RESIDENTIAL COUNSELOR ASSISTANT

Multiple Locations are Hiring: Clifton Springs and Newark

Job Summary: In accordance with FLACRA's mission, vision, and values, the Residential Counselor Assistant provides direct client care, clinical support, and residential services within OASAS-certified substance use disorder treatment programs. Working collaboratively with clinical, nursing, medical, and other residential staff, the Counselor Assistant supports client engagement, recovery-oriented programming, implementation of established treatment goals, and daily residential operations while maintaining a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment. Responsibilities include client supervision, recovery support, admissions, discharges, safety rounds, room inspections, transportation, medication observation when authorized, cleaning, laundry, and other residential responsibilities.

Duties

• Assist qualified clinical staff with implementation of established treatment and recovery goals, client engagement, discharge planning, referrals, and coordination of services.
• Conduct assigned client check-ins, provide recovery-oriented support, and communicate client progress, barriers, behaviors, and concerns to appropriate clinical staff.
• Assist clients in developing coping skills, healthy routines, communication skills, independent living skills, and other recovery-supportive behaviors.
• Assist with substance use disorder screening, orientation, case management, basic crisis response, and care coordination within the employee's authorized scope.
• Co-facilitate groups with appropriately qualified staff or provide assigned psychoeducational and recovery-oriented activities consistent with OASAS regulations.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, case conferences, and clinical discussions as assigned.
• Assist qualified clinical staff with gathering information, tracking deadlines, preparing documentation, and coordinating activities related to treatment planning, utilization review, and continuing care.
• Complete assigned client supervision, safety rounds, room inspections, and environmental checks.
• Assist with admissions, client orientation, discharges, room preparation, client belongings, and other residential processes.
• Provide transportation to appointments, treatment services, and approved activities as assigned.
• Assist with meal supervision, client movement, daily routines, and activities of daily living.
• Complete assigned cleaning, laundry, room preparation, restocking to ensure a safe and orderly residential environment.
• Support scheduled programming, recovery activities, and therapeutic interactions throughout the residential setting.
• Respond appropriately to behavioral concerns, emergencies, and crisis situations using approved intervention and de-escalation procedures.
• Provide medication observation and associated documentation when assigned.
• Assist with urine toxicology specimen collection and other authorized screening procedures in accordance with agency policy.
• Observe and promptly report changes in client physical condition, withdrawal-related symptoms, mental status, behavior, or other health-related concerns to nursing or appropriate clinical personnel.
• Follow applicable medication observation, infection prevention, emergency response, and client safety procedures.
• Complete assigned client contact notes, observations, progress-related documentation, incident reports, shift checklists, and other required records accurately and within established timeframes.
• Participate in shift handoffs and communicate significant client concerns, pending responsibilities, incidents, and changes in condition to incoming staff.
• Collaborate with Medical Technicians, Behavioral Health Technicians, Peers, nursing, clinical staff, and program leadership to ensure continuity of care and completion of daily residential responsibilities.
• Assist with orientation and training of new residential employees as assigned, without assuming formal supervisory authority.
• Participate in required supervision, staff meetings, training, competency evaluations, and quality improvement activities.
• Maintain client confidentiality, professional boundaries, and compliance with FLACRA policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: High school diploma or high school equivalency required. Must meet current OASAS Counselor Assistant qualifications, including enrollment in a 350-hour CASAC educational program or completion of OASAS-designated one-time training requirements within three months of hire, as applicable. Must complete required agency training, maintain competency in assigned responsibilities.

Other Skills/Knowledge and Experience

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with culturally diverse persons, staff and community service providers.
• Working knowledge of behavioral health issues.
• Comfort/ability to intervene in crisis/support de-escalation of struggling clients
• Ability to multi-task, have good problem solving & time management skills and the ability to remain calm in crisis.