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What does a lead residential counselor do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Juleen Buser Ph.D.
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Lead residential counselor responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real lead residential counselor resumes:

  • Engage, educate and empower participants to access community base resources in order to achieve greater self-determination, rehabilitation and recovery.
  • Promote continuity of care by accurately and completely communicating to other caregivers the status of patients for which care is provided.
  • Assist in maintaining IEP goals in order to avoid regression.
  • Deliver evidence-based treatment to children with ADHD and other behavioral disorders.

Lead residential counselor skills and personality traits

We calculated that 16% of Lead Residential Counselors are proficient in Autism, Social Work, and Medication Administration. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Listening skills, and Speaking skills.

We break down the percentage of Lead Residential Counselors that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Autism, 16%

    Trained new staff, conducted shift meetings, deep cleaning, Advocate for children with Autism.

  • Social Work, 15%

    Communicate and notify all appropriate managers, therapists, social workers, and legal guardians during high-risk incidents and restraint check.

  • Medication Administration, 10%

    Group facilitation, crisis management, mentoring, education, medication administration, general living skills training.

  • Crisis Intervention, 9%

    Correct behavior and administer reasonable and fair disciplinary measures and crisis intervention.

  • CPR, 8%

    Trained multiple staff in lifeguarding, CPR, and First-Aid.

  • Developmental Disabilities, 7%

    Directed the activities of day program in order to provide instruction and care for adults with developmental disabilities and mental retardation.

Most lead residential counselors use their skills in "autism," "social work," and "medication administration" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential lead residential counselor responsibilities here:

Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a lead residential counselor to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "school and career counselors and advisors interpret student records, schoolwide data, and assessments to match interests and abilities with potential careers. ." Additionally, a lead residential counselor resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "record and appropriately utilize necessary data/ isp notes"

Listening skills. Another essential skill to perform lead residential counselor duties is listening skills. Lead residential counselors responsibilities require that "school and career counselors and advisors need to give full attention to students and clients in order to understand their problems." Lead residential counselors also use listening skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "communicated with clinicians, social workers, doctors and nurses about important treatment information to better support clients. "

Speaking skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of lead residential counselors is speaking skills. This skill is critical to many everyday lead residential counselor duties, as "school and career counselors and advisors must communicate effectively with clients and students." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "addressed behavioral issues that arise, health problems and cleanliness. "

Compassion. A big part of what lead residential counselors do relies on "compassion." You can see how essential it is to lead residential counselor responsibilities because "school and career counselors and advisors often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations, so they must be able to empathize with their clients and students." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical lead residential counselor tasks: "shared love and compassion to be the client's family away from their family. "

Interpersonal skills. Another common skill required for lead residential counselor responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." This skill comes up in the duties of lead residential counselors all the time, as "school and career counselors and advisors must be able to work with people of all backgrounds and personalities." An excerpt from a real lead residential counselor resume shows how this skill is central to what a lead residential counselor does: "provide education, modeling and monitoring to residences regarding medication compliance independent living skills and interpersonal skills. "

See the full list of lead residential counselor skills

Choose from 10+ customizable lead residential counselor resume templates

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Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume
Lead Residential Counselor Resume

Compare different lead residential counselors

Lead residential counselor vs. Counselor/case manager

A Counselor provides advice for coping with everyday situations, relationships, health challenges, or disabilities of patients. Case Managers develop, monitor, and evaluate treatment plans and the progress of patients within the social service departments, healthcare companies, hospital networks, etc.

If we compare the average lead residential counselor annual salary with that of a counselor/case manager, we find that counselor/case managers typically earn a $2,660 higher salary than lead residential counselors make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between lead residential counselors and counselor/case managers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like social work, crisis intervention, and developmental disabilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, lead residential counselor responsibilities require skills like "autism," "medication administration," "cpr," and "direct support." Meanwhile a typical counselor/case manager has skills in areas such as "patients," "mental health," "intake assessments," and "substance abuse issues." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Counselor/case managers really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $43,302. Comparatively, lead residential counselors tend to make the most money in the professional industry with an average salary of $36,915.counselor/case managers tend to reach higher levels of education than lead residential counselors. In fact, counselor/case managers are 12.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Lead residential counselor vs. Group counselor

A group counselor provides counseling services primarily in a group setting, aiming to provide clients with a supportive and healthy environment where they can work on different issues and reach personal goals. They typically conduct research and assessments, establish program objectives and guidelines, arrange various activities, and facilitate positive interactions to support one another. Additionally, a group counselor has the duty to implement policies and standards, create treatment plans, and optimize strategies to ensure clients receive optimal support and services.

On average, group counselors earn a $3,253 higher salary than lead residential counselors a year.A few skills overlap for lead residential counselors and group counselors. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "social work," "crisis intervention," and "cpr. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that lead residential counselor responsibilities requires skills like "autism," "medication administration," "developmental disabilities," and "direct support." But a group counselor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "mental health," "patients," "rehabilitation," and "residential facility."

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Group counselors tend to reach higher levels of education than lead residential counselors. In fact, they're 6.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for lead residential counselors in the next 3-5 years?

Juleen Buser Ph.D.

Professor and Director, School Counseling and Coaching Programs, Rider University

I believe the methods of distance-based services will be more relevant and prevalent. Remote counseling services have been growing in the field for some time, but I would expect the pandemic and the shift for remote counseling during this time will lead to even higher use of such modalities in the future.

Lead residential counselor vs. Program counselor

A Program Counselor is an essential part of a school's faculty. It's the counselor's responsibility to ensure that students are benefiting from the school's educational curriculum. This person is also tasked to help students resolve issues and problems that may hinder any educational progress. They are also part of the disciplinary team intended to instill good morals, ethics, and decency in students. The Program Counselor is one of the teacher or professor who has expertise or has a high educational degree in a particular subject or field.

An average program counselor eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of lead residential counselors. The difference in salaries amounts to program counselors earning a $6,918 higher average salary than lead residential counselors.Using the responsibilities included on lead residential counselors and program counselors resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "social work," "medication administration," and "crisis intervention.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from lead residential counselor resumes include skills like "autism," "direct support," "direct supervision," and "residential treatment facility," whereas a program counselor is more likely to list skills in "patients," "behavioral interventions," "compassion," and "direct care. "

Program counselors earn the highest salary when working in the health care industry, where they receive an average salary of $41,845. Comparatively, lead residential counselors have the highest earning potential in the professional industry, with an average salary of $36,915.Most program counselors achieve a higher degree level compared to lead residential counselors. For example, they're 7.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Lead residential counselor vs. Youth counselor

A Youth Counselor's role is to provide guidance and interact with children or teenagers in need of care and counseling. The duty of a Youth Counselor is diverse, and it highly depends on the organization or employer. However, the responsibilities mostly revolve around establishing rapport with the youngster while trying to work on their issues, ensuring their welfare by monitoring their emotional and physical state, coordinating with families or other facilities, suggesting treatments, and performing crisis intervention if necessary.

Youth counselors typically earn lower pay than lead residential counselors. On average, youth counselors earn a $148 lower salary per year.While their salaries may vary, lead residential counselors and youth counselors both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "social work," "crisis intervention," and "cpr. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A lead residential counselor uses "autism," "medication administration," "developmental disabilities," and "direct support." Youth counselors are more likely to have duties that require skills in "direct care," "mental health," "necessary paperwork," and "emergency first aid. "The professional industry tends to pay the highest salaries for youth counselors, with average annual pay of $38,048. Comparatively, the highest lead residential counselor annual salary comes from the professional industry.In general, youth counselors hold similar degree levels compared to lead residential counselors. Youth counselors are 0.0% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of lead residential counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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