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Brown Medicine
Madison, Wisconsin

Sr Residential Care Counselor

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$19.97-$32.96/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 39m ago · Verified live

Job Description

SUMMARY: Under the direction of Residential Supervisor, is responsible for the care and safety of assigned children. As a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team, assumes primary residential care counselor role. Responsible for input into the formulation of a therapeutic milieu treatment plan, and the implementation, observation, and documentation of this program. Provides services to childrendolescents. Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another. In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include: Instill Trust and Value Differences Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate RESPONSIBILITIES: Consistently applies the corporate values of respect, honesty and fairness and the constant pursuit of excellence in improving the health status of the people of the region through the provision of customer-friendly, geographically-accessible and high-value services within the environment of a comprehensive integrated academic health system. A. Participates in maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment. Participates in the development and operationalization of the milieu care plan for assigned patients. Supervises assigned children in daily routines and assists with activities of daily living. Identifies, reports, and actively resolves potentialctual problems in the home. Documents appropriate follow up skills by timely verbal reporting to Residential Supervisor and documentation in the record. Intervenes in disruptive milieu or destructive to self/other patient situations providing timely therapeutic intervention. Intervenes in disruptive milieu or destructive to self/other patient situations providing timely therapeutic intervention(s). Demonstrates appropriate critical incident follow-up skills by timely verbal reporting to charge RN and documentation in medical record. Completes other documentation (ie: incident reports, seclusion and restraint forms (MR38)) as applicable. B. Adheres to hospital, departmental, and unit policies and procedures. Attends peer review and staff meetings as assigned. Maintains current certification in crisis management. Maintains current CPR certification. Maintains current OSHA, ERS, Safety CertificationsAttends hospital staff development as assigned. Consistently follows all hospital departmental policies and procedures. Consistently follows all program based policies and procedures. C. Actively participates in the patient care planning process under the direction of the Treatment Team. Participates in the initial admission interview process as assigned. Works to support initial therapeutic alliance with patient and family on admission. Assists with the separation process and performs other duties necessary to provide a smooth transition to the hospital environment. Communicates individual patient milieu treatment plans in an ongoing manner to other unit staff including liaison with other multidisciplinary treatment providers. Actively participates in diagnostic conferences, treatment team, rounds, and shift report, as assigned. Is aware of department QI indicators and responsibilities related to such. Accurately documents significant patient/family observations/milieu treatment on medical records in a timely fashion. Collects data for applied research purposes. Offers information and knowledge acquired through experience to other staff via formal/ informal staff development forums. Is able to adapt care “style” to meet needs of various childrendolescents. D. Supports and contributes to the development of milieu therapy care plans/behavioral management. Assists and teaches patients in activities of daily living and personal hygiene based upon patient’s abilities. Leads community meeting/milieu meeting/social skill group. Leads other program specific groups. Demonstrates ability to set consistent and supportive therapeutic limits within guidelines of Program and department standards. Institutes behavioral programs specific to the needs of the patient in collaboration with the primary nurse and off-line clinicians. Organizing House activities. Coordinates, supervises and participates in children’s activities such as physical &social development activities. Arranges for transportation or materials if required. Participates in teaching visits/family and parent training. Consistently models to patient/families appropriate and therapeutic interpersonal staff/patient interactions. Co-leads therapy groups with a clinician. Supports and participates in recreation therapy program

  • Handles crisis situations in a safe, effective manner. Takes the initiative to seek formalnformal supervision, incorporating suggestions for improvement/changes in job performance. Performs other related duties as required, assigned or directed by program managers. E. Demonstrates autonomous functioning ability in the delivery of sophisticated childcare on the milieu staff. Consistently utilizes safe, effective, crisis management techniques. Assumes a leadership role in psychiatric emergency situations; processes with co- workers following the use of the Emergency Response System. Demonstrates ability to anticipate, address and de-escalate disruptive patient situationsprior to patient’s loss of control. Consistently takes initiative to suggest innovative changes and additions that improve the quality of milieu services care on the unit. F. Exhibits leadership and teaching ability in role as Residential Care Counselor. Demonstrates outstanding initiative in organizing therapeutic house activities. Provides guidance, monitoring, supervision, and role modeling to less senior staff during activities. Orients new patients to the program in an organized and thorough fashion. Orients, through participation in preceptor programs, new Residential Care, interns and volunteers in an organized and thorough fashion. Teachers less senior employee’s basic principles of milieu therapy as assigned by supervisor. Reports development/progress of assigned Residential Care to Residential Supervisor. Demonstrates consistent ability to assertively communicate directly with appropriate person on issues of concern/conflict. Utilizes objective problems solving approaches to resolve conflicts in staff and/or patient milieu. Assumes role of “Milieu Facilitator”, as assigned by Residential Supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications

Baccalaureate Degree in a Human Services field.; color: rgb(83, 83, 83); Other education and experience considered and may be substituted for educational requirements at the discretion of the Hiring Manager.

Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

EXPERIENCE: Three years working with emotionally/behaviorally disturbed children and adolescents, demonstrating progressive responsibility and leadership development. Current performance appraisal that exceeds standards. Current Bradley Hospital crisis management certification. Current CPR certification. Current ERS, OSHA, and Safety Certifications. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

Pay Range

$19.97-$32.96

EEO Statement

Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

Location: Bradley Hospital - 1011 Veterans Memorial Pkwy East Providence, Rhode Island 02915

Work Type

same schedule

Work Shift

Evening

Daily Hours

8 hours

Driving Required

Yes

Key Responsibilities

The Residential Care Counselor is responsible for the safety and therapeutic care of children and adolescents within a residential setting. They participate in the formulation and implementation of milieu treatment plans, supervise daily routines, and provide crisis intervention.

Requirements

Candidates must possess a Baccalaureate degree in a Human Services field and have at least three years of experience working with emotionally or behaviorally disturbed youth. Current certifications in crisis management, CPR, OSHA, and safety protocols are required.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Conflict resolutionInterpersonal skillsData collectionPsychiatric emergency responseMentoringTeam collaboration

Residential Care Counseling — Counselor Career Context

Brown Medicine ranks #7 of 14 employers hiring Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 46% are remote, 48% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Wisconsin is 94.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$55k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $58k in an average-cost state. 60.7% of Wisconsin clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

23 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution23 jobs · 17 employers

5
<$85k
3
$85k-100k
6
$100k-115k
7
$115k-130k
2
$130k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks19 jobs · 17 employers

401k / retirement match
95%
CME allowance
42%
Sign-on bonus
21%
Loan repayment
11%
PSLF eligible
5%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Psychotherapist, Behavioral Health

Sutter Health · Santa Clara, California

$94k-$132k
#2

Mental Health Therapist

Brightways Counseling Group · Portland, Oregon

$131k
#3

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$92k-$125k
#4

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

$115k-$120k
+ 21 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.2this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 13,847 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Madison

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$433k
Typical market rent
$1,616/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.3
State income tax
Up to 7.7%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Madison, WI metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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