Salary: $45,121.96 - $60,441.94 Annually Location : Alexandria, VA Job Type: Full-Time Job Number: 2026-00072 Department: Department of Community and Human Services Division: CENTER FOR ADULT SERVICES Opening Date: 08/11/2025 Closing Date: 8/25/2025 11:59 PM Eastern Bargaining Unit: N/A

Residential Counselor The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Residential Counselor position. An Overview

The Residential Counselor provides residential services to individuals with serious mental illnesses, substance use disorders and/or developmental disabilities, completes assessments, provide information to develop service plans, provide assistance and training in daily living skills.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate will have some knowledge of providing support to adults with developmental disabilities that promote individual choice, community integration, and self-determination. Some knowledge of person centered practices, universal language and positive behavioral supports. Some knowledge of using strategies/techniques to facilitate development of meaningful relationships, community connections and recreational and social activities; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, their families and co-workers; Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing. Good knowledge of large household coordination and maintenance; Good knowledge of the nature of mental illness, intellectual disabilities, or developmental delay and the role of residential support services; demonstrate empathy for the challenges of people with mental illness, developmental disabilities, or developmental delay; Ability to identify behavior which indicates movement toward a crisis situation; Ability to provide instruction in basic living skills and to identify progress and learning requirements; Ability to obtain the cooperation of clients in difficult situations; Ability to use independent judgment within established policies, regulations, and guidelines.

The Opportunity Supports residents in the development and implementation of an individualized service plan that reflects person centered practices; Instructs and guides residents in the completion of tasks to assist with the development of skills in: completion of daily living skills and tasks including personal hygiene; managing finances; planning social and leisure activities; making healthy choices for health, nutrition and safety; and accessing the community; Monitors medication management of residents by observation and/or administration, as applicable, and reports concerns to support team and/or supervisor; Monitors, evaluates and records residents' progress through written progress notes; Completes all applicable assessment documents to develop person centered service plans; Writes progress notes and incident reports; Maintain clinical records following all applicable licensing and Medicaid regulations; Ensures interior and exterior routine cleaning, maintenance and reports repairs needed via the maintenance request system and follows up to ensure completion; Attends supervisory and staff meetings on a regular basis; Performs related work as required.

About the Department

The Center for Adult Services (CAS) provides programs and services in Aging; Adult Protective Services; Clinical & Emergency Services; and Community & Residential Support Services for seniors and for persons with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders. CAS provides compassionate and effective person-centered services based on best practices. Our teams support self-determination, safety and recovery for Alexandria residents affected by abuse, neglect, mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders.

Minimum & Additional Requirements High School Diploma or GED plus completion of post-high-school training/education pertaining to behavioral health, medical health, substance abuse and/or mental health; at least one year of direct work experience with individuals served by the specific program where the position is located (Intellectual Disability, Mental Illness, and/or Substance Abuse/Dependence); or an equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Employees in this class must possess a valid driver's license issued in the state of their residence.

Preferred Qualifications At least three years of recent experience working in a residential setting with adults with developmental disabilities. Must possess basic computer skills. The ability to work nights, weekends, holidays when required.

Notes This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment checks to include: Federal Record Check; VA State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry; Drug Testing; Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database; Driver's License from state of residence and education/certifications. Shifts Available:

Tuesday through Friday, 6:00AM - 2:00PM / Saturday, 3:00PM - 11:00PM. As an Essential Employee, staff will be expected to be at work during weekends, nights, holidays, or inclement weather if they have been scheduled. We are proud to welcome you to explore the City of Alexandria's excellent benefits and programs! The benefits referenced on this site, may be changed from time to time without notice. Temporary and some part-time positions are not eligible for these benefits. For further information, please contact the Talent Acquisition Team of Human Resources at 01

In Virginia or any other location, have you ever been or are you the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect? If yes, list all cases and explain. If no, indicate "N/A." 02

All positions in DCHS require successful completion of pre-employment background checks in the Virginia State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry and national Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database. Some positions require criminal records check, and scrutiny of any found criminal records against the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services list of Barrier Crimes. Some positions require drug testing, and verification of driver's license and education/certifications. I Understand.

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To answer yes to this question, you must answer yes to all the following questions:• Do you have a High School Diploma or GED plus completion of post-high-school training/education pertaining to behavioral health, medical health, substance Use and/or mental health?• Do you have at least one (1) year of direct work experience with individuals served by the specific program where the position is located (Intellectual Disability, Mental Illness, and/or Substance Use/Dependence); or an equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities?• Do you have a valid driver's license issued in the state of their residence?If you answer no to any part of this question you must answer no. Yes No

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If you answered "No" to question 3, do you have any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position? (If you answered, "Yes' to question 3, please answer "Yes" to this question). Yes No

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Do you have at least three (3) years of recent experience working in a residential setting with adults with developmental disabilities? Yes No

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Do you possess basic computer skills? Yes No

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The shift for this position is Tuesday through Friday, 6:00AM - 2:00PM and Saturday, 3:00PM - 11:00PM. As an Essential Employee, staff will be expected to be at work during weekends, nights, holidays, or inclement weather if they have been scheduled. Will you be able to accommodate these hours? Yes No

Required Question