Lead Group Home Counselor

Pay Rate: $18-21 Hourly

Join a Team That Changes Lives

For more than 170 years, Elwyn has been leading the way in supporting children, teens, and adults with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral health challenges. As a mission-driven nonprofit, we’re here to create real change – helping people lead meaningful, fulfilling lives.

Now, we’re looking for passionate team members to join us. Here, your work will change lives – including your own. You’ll make an impact every day, find purpose in what you do, and grow in a career that truly matters.

• At Elwyn, we take care of you while you care for others. We offer:
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision Benefit Packages
• Earned Wage Access/On-Demand Pay
• Paid On-the-Job Training
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Career Advancement Opportunities and Growth
• Flexible Schedules

Retirement Savings Plan

Join us and be a part of something bigger. Apply today.

Job Description

Elwyn seeks a Lead Group Home Counselor who provides assistance to the program coordinator to support the ongoing operations of the group home and encourages the continued quality support of individuals served. The Lead Group Home Counselor also handles direct support to people with physical, mental, and intellectual disabilities within assigned residences, ensuring the health and well-being of the individuals in which they serve as well as promoting personal independence.

Essential Functions

• Ensures the operations of the shift through delegation of key responsibilities on assigned shift such as:
• Conducting activities and functions for all individuals in the home while incorporating community integration

Cleaning responsibilities to maintain a safe, clean and healthy home, including but not limited to cleaning of individual bedrooms, common areas in the home and outside of the homes and inside of vehicles

Assisting, teaching, and supporting individuals in the independent management of his/her personal hygiene that may include baths, showers, oral hygiene, personal care, nail, and hair grooming

• Transporting individuals based on needs to medical appointments, community outings etc.
• Administering and inventorying medications following all established company policies and procedures
• Shopping for groceries including preparation of a list based on house menu, ensuring a shift and designated staff is prepared and assigned to go grocery shopping and coordinating with the program coordinator for the retrieval of funds for shopping
• Maintaining and organizing files and purging records as required
• Leads and observes fellow staff in implementation of clinical interventions and strategies such as:

Implementing the behavior support plan by following the specific behavior strategies and actions outlined and trained by the behavioral analyst

Assisting, teaching, and supporting individuals in independent management of funds including money recognition, short-term and long-term budgeting, banking, and bill paying

Assisting, teaching, and supporting individuals in building independent living skills, such as meal preparation steps and skills, laundry steps and skills, etc.

Serves as a role model in participating and promoting a home-like atmosphere by ensuring the tidiness of the individuals home and creating and maintaining a home environment while discouraging use of the home by staff as a work place

Assists the individual to live in a humane, caring environment while promoting quality of life by encouraging independence, aiding in skill building, and integrating within the community toward self-sufficiency and self-determination

Oversees each individual's health, safety, and well-being through tasking including but not limited to providing appropriate levels of support for daily living task, responding in emergency medical and behavior situations and providing individuals needed supports for ongoing task

Oversees the implementation of the individual service plan through activities including but not limited to monitor individuals in the home and community to ensure that appropriate levels of supervision are followed

For each assigned individual, completes required documentation, including goal training, behavior management, client notes, medication and ensures other staff are aware of their assigned individual for the shift and completes required tasks as well

Maintains confidentiality at all times of any sensitive or personal information regarding individuals, employees or Elwyn New Jersey

• Attends at least eight (8) staff meetings per year
• Adheres to all current policies and procedures of Elwyn New Jersey
• As needed, remains on duty to ensure the care and safety of individuals until relieved by replacement staff

In Conjunction with the Program Coordinator

Actively participates in the Individual Support Plan (ISP) processes and the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) processes including collecting information, completing assessments, determining baseline data for training purposes, and developing goals and objectives based upon the assessments and modifications to the ISP and Behavior Support Plan (BSP)

Verifies incoming medications, medication changes, and monthly reordering sheets, and immediately reports discrepancies

Arranges coverage during the shift for any call-offs and works closely in conjunction with the Program Coordinator during times of critical staffing to fill open shifts and staff vacancies

• Supports the Program Coordinator with other administrative duties as needed, including but not limited to.
• Maintains current state-mandated training and certifications
• Follows all current policies and procedures of Elwyn New Jersey

Cooperates with Elwyn New Jersey and the State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, or any other authorized investigating body during an inspection or investigation

Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), safe crisis management, and medication administration using agency-trained protocols

Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications, Education and Experience

High School Diploma or Equivalency Diploma

• One (1) year of experience in a related field and/or with individuals with developmental disabilities
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage and prioritize multiple, often competing, priorities
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated strong time management and organizational skills

Demonstrated excellent judgment with the ability to independently solve problems and make decisions in coordination with the Program Coordinator

Demonstrated ability to anticipate future needed changes or identify problem areas and take effective actions under the authority of the Program Coordinator

• Must be able to perform CPR and safe crisis management using agency-trained protocols
• Must possess excellent customer interaction, collaboration, and written and verbal communication skills

Demonstrated basic experience with Microsoft Office applications including Word and Outlook; Excel and PowerPoint preferred

Must possess a current, valid driver's license in state of residence, have a minimum of two (2) years of driving experience within the United States, and have an acceptable driving record.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Elwyn is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Elwyn does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, pregnancy status, medical condition, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, sexual orientation or identity, age, national origin, citizenship, handicap status, marital or family status, mental or physical disability, perceived disability, military or veteran status, political activities or affiliations, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation.

• 2025-2179
• If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at ADArequest@elwyn.org and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
• Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal