Overnight Residential Youth Counselor

Job Details

Job Location:

CYFS Offices
- Beckley Hill and New Leaf
- Barre, VT 05641 Position Type:
Full Time Education Level: 4 Year Degree Salary Range: $23.83 - $24.80 Hourly Job Shift: Any Job Category:
Direct Service Overnight Residential Counselors provide safety, structure, and emotional support for youth with significant emotional and behavioral challenges during some of the most difficult times in their lives. By building trusting relationships and creating a calm, home‑like environment, you help youth feel secure, supported, and ready to work toward permanency and stability. This role is especially critical during evening and overnight hours, when consistency, responsiveness, and thoughtful intervention can make a meaningful difference in a young person’s sense of safety and well‑being.

• Provide overnight and evening supervision in a residential home for youth with significant emotional and behavioral needs.
• Identify potential risk situations and use de‑escalation strategies to support youth safely.
• Implement individualized behavior and crisis plans consistently and compassionately.
• Provide supportive counseling and therapeutic interventions during nighttime hours as needed.
• Maintain familiarity with each youth’s needs, triggers, and goals to support effective intervention.
• Complete required documentation each shift, including logs, medication entries, point sheets, timesheets, and assigned paperwork.
• Maintain a collaborative, team‑based approach with coworkers, consultants, and supervisors.
• Ensure the physical safety of youth and others in the home.
• Participate in required trainings and follow supervision directives and agency policies.
• Provide transportation for youth as assigned, using a personal vehicle when required.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support youth and program needs.

• Bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field preferred.
• Relevant experience working with youth with emotional or behavioral challenges may be considered in lieu of formal education.

• Ability to build positive, respectful relationships with youth.
• Flexibility and adaptability to respond to the changing needs of youth and residential settings.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to remain calm in high‑stress situations.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness to learn and apply crisis de‑escalation and passive restraint techniques.
• Experience providing direct instruction or therapeutic services to youth with challenging behaviors (preferred).
• Commitment to following individualized treatment plans, supervision guidance, and agency policies.

This position is based in a residential treatment home and primarily consists of evening and overnight shifts, including weekends. Staff provide supervision during nighttime hours and may need to respond to behavioral or emotional crises to ensure safety. The role requires physical activity, including lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds and implementing physical restraints when necessary. Driving youth using a personal vehicle may be required, and staff must maintain appropriate insurance coverage.

The environment can be fast‑paced and emotionally demanding, requiring alertness, professionalism, and compassion throughout overnight shifts.

Washington County Mental Health Services benefits package includes health, dental, and vision insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with a generous match, paid time off, life insurance, and more.