What does a residential counselor do?
A residential counselor is responsible for guiding and providing the residents with their basic needs and other resources to support them in their daily living. Residential counselors' duties include maintaining the safety of the community by enforcing safety guidelines and procedures for the residents' compliance, organizing productive and engaging community activities, updating the residents of any changes and policies in the community, and resolving conflicts by counseling and understanding each resident's differences. A residential counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to ensure the development of residents in a living facility.
Residential counselor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real residential counselor resumes:
- Lead recreational activities for adolescents with ADHD and other behavior disorders.
- Engage, educate and empower participants to access community base resources in order to achieve greater self-determination, rehabilitation and recovery.
- Train in AMAP, SCIP, and first aid procedures.
- Assist residents with ADL, occasionally accompany to medical appointments, administer medications.
- Refine an understanding of HIPAA and DMH programs.
- Assist special needs students to reach their IEP and treatment plan goals in 1:1 and group settings.
- Construct weekly, monthly and, yearly lesson plans, progress reports, IEP goals and objectives.
- Show compassion to the clients by engaging them in numerous community activities so they do not feel marginalize in the society.
- Train in CPR and medication management
- Prepare and implement ISP and behavioral modification exercises
- Complete assessments semi-annually and reevaluat ISP goals and objectives yearly.
- Arrange and supervise medical trips; administer authorized SCIP techniques when appropriate.
- Conduct ADL meetings and accompany residents to medical, educational, and vocational appointments.
- Complete all CPR, medication and sensitivity training necessary to work with the mentally/physically disable.
- Supervise and monitor the facility to ensure cleanliness, security and safety practices are enacted and effective.
Residential counselor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Residential Counselors are proficient in Direct Care, Medication Administration, and Mental Health. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Compassion, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Residential Counselors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Direct Care, 9%
Provide clinical direct care to emotionally/behaviorally/developmentally-disabled adolescents in a residential treatment center.
- Medication Administration, 9%
Monitored and supervised medication administration.
- Mental Health, 8%
Participated in consultation with other disciplines; reviewed medical and mental health diagnosis, disabilities and treatment procedures.
- Social Work, 7%
Developed and maintained close working relationships with social workers, therapists and family members in creating individualized behavioral modification plans.
- Developmental Disabilities, 6%
Mentored and Counseled individuals with Developmental Disabilities
- Mental Illness, 6%
Sustained a safe environment for widely diverse population including those with pervasive serious mental illness and recuperating veterans of several wars.
Common skills that a residential counselor uses to do their job include "direct care," "medication administration," and "mental health." You can find details on the most important residential counselor responsibilities below.
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a residential counselor to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "social and human service assistants talk with clients about the challenges in their lives and assist them in getting help." Additionally, a residential counselor resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "maintain communication logs, behavioral data forms, medication administration records and other mandatory paperwork. "
Compassion. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling residential counselor duties is compassion. The role rewards competence in this skill because "social and human service assistants often work with people who are in stressful and difficult situations." According to a residential counselor resume, here's how residential counselors can utilize compassion in their job responsibilities: "handle emotional situations with compassion and maturity. "
Organizational skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of residential counselors is organizational skills. This skill is critical to many everyday residential counselor duties, as "social and human service assistants must often complete lots of paperwork and work with many different clients." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "utilized organizational and writing skills to complete shift notes maintained cleanliness of facility ensured persons served were safe. "
Problem-solving skills. residential counselor responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "social and human service assistants help clients find solutions to their problems." This resume example shows what residential counselors do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "handled conflict resolution, medication administration, budgeting and appointment setting. "
Time-management skills. Another crucial skill for a residential counselor to carry out their responsibilities is "time-management skills." A big part of what residential counselors relies on this skill, since "social and human service assistants often work with many clients." How this skill relates to residential counselor duties can be seen in an example from a residential counselor resume snippet: "assure residents are on time to appointments and for medication administration. "
Interpersonal skills. Lastly, "interpersonal skills" is an important element of what a residential counselor does. Residential counselor responsibilities require this skill because "social and human service assistants must make their clients feel comfortable discussing sensitive issues." This resume example highlights how residential counselor duties rely on this skill: "served as a positive role model in areas of interpersonal relations, social behavior, and appropriate dress. "
The three companies that hire the most residential counselors are:
- Vinfen373 residential counselors jobs
- Riverside Community Care182 residential counselors jobs
- Open Sky Community Services146 residential counselors jobs
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Compare different residential counselors
Residential counselor vs. Counselor internship
When it comes to Counselor Internship, among the primary responsibilities is to assist in dealing with various activities such as preparing and verifying necessary documentation, observing consultations and outreach programs, guide clients and help develop multiple helpful strategies, and provide assessments. Furthermore, one can conduct counseling and consultation only under supervision. It is also essential to track the information gathered and coordinate with assigned personnel to adhere to the company's regulations and policies.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between residential counselors and counselor internship. For instance, residential counselor responsibilities require skills such as "direct care," "medication administration," "mental health," and "social work." Whereas a counselor internship is skilled in "intake assessments," "substance abuse issues," "mental health issues," and "group therapy sessions." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Counselor interns really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $51,629. Comparatively, residential counselors tend to make the most money in the education industry with an average salary of $35,120.counselor interns tend to reach higher levels of education than residential counselors. In fact, counselor interns are 10.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Residential counselor vs. Child care counselor
Child care counselors monitor the progress of children who have behavioral, physical, and mental issues in between counseling appointments. These counselors create daily schedules for children that include field trips, play dates, and learning plans to ensure that children get the most out of their days. They use their critical thinking skills, organizational skills, and interpersonal skills to deal with children diagnosed with psychological issues and to coordinate with their patients' families. Most of the cases they handle are the abuse, bullying, and past traumas of children.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real residential counselor resumes. While residential counselor responsibilities can utilize skills like "social work," "developmental disabilities," "mental illness," and "autism," child care counselors use skills like "child care," "crisis intervention techniques," "stars," and "group therapy sessions."
Child care counselors may earn a higher salary than residential counselors, but child care counselors earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $41,472. On the other hand, residential counselors receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $35,120.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Child care counselors tend to reach similar levels of education than residential counselors. In fact, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for residential counselors in the next 3-5 years?
Juleen Buser Ph.D.
Professor and Director, School Counseling and Coaching Programs, Rider University
Residential counselor vs. Day camp counselor
The job of the camp counselors is to develop recreational plans and oversee camp activities in residential camps. Their duties and responsibilities include organizing camping trips, planning and scheduling group activities, and guiding children and teenagers in various outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking. They are expected to lead campers in emergency procedures and fire drills, explain safety rules and procedures, and provide emotional support to campers. Camp counselors are also responsible for assessing and responding to emergencies when they arise.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from residential counselor resumes include skills like "medication administration," "mental health," "mental illness," and "autism," whereas a day camp counselor is more likely to list skills in "kids," "pet," "leadership," and "emergency procedures. "
Day camp counselors earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $34,530. Comparatively, residential counselors have the highest earning potential in the education industry, with an average salary of $35,120.When it comes to education, day camp counselors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to residential counselors. In fact, they're 0.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Residential counselor vs. Direct care counselor
A direct care counselor provides direct counseling and assistance to the elderly or individuals with disabilities and mental issues. They usually work at rehabilitation centers or care facilities and work together with nurses or caregivers to administer different treatment plans, monitor and support the patients' progress, and help the patients carry out daily activities such as performing hygienic or routine living tasks. Moreover, a direct care counselor may also develop and implement various healthcare programs and recreational activities while adhering to the facility's policies and regulations.
Types of residential counselor
Updated January 8, 2025
