Relief Counselor

The Wells/Robertson House provides transitional housing for people in recovery from substance misuse and is seeking two part‑time Relief Counselors to assist individuals undergoing alcohol/drug treatment or other professional counseling while looking to break the cycle of homelessness.

Hours per week vary based on operational needs; the position may provide on‑call, evening, weekend, and holiday shift coverage. Hours will not exceed an average of 27.5 hours per week. Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees.

• Handle admissions and discharges.
• Transport residents to and from self‑help meetings and other meetings and appointments when necessary.
• Prepare counseling assessments and counsel and engage residents.
• Monitor and document patient medication self‑administration.
• Facilitate in‑house community meetings.
• Provide street outreach to homeless individuals; help them to access needed services and transition from homelessness (Outreach Worker only).
• Provide translation services to assist with call‑in/walk‑in customers and when assisting with client intake and one‑on‑one client meetings and street outreach efforts to determine needs, proper referrals, and other support services.
• Respond appropriately to emergencies including contacting appropriate staff and supervisors; interact with emergency responders as needed.

• Possession of a High School Diploma, High School Equivalency Diploma or GED Certificate.
• Some coursework or specialized training in social work, counseling, psychology, or related field preferred.
• Experience in substance abuse/chemical dependency counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Possession of an appropriate driver’s license valid in the State of Maryland.
• Ability to speak, read and write fluently in a language in addition to English (such as Spanish, Chinese, Korean, etc.).
• Or any acceptable equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to satisfactorily perform job duties.

Successful candidates will be subject to a background check and drug/alcohol screening. The City has established an alcohol‑free, drug‑free, and smoke‑free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee, as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre‑employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety‑sensitive are also subject to immediate post‑accident and random testing.