Direct Care Counselor

About Walker

Since 1961, Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs has been a trusted partner for children, youth, and families, navigating some of life’s most difficult challenges. Based in Needham, our mission is to nurture hope, build strengths, and develop lifelong skills in partnership with the children, youth, families, and communities we serve. We provide comprehensive, trauma-informed residential, educational, and clinical services to children and youth with complex social-emotional, behavioral, and learning needs, while supporting their families every step of the way.

Through three specialized divisions—Residential & Educational Programs, Behavioral Health & Community-Based Services, and Walker Solutions—we deliver relationship-based care and capacity-building that makes a lasting difference. Today, we serve children, youth, and families from more than 150 communities across Massachusetts.

As a Direct Care Counselor at Walker, you'll work directly with children and youth who are navigating social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in a 24/7 environment. You'll be part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team that helps youth feel safe, connected, and ready to grow. As your career continues to grow in the human services field, this is a chance to build valuable experience while making a real impact.

Under the guidance of the assigned unit supervisor, direct care counselors are responsible for providing a therapeutic milieu for clients within the CBAT Program. This includes close supervision of all youth, basic caretaking functions, supporting youth through a daily schedule of activities, and crisis management as needed.

• Perform in a way that is aligned with the agency mission and core values. This includes but is not limited to services that are trauma informed, relationship based, family involved, developmentally focused, competence centered, and ecologically oriented.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to support the emotional, behavioral, and educational development of youth.
• Implement treatment protocols established in youth’s treatment plans and individual support plans.
• Supervise youth at all times and plan and implement engaging social and recreational activities for each shift.
• Assist with daily living activities and help youth develop age-appropriate life skills.
• Respond to youths’ challenges with crisis intervention techniques consistent with Walker’s training.
• Participate actively in supervision and remain receptive to feedback and professional development.
• Maintain proper documentation of all care and treatment provided and incidents that occur, and complete oral and written reports including milieu summaries for discharges accurately and on time.
• Maintain residential spaces in accordance with licensing standards.
• Attend Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings, and treatment meetings as needed, to discuss youth’s progress.
• Collaborate with staff and supervisors across shifts and campus programs to ensure smooth operations and consistent treatment of youth.
• Participate in all required trainings and professional development opportunities as they arise.
• Additional duties as assigned.

• Must be able to successfully pass and apply Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training
• Must be able to successfully complete First Aid/CPR training
• Must successfully complete and pass medication training
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to remain calm and make safe decisions in high-pressure situations
• Capacity to work effectively in a stressful and fast-paced environment
• Ability to learn, retain, and apply principles taught in training and supervision
• Physical stamina to…