Residential Counselor

Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Positively Partners)

Job Description

ABOUT BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS, INC.

For more 50 years, Bridge Over Troubled Waters has provided a comprehensive continuum of care for runaway, homeless, and high risk youth in Boston, and has been a national model in providing innovative youth services. Our mission is to transform the lives of youth through safe, supportive and encouraging relationships, counseling, housing, and skill-building, to guide them towards self-sufficiency and achieving their goals.

If you are looking for a career in a fast paced setting that is committed to collaborating with all youth who come through the door and finding creative solutions to difficult problems, we invite you to apply.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

As a Residential Counselor, you will be responsible for overseeing all residents in one of Bridge's residential programs, which include Emergency Residence, Awake Overnight, or Hostel. All of our programs serve as transitional residential programs for youth facing homelessness. Through our programs, youth commit to working with a counselor, maintaining employment, saving a portion of their income, continuing their education, and working with case managers to secure long-term transitional or permanent housing. As a Residential Counselor, you will meet individually with residents to provide therapeutic counseling and support services. Your assessments, supports, and referrals will help youth meet their goals of securing long term housing and accessing ongoing services to reach longer term milestones.

You could be a great fit for our team if you are committed to collaborating with all youth who come through our doors, helping to find creative solutions to difficult problems in an effort to help them reach their goals. Residential Counselors work either a daytime or overnight shift at either Bridge's downtown location or Brighton location.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Your work as a Residential Counselor will focus on the following:

  • Supervise the activities of residents in the a residential program, while actively engaging in supports provided
  • Assist in the development and implementation of appropriate service plans with residents
  • Orient new youth to the program, including giving facility tours, filling out the appropriate paperwork, and reviewing program policies and procedures.
  • Maintain an active caseload of residents and perform clinical supervision, including keeping active case notes
  • Provide residents with advocacy, referrals, crisis intervention and supportive counseling
  • Ensure residents are following the guidelines and expectations of the program; giving consequences or discharging when appropriate
  • Monitor and ensure the safety of residents, implementing crisis intervention as necessary
  • Lead daily facilities management, including meal prep setup and breakdown and setting up the Welcome Center for new residents
  • Coordinate recreational activities and events, including logistics, materials, and supplies
  • Assist residents in maintaining standards of cleanliness in the facility
  • Maintain program records, resident log information, and prepare and submit program updates
  • Ensure that all activities, services and programs through Bridge are conducted in a manner that is sensitive to and shows respect for the cultural and ethnic diversity for all Bridge clients.
  • Attend and participate in all required program meetings including weekly supervision with Residential Coordinator and all staff meetings
QUALIFICATIONS:

It takes a special person to serve as a team member at Bridge. Before applying, please consider the following qualifications, skills, and experiences that we have found lead to success as a Residential Counselor. We do not expect candidates to meet all of the criteria listed below. Reviewing the qualifications can help you to better understand what will be expected of you as a member of the team.

If you believe you have “what it takes”, please submit an application. We will be excited to hear from you and each application will be carefully reviewed and acknowledged by a member of our team.

  • 1- 2 years of experience working with youth ages 18-24 in one or more of the following areas: housing management, job development, community relations, substance abuse or recreational counseling. Can also include supervised internship experience.
  • A Bachelor's Degree in Human Services, Social Work, or any other related degree strongly preferred
  • Comfort and confidence working in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment with an ability to collaborate and problem solve across multiple teams and stakeholders
  • Ability to identify and execute effective problem solving strategies, with experience practicing sound crisis intervention and conflict resolution
  • Ability to develop and maintain professional working relationships with residents, staff, co-workers, and supervisor
  • Ability to work effectively with diverse populations and cultural groups
  • Passion and commitment in working with homeless and transitional youth population
  • Valid driver’s license required and continuous clean driver’s record
Duties will be performed both in an office environment and in the field, where program residents reside. Because program residents have varied schedules, case management may take place out of regular business hours; a flexible schedule and ability and willingness to work outside of regular business hours is essential.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Bridge Over Troubled Waters is an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers a paid hourly rate and a  competitive benefits package including medical, dental and vision plans, paid time off and a retirement savings plan. Bridge also provides a bonus of $1000 for all new employees that they are eligible in to receive in two $500 installments after 6 months and at one year of service with Bridge.  

The Residential Counselor role is a full-time role based at the Bridge Headquarters in downtown Boston and reports to the Residential Program Manager. Salary for this position starts at $17-$19/hour and is commensurate with experience.

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

Bridge Over Troubled Waters’ duty is to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of recognized hazards.  As such we have adopted a MANDATORY COVID 19 VACCINATION POLICY for our employees. This policy is intended to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees as well as their families, our clients, and visitors who spend time in our facilities from COVID 19’s infectious conditions. This policy complies with all State and Local Laws and is based upon guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health and licensing authorities, as applicable. Employees who have underlying medical conditions that contraindicates administration of all available COVID-19 vaccines, are pregnant, or object to receiving any of the COVID-19 vaccines available based on sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance may request a vaccine exemption through Human Resources.


Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Inc.  is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, cultural heritage, ancestry, political belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability or veteran status.