Encompass Community Services logo
Encompass Community Services
Santa Cruz, California

On-call Counselor- El Dorado Center

CounselorIncludes callIncludes weekendsPer Diem

Listed compensation

Salary Range: $23.00 /hr

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

Job DetailsJob Location: Santa Cruz, CA 95060Salary Range: $23.00 - $23.00 HourlyWe currently have a On-call Counselor opening at our El Dorado Canter site, located in Santa Cruz.

Reporting to the Program Manager, under close supervision, the role of the counselor is to provide support and assistance to clients in planning and attaining their goals.

Special focus will be on the client’s needs related to the housing, physical health, issues of chemical dependency and mental health, stabilization of income, and reentry back into the community. Services will be delivered with dignity and respect for each individual resident.

Job Summary: The On-Call Counselor is available to work as needed to cover shifts that include ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents at the facility and supporting program operations.

We are looking for individuals who have some experience or education working with individuals who struggle with mental illness and substance use disorders, and people with a passion to serve this unique population.

We are looking for on call counselors with the skill and ability to work with clients who have multiple complex mental health, and physical health needs, and who are able to manage multiple tasks. We are hiring on-call counselors who are available to work swing, night, and weekend shifts.

Position requires availability to cover weekend shifts. Duties & Responsibilities: Respond to emails, texts, or phone calls in a timely manner. Be available and responsive to requests for on-call coverage as needed. Ensure adequate safety for program residents and property during specific shift hours.

Responsible for responding to client behavioral and/or medical issues, facility issues, or natural emergencies while on duty. May provide therapeutic crisis management, with available support of Manager or On-Call Manager.

May provide therapeutic intervention services based on best practices & selected evidence based practices for clients with mental health or substance use disorders and/or co-occurring disorders.

Services may include administrative functions in support of clients, including evaluation, assessments, counseling, and/or assisting in the implementation of appropriate treatment plan interventions and/or the facilitation of individual, group, and crisis counseling sessions.

Dispensing medication, incident reporting, shift change reporting, and household duties as required. General safety checks, headcounts. Ability to comply with regulatory requirements.

Must communicate effectively and be able to use current technology in the following areas: case notes, incident reports, correspondence with community service providers.

Qualifications

Bilingual English/Spanish desired but not necessary High school diploma or GED, some college preferred Ability to work independently, manage time well Valid driver’s license and clean DMV required Computer literacy, including e-mail, Microsoft Word, and ability to navigate electronic health record documentation requirements.

Good oral and written communication skills, as well as interpersonal skills with co-workers and community partners Wages & Benefits: We prioritize the well-being of our team as much as the community we serve. Our comprehensive health benefits reflect this commitment.

We offer full-time employees medical and dental insurance plan that ensures peace of mind for themselves and their families. We go beyond traditional care by also offering our employees acupuncture and chiropractic, embracing a holistic approach to health that aligns with our values of care and compassion.

Our team’s future matters just as much as the present. That’s why we offer a 403(b) retirement plan, providing a foundation for a secure retirement. We also recognize the need for work-life balance, so Encompass offers a competitive package of 11 vacation days, 12 sick days, and 15 additional paid holidays.

These benefits are thoughtfully pro-rated for part-time positions, affirming our commitment to fairness and flexibility.

About Us

At Encompass Community Services we provide our community with a wide range of services related to family & social well-being, early childhood education, behavioral health, housing and more. Every day through these services we work to make health, education and housing more equitable for all people in Santa Cruz County.

For more than 50 years our work has touched generations by helping people have access to education, rebuild relationships, restore their health and regain dignity.

Qualifications

Key Responsibilities

Provide support and assistance to clients in planning and attaining goals related to housing, mental health, and chemical dependency. Ensure the safety and well-being of residents while managing facility operations and responding to medical or behavioral crises.

Requirements

Requires a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver's license with a clean DMV record, and computer literacy. Candidates should have experience or education working with individuals struggling with mental illness and substance use disorders.

Key Skills

Case ManagementMedication DispensingElectronic Health RecordsInterpersonal CommunicationTime ManagementPatient Assessment

Behavioral Health — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Behavioral Health listings this role was benchmarked against, 30% are remote, 32% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Behavioral Health pay on WeekdayDoc is up 9.7% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Top contract/1099 Counselor Jobs

50 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution33 jobs

15
<$80k
3
$80k-110k
8
$110k-140k
7
$140k-170k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks33 jobs

401k / retirement match
70% this job
CME allowance
48%
Loan repayment
24%
Sign-on bonus
21%
PSLF eligible
18%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Mental Health Therapist (Part-Time, W2)Contract

Two Chairs · New Hampshire

$58.5-$85/hr
#2

Mental Health Therapist (Part-Time, W2)Contract

Two Chairs · Colorado

$58.5-$85/hr
#3

PT Evening IOP Therapist ( Group Facilitator)

$50-$75/hr
#4

Part-Time Licensed Behavioral Health Therapist

$65-$72/hr
+ 48 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 1.5
Below most Behavioral Health (Counseling) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 346 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call
  • Includes weekends

Living in Santa Cruz

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.44M
Typical market rent
$3,532/mo
Residents’ average commute
23 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
109.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Encompass Community Services logo

About Encompass Community Services

Individual and Family Services
Santa Cruz, CA
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical and dental insurance
Acupuncture and chiropractic
403(b) retirement plan
11 vacation days
12 sick days
15 paid holidays