Do you enjoy helping other people? Do you feel good knowing that you have assisted someone to solve a problem or overcome a difficulty? If you do, perhaps a career as a residential counselor is the right choice for you.
"You'll never get rich," says Keith Baldwin. He is a residential counselor in a halfway house for men and women who have been in trouble with the law. "But the career has its rewards. Sometimes someone comes back to thank you for the help you offered or the information you provided. Then you feel very good about what you are doing."
Baldwin has a B.Sc. degree and a certificate in criminology. After completing his education, he worked at the halfway house part time until a full-time job opened up three years ago. His schedule involves working shifts and sometimes working evenings and holidays.
Baldwin has a caseload of 10 people who are on parole and who have been referred by the corrections system. Baldwin and the other counselors help their charges to reintegrate back into society and to become law-abiding citizens.
"We are responsible for seeing that the residents observe the curfews and we make sure they are abiding by the terms of their parole conditions. We see that they keep appointments and interviews and we help them get work," he explains.
"We help with resumes and help people find jobs on the Internet or through the newspaper. We help people with budgets and finances. We also help run the facility and make sure that the chores are being done."
What Baldwin likes best about the work is having the ability to help those who want help. Since the residents are living in the halfway house as a condition of their parole, many would prefer to be elsewhere and are resentful of the rules.
"This is a self-help organization. We don't do everything for the residents, but we are there for them when they do want direction and guidance."
Baldwin stresses the importance of being totally honest with the residents and of communicating clearly what you will keep confidential and what you will not keep confidential.
"For instance, when it is a term of parole that they must not use alcohol or other substances, I make it clear that I am obligated to report to their parole officer if they drink or do drugs. It's important to be very clear and to know what your boundaries are."
Residential counselors must be good listeners and must be able to empathize with the residents. Each day the counselors are faced with the need to make decisions and to exercise good judgment. "You have to be very level-headed. You cannot make rash decisions on an impulse," says Baldwin.
"We think things through before acting and we consult with other team members. It's important to be able to function well in a team environment. And everything has to be documented in the files and reports."
It can be stressful when residents break their parole and are taken back to jail. "Sometimes we don't even get to see them before they go. The most important thing to remember is not to take things personally," he says. "Do the best you can and be happy with yourself. It helps to have a sense of humor, too!"
Janey Walsh is the program coordinator at Sunbeam Lodge. Sunbeam Lodge is a residential care facility that houses children and young adults who have severe physical and developmental difficulties.
Walsh worked as a residential counselor from 1988 to 1991. Then she was promoted. She has a degree in social anthropology as well as training in community integration and development (DSW -- the equivalent of a bachelor of social work).
The children at Walsh's workplace require a lot of personal attention. Typically, each residential counselor is assigned a caseload of four children. Their tasks include helping the residents with the activities of daily living -- basic hygiene, nutrition, social and recreational programs and exercise.
Walsh agrees that the biggest reward lies in knowing that you have helped the people in your care.
"Sometimes I think the kids gave me more than I gave them. These kids are innocent. It takes a lot for other people to be happy or satisfied but with these children, it takes very little to fulfill their needs. Just doing the simplest things puts a smile on their face. When you take them for a walk, they become stimulated by the wind blowing on their face. I find these things so rewarding."
Although it is rewarding to work with these children, Walsh admits that it can be stressful when the children become ill. "When they have to go to hospital, it is very difficult because the hospital staff do not know the children as well as we know them."
Hiring preference is given to residential counselors who have a DSW. Additionally, since the residents at Walsh's workplace are medically fragile, many counselors have some type of medical background -- such as nursing or training as a personal support worker or health care aid.
"Many people have asked me how we can do it," says Walsh. "I always say, 'If you have a heart, you can do it.'"
Walsh also believes that residential counselors require a caring, nurturing attitude along with good communication skills -- both verbal and written. In addition to communicating with the residents, residential counselors must communicate with family members and various professionals such as physiotherapists, social workers and physicians.
"We also look for people who are very reliable. Most of the kids are so in tune with their routines that any difference would affect them. We also need mature people who understand that certain matters are confidential."
Walsh recommends that anyone considering a career in this field first take a co-op program or volunteer at a center. "Get some exposure and find out if this is the type of work for you. Once you have experience and training, there are many areas that you can move into."
Tanya Muirbrook is a residential counselor at Rosemont School in Portland. Rosemont provides services to emotionally and behaviorally disordered adolescent girls. Muirbrook works in the unit that provides help to girls who have alcohol or drug problems.
"I have been here two years. This was my first full-time job after I finished college," says Muirbrook. She has a bachelor's degree in sociology. She is currently studying for certification as an alcohol and drug counselor.
Muirbrook says she always knew she wanted to work with teenagers. During her job interview at Rosemont, she learned that the work would involve one-on-one interactions with the girls, skill teaching, games, recreation and other activities that sounded interesting. "It sounded good, like the type of work I wanted to do."
Since Muirbrook is an assistant unit supervisor, she is a step above the residential counselor level. "I supervise other counselors and I also do residential counselor work myself," she says. A typical day starts by checking in and meeting with other staff to discuss any concerns that might have arisen.
Next, it's off to pick up the girls in another part of the building. "After school, we bring them back to the unit and then we run groups. In the afternoon, there is aerobics. We do individual check-ins with the girls to see how they are doing. After dinner, there is evening group, which could range from alcohol and drug groups to women's issues."
Muirbrook notes that a lot of work is done around issues of community living and anger management.
Like most residential counselors, Muirbrook is required to do reports and paperwork. She completes shift summaries each day outlining what the girls did, trouble areas, things that are working well or not working so well. "Once a week, we have team meetings with the therapist and with visiting psychiatrists."
Muirbrook finds it especially rewarding when she succeeds in getting through to a girl who is harder to deal with or who does not often make connections. "When they do make that connection, it shows they trust you and that you have helped them. To me, that's really rewarding."
Muirbrook remembers a time when she took some Rosemont girls on an outing to a woman's network gathering.
"Most of the girls at the gathering came from regular high schools and had stable family homes. The Rosemont girls got up in front of hundreds of girls and told them that without Rosemont, they would be on the streets. It took a lot of courage. Later, when we broke up into small groups, our girls shared a lot of ideas while many of the other girls were nervous."
Muirbrook finds the work can be stressful at times when there are staff shortages. Residential counselors must guard against burnout. "It's easy to burn out if you don't practice self-care. You have to find ways to relax and you have to know when enough is enough."
If working in a social service field interests you, Muirbrook emphasizes that residential counselor work is a great starting job. "It's a really great experience. I think that working here gives my life a lot of satisfaction. I know I am making a difference."