Sober Living Residential Counselor (SUB) - Ithaca, NY (34924)

To be considered for any SJCS careers all applicants must apply using this link SJCS Careers

We are seeking sub coverage for all shifts: 12a-8a, 8a-4p, and 4p-12a. Subs with evening, weekend, and overnight availability would be ideal.

About St. John’s Community Services

Founded in 1868, St. John’s Community Services is a private not for profit organization driven by our mission of advancing inclusive communities where every person, regardless of circumstances, has the opportunity to live their best life.

About Serenity House

Serenity House is a residential treatment program located in Ithaca that welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds who are recovering from substance use disorders and seeking long-term rehabilitation support. Through client-centered residential care, we work collaboratively with residents to support their reintegration into the community through counseling, vocational opportunities, life skills development, and connections to local resources.

Our team is committed to providing compassionate, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented services that promote dignity, growth, and long-term wellness.

Ideal Qualities and Skills:

• Ability to provide trauma-informed and culturally responsive care to diverse populations
• Strong understanding of professional ethics, boundaries, and confidentiality requirements
• Commitment to empowering residents to achieve individualized treatment and recovery goals
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team while remaining flexible and proactive
• Willingness to seek clarification, support, and feedback when needed
• Ability to appropriately utilize crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to maintain a safe environment
• Knowledge of substance use disorders, recovery principles, current treatment trends, and recovery culture
• Familiarity with mental health first aid principles and behavioral health support strategies
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to complete timely, accurate, and professional documentation using electronic systems
• Commitment to maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards in residential care services

Required Qualifications:

• High School diploma or equivalent
• A year or more of relevant experience

Desired Qualifications:

• CRPA or working toward a CRPA certification
• CASAC or working towards CASAC certification
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in human services, or related field

Core Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Ensure the safety and well-being of all residents, staff, and visitors within the residential program
• Provide person-centered, recovery-oriented care that respects each resident’s dignity, integrity, autonomy, and individualized treatment goals
• Facilitate and co-facilitate educational groups and community events
• Maintain orderliness, cleanliness, structure, and consistency within the program’s daily operations to support a safe and therapeutic environment
• Develop, foster, and maintain positive, collaborative, and professional relationships with residents, families, referral sources, and SJCS team members
• Orienting residents to the program,
• Conducting safety and checks for unsafe items in residents rooms and common areas
• Complete daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to assist in maintaining operations of the house
• Maintain a safe residential environment by minimizing unsafe items, monitoring community safety concerns, and maintaining awareness of resident and staff whereabouts in accordance with emergency protocols and program expectations
• Maintain the therapeutic integrity of the residential community by actively engaging with residents, modeling healthy behaviors, reinforcing positive decision-making, and redirecting unsafe or counterproductive behaviors using empathy and professionalism
• Support residents through teachable moments by modeling communication skills, emotional regulation, healthy coping skills, conflict resolution, and recovery-oriented decision-making
• Complete all required documentation, reports, shift notes, and electronic records accurately and within established timeframes
• Participate actively in shift transitions, team communication, supervision, training, and other assigned program activities
• Assist residents with daily living skills (e.g., routines, hygiene, time management, accountability)
• Monitor resident behavior, mood changes, and overall functioning, and report concerns appropriately
• Support residents with self medication administrative, completing daily MAR, and medication counts