How to hire a senior residential counselor

How to hire a senior residential counselor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior residential counselor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior residential counselor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior residential counselor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the senior residential counselor you need to hire. Certain senior residential counselor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A senior residential counselor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior residential counselors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of senior residential counselor salaries for various roles:

   Type of Senior Residential Counselor	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Residential Counselor	Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome mental and emotional disorders and problems with family and other relationships. They listen to clients and ask questions to help the clients understand their problems and develop strategies to improve their lives.	$13-23
   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.	$15-22
   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... Show more	$13-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Medication Administration
   • CPR
   • Home Health
   • Developmental Disabilities
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Mental Health
   • Mental Illness
   • Behavioral Issues
   • Money Management
   • Social Work
   • Incident Reports
   • Group Therapy
   • DBT
   • Crisis Management

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Participate in all IHP/IPP meetings; ensure group home staff helps residents achieve IHP goals and continually monitor progress make.
   • Assist co-ed, mentally challenge, adults with adult daily living (ADL).
   • Conduct intake and discharge meetings; complete ISP, intake, incident reporting, Medicaid billing, and discharge forms.
   • Promote continuity of care by accurately and completely communicating to other caregivers the status of patients for which care is provided.
   • Ensure client safety and provide necessary intervention toward adolescent teens admit into an inpatient drug and mental health treatment facility.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior residential counselor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A senior residential counselor salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, senior residential counselors' average salary in south carolina is 41% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior residential counselors earn 41% less than senior-level senior residential counselors.
   • Certifications. A senior residential counselor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a senior residential counselor's salary.

   Average senior residential counselor salary

   $37,897yearly

   $18.22 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior residential counselor salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 18, 2026

4. Writing a senior residential counselor job description

   A senior residential counselor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a senior residential counselor job description:

   Senior residential counselor job description example

   Excellent benefits , including medical, a matched 401(k) plan, paid personal days, paid sick days, paid vacations, tuition reimbursement, and more! If this sounds like the right opportunity for you to make a difference in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health issues, Apply Today!

   “At SERV, we treat everyone with respect and dignity. Our professional, safe, and diverse work environment reflects the organization's values. In the ever-changing behavioral health field, SERV remains committed to the growth and development of our employees, which is why we offer several training opportunities for those seeking career advancement. We also promote and reward employees based on their merit and performance—not their tenure.”

   QUALIFICATIONS

   • Bachelor’s Degree in mental health or a related human services discipline (preferred) OR a High School Diploma or Equivalent plus 3 years of related work-life experience.
   • Valid driver's license
   • Good driving record with no more than 5 points
   • Ability to complete a physical, drug screen, and background check

   Do you have excellent communication and interpersonal skills? Can you concentrate on multiple tasks simultaneously? Are you patient and calm but quick to respond? Do you have good judgment? Are you conscientious about following policies and procedures and discreet with confidential information? If so, you might be perfect for this position with SERV!

   READY TO JOIN OUR NONPROFIT TEAM?

   ABOUT SERV BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM, INC.

   A nonprofit founded in 1974, we are a private, statewide behavioral healthcare organization that serves adults and children working to recover from serious mental health challenges or cope with developmental disabilities. Remaining focused on personal dignity and quality of care, we utilize a continuum of services tailored to meet individual needs. Housing and supportive services are integrated into a broad-based approach that addresses the most basic needs of each individual, such as food, shelter, and clothing, while allowing them to safely adjust to living in the community and gradually build a more independent life.

   EEO STATEMENT

   SERV is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right senior residential counselor for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior residential counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit senior residential counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit senior residential counselors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior residential counselor

   Once you've decided on a perfect senior residential counselor candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new senior residential counselor first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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