Residential Counselor

Would you like to work for a non-profit organization where your contributions make a major impact on the lives of the children and families that we serve? Join a family of experienced mental health professionals and counselors dedicated to providing kids, and each other, the kindness, respect, and encouragement they need to succeed.

Elk Hill was honored as a 2023 Top Workplace by the Richmond Times Dispatch. In addition to that honor, Elk Hill also received the National Culture Excellence Award for Purpose and Values within the Top Workplaces Community.

If you would like to work for a Top Workplace organization where the decisions YOU make can impact youth and families of Central Virginia, then Elk Hill Farm, Inc. is the place for you!

We are an organization that:

• Is honored as a 2023 Top Workplace
• Is a Top Workplace Meaningfulness Award recipient
• Is Virginia Living Wage Certified
• Has talented, hardworking employees
• Advocates for mental health issues
• Offers competitive benefits, pay and pet insurance
• Has a generous PTO and Holiday package
• Offers a 401(k) plan with 5% employer match
• Elk Hill is celebrating 50+ years of supporting youth and families across the Commonwealth of Virginia! Stability. Adaptability. Longevity.

***Starting August 1st, 2023 at the Charlottesville Group Home, there will be a pay differential for the following shifts:***

• Friday 3pm to 11pm
• Saturday 7am to 3pm
• Saturday 3pm to 11pm
• Saturday overnight 11pm to 7am

Primary Function of a Residential Counselor:

To participate as a team member in creating and maintaining an environment that will enable youth to develop and maintain positive changes in attitude, values, and behavior through a community-based group home model.

Responsibilities of a Residential Counselor:

• Maintain a high standard of childcare during coverage, including appropriate documentation of each shift. This also includes overseeing the physical care of the facility’s youth, their development of acceptable habits and attitudes, providing behavior support and intervention, and helping youth meet their goals and objectives as outlined on their service plan
• Provide a positive model at all times

• Build positive, caring relationships with youth
• Model high personal and professional standards in interactions with residents, families, agency workers, and fellow staff members
• Work towards annual goals for personal, professional and educational development
• Assist in training new personnel
• Organize and facilitate group activities
• Facilitate medication dispersal and medical visits
• Assist in constructing and implementing individual service plans for students
• Participate in staff development training
• Assist in organizing, scheduling, and leading a wide range of group activities and community service projects

• Maintain any Board of Counseling certification as a QMHP-C or QMHP-Trainee and provide a copy of yearly certificate to Elk Hill human resources

• Perform other duties as requested by the facility’s House Manager

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

• Certification by the Board of Counseling as a Qualified Mental Health Professional-Child or Qualified Mental Health Professional-Trainee, or
• Possess at least a bachelor’s degree in a human service field or special education from an accredited college without one year of clinical experience or
• At least one year of experience working with children with mental health diagnoses (to include children in residential care, juvenile corrections, or other clinical settings).
• Prior residential experience preferred

In addition, all candidates should possess the following traits, skills, and/or experience:

• Successful experience in working with youth in a group home or other residential setting preferred
• Knowledge of professional boundaries and an ability to role model appropriate behaviors to youth.
• Working knowledge of group dynamics and a basic understanding of psychiatric diagnosis
• Ability to provide sound documentation during routine shift coverage
• Strong relationship skills with the youth being served as well as with professional colleagues
• Knowledge and understanding of cultural diversity and the impact of various socioeconomic characteristics on our youth
• Ability to work effectively with others and be flexible in work hours
• Must have up-to-date certification in the facility’s Behavior Management Program and have the ability to apply such skills as needed and required in the day-to-day interactions with youth - We can provide training!
• Must have up-to-date certifications in approved courses for CPR/First Aid - We can provide training!
• Must have a valid certificate in an approved medication aide training class - We can provide training!
• Maintain valid driver's license and good driving record.
• Good physical health and remain current with annual TB screening and other certifications.
• Sense of humor

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is at the forefront of what we do at Elk Hill, and we enforce respectful communication and cooperation between all. Elk Hill does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

Note: Elk Hill Farm, Inc. reserves the right to change or reassign job duties or combine positions at any time.