Assistant Counselor - Per Diem

Assistant Counselor, Per Diem (Residential Via Avanta)

This is an on-site, on-call position and hours will vary. The pay range for this position is between $22.00-$24.00 per hour with a $1.00 overnight differential.

Our residential facility opens Monday–Sunday with the following coverage requested on an as-needed basis. You must be generally flexible to cover any of the following shifts:

• Morning – 7:00 am–3:30 pm
• Swing – 2:30 pm–11:30 pm
• Overnight – 11:00 pm–7:30 am

Ask us about loan repayment programs you may qualify for by working at Didi Hirsch.

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services has been a national leader in whole-person mental health, crisis care, and substance use services since 1942 and is home to the nation’s first Suicide Prevention Center. We are a nonprofit organization providing care to about 270,000 people annually across our programs. Didi Hirsch has deep roots in community-based mental health and a commitment to providing culturally responsive services that are just and equitable.

More than 1,000 dedicated employees and volunteers make Didi Hirsch’s work possible.

As an Assistant Counselor in the Residential Department at the Pacoima site, you will support professional counseling staff in delivering comprehensive counseling and crisis intervention to women and children in a 24/7 residential facility. You will assist in creating a safe and supportive environment by engaging directly with clients, facilitating therapeutic activities, and addressing immediate needs. Your role will involve providing emotional support, reinforcing treatment plans, and ensuring the well‑being of residents.

Through hands‑on assistance and collaboration with the counseling team, you will help empower clients on their path to recovery and stability.

• Assist with client‑related residential services, respond to emergencies, and maintain safety and security of clients in the facility.
• Facilitate client activity groups for adults residing in or being treated in Via Avanta programs.
• Assess and monitor client daily activity schedule; prepare and submit client participation reports to the Program Director and counseling staff.
• Provide and participate in crisis intervention, and facilitate conflict resolution among program participants as needed.
• Participate in providing 24‑hour coverage, including working evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation of client self‑administered medication, and ensure compliance with agency policies, procedures, and county or other public agency regulations.
• Conduct phone referrals, perform intake screenings, and prepare and file client charts for the adult residential program.
• Assist with scheduling client transportation to appointments with other community support services.
• Conduct routine walk‑throughs of the program facility; note problems and prepare a physical plant and client safety status report.
• Develop and maintain counseling skills through seminars, workshops, or other forms of training related to substance use prevention.
• Attend and participate in program and agency staff meetings, and perform other duties as assigned.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Ability/flexibility to work varied hours, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Associate’s degree in Human Services or related field; a minimum of 1 year experience preferred.
• AOD (Alcohol and Other Drugs) registration required for all residential counselors. Individuals not yet registered must be willing to complete the required registration within 30 days of employment and maintain active status throughout employment.
• First Aid, CPR certification required. Non‑certified individuals hired into the position must be willing to complete certification within 30 days of employment and maintain active status throughout employment.
• Knowledge of HIPAA policies and documentation guidelines, licensing, and state and federal regulations relating to residential psychiatric programs.
• Knowledge of residential mental health programming, psychiatric crisis intervention, documentation, group counseling, multicultural and socioeconomic issues.
• Basic…