Williamstown. WCMHS provides education, support, and treatment of individuals and families living with mental health challenges, substance use issues, and developmental and intellectual disabilities. Providing accessible, high-quality services in the community, schools, and health care settings, we work toward positive outcomes for wellness with collaborative, inclusive, and compassionate care. Washington County Mental Health Services is “Where Hope and Support Come Togeth