Temporary Counselor-La Posada
Listed compensation
$28.55-$30.31/hr
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Job Details:
Job Location: La Posada - San Francisco, CA, Salary Range: $28.55 - $30.31Hourly, TITLE: TEMP COUNSELOR ACCOUNTABILITY: To Assistant Director or Program Director MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's Degree in a mental health related field.
Experience may be substituted for the degree requirement, depending on nature and length of experience. Specific experience in residential treatment and/or knowledge of social rehabilitation is preferred. At least one year's experience in a community mental health program is preferred.
Must be able to communicate effectively with staff, clients, and other providers both orally and in writing. Must, in the sole judgment of Progress Foundation, demonstrate good judgment and emotional stability.
At all times must be able to negotiate several flights of stairs multiple times during each work shift, and must be able to lift and carry 20 lb. packages multiple times during the work shift.
Must demonstrate ongoing clearance with the California State Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, allowing direct contact with program clients. Must maintain training certification and demonstrated capacity to perform basic First Aid and CPR.
Basic word processing skills; maintain computer requirements of the City and County of San Francisco Community Behavioral Health Services.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of an Assistant Director or the Program Director, the Counselor provides support and assistance to clients at one of the Progress programs, all of which are housed in multi-level facilities.
Generally, the Counselor has primary responsibility for advocating for and responding to the treatment and rehabilitation needs of the program clients. Specifically, Counselors perform the following functions: Essential Functions Conduct intake interviews with prospective clients.
Orient new clients to the program and facility or, whenever possible, enable another client to orient a new client. Respond to psychiatric and/or medical emergency situations throughout the facility in a professional, thorough, and timely manner, and do crisis intervention work with clients.
Assist clients in the evacuation of all floors of the facility in case of fire, earthquake, or other emergency. Develop treatment plans with maximum client participation, and support clients' efforts to implement them.
Communicate appropriately with referral sources and other treatment personnel both within and outside the agency, exchanging information relevant to client treatment. Complete all intake and discharge paperwork on assigned clients and maintain progress records on all clients.
Initiate and participate in discharge planning, so that clients can transition smoothly to the next level of care or the community. Lead or co-lead day or evening group sessions, including house meetings or other activities, adhering to the schedule of fixed events, unless circumstances dictate otherwise..
Assume primary case coordinating responsibilities for clients, as assigned. Relay clinical and house-status information to other staff at shift changes, staff meetings, and at other appropriate times. Monitor and record client medications, complying with program procedures.
Participate in meal planning and preparation at designated intervals, and encourage clients to become involved in these activities. Counselors are to join program clients for all meals. Attend and participate in staff meetings, supervision sessions, and case consultation meetings, as scheduled.
Consult with the Assistant Director, Program Director and the Program Consultant, as necessary, on such issues as case review, medications, group dynamics, etc. Be responsible for the physical plant.
This includes investigating problems throughout the facility and performing minor cleaning, repair work, and other household tasks, and reporting more serious maintenance problems in a timely manner to the Assistant Director or Program Director.
Report any suspected abuse of clients directly to the appropriate agencies as outlined in policy and law and per the adult abuse reporting document signed upon hiring. Promote the social rehabilitation philosophy among program staff and clients. Must be able to work overnight, awake and alert shifts.
Comply with all applicable federal, state and local governmental laws and regulations, as well as all agency policies and procedures, including the code of ethics. Perform other related duties as assigned by the Program Director.
Inform the Assistant Director or Program Director of any personal events and/or circumstances which may affect the ability to perform the proscribed job responsibilities and functions or to meet minimum qualifications. II.
Functions Which May Be Accommodated For Persons with Disabilities Covered Under The "Americans With Disabilities Act" Lead and/or participate in outings and other recreational activities planned for clients. Shop for groceries and other household items with program clients.
Drive clients to treatment-related destinations. Attend meetings, both programmatic and administrative, as a representative of the program, when assigned by the Assistant Director or Program Director.
Key Responsibilities
The counselor provides support and rehabilitation services to clients in a residential mental health facility, including crisis intervention and case management. They are responsible for maintaining the facility, monitoring medications, and facilitating group sessions.
Requirements
A bachelor's degree in a mental health-related field is required, though relevant experience may be substituted. Candidates must demonstrate emotional stability, possess First Aid/CPR certification, and be able to perform physical tasks like lifting and climbing stairs.
Qualifications
- Education
- Bachelor degree
Key Skills
Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Mental Health Counseling listings this role was benchmarked against, 62% are remote, 24% have no call, 58% require no weekends.
In California, the Mental Health Counseling weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$78k (39 salary observations; 139 listings), vs ~$77k nationally (577 salary observations; 2,330 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-10-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $59k–$63k | Mental Health Counseling median $56k (middle half $48k–$83k)48 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| California vs national | $78k median in California | $77k nationally (+1%)39 state / 577 national salary observations |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$55k in purchasing power | California index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Mental Health Counseling listings in California | 31 active | 820 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 62% remote · 24% no call · 58% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | California Counselor listings: 11% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Mental Health Counseling listings | 354 in the last 30 days | 222 the 30 days before (+59%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Mental Health Counseling pay trend | −10.6% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
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