Residential Counselor (Mental Health Services)

Vinfen, a Massachusetts nonprofit focused on health and human services, is hiring in Lawrence for a full-time Residential Counselor to work onsite in a Group Living Environment. The role supports people with psychiatric conditions, helping them build independence and improve daily life while collaborating with families, friends, employers, and a broader care team to foster lasting progress.

Vinfen has a long history dating back to 1977 and operates across more than 550 sites in Massachusetts and Connecticut with about 3,500 dedicated professionals. This position sits within Vinfen’s ACCS residential program, offering training, steady benefits, and clear opportunities for growth within a mission-driven organization.

The ideal candidate enjoys working closely with residents and the people who support them, applying recovery-oriented, trauma-informed approaches to everyday tasks. You’ll blend hands-on care with medication support, meal preparation, and activities that promote everyday independence in a supportive community setting.

A day-to-day in a group home that builds independence

In this role you’ll orient residents who are new to the residence and partner with a multidisciplinary team to meet each person’s needs, implementing treatment plan interventions under clinical guidance. You’ll handle routine duties, follow safety and policy standards, and manage medications per established MAP requirements, teaching residents to manage their own medications where possible.

Beyond that, you’ll help residents participate in daily life, cooking, cleaning, and maintaining the living space, while encouraging social interactions and involvement with family, neighbors and others who matter to the residents. You’ll advocate for residents, assist with meal preparation, and support them through crises when needed, drawing on evidence-based practices like Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Housing First, and WRAP. Documentation, trainings, supervision, and occasional back-up on-call support are also part of the routine as you help the program meet its quality goals.

What it takes to join Vinfen

Must-have qualifications

• You have a high school diploma or an equivalent credential.
• You’re at least 21 years old and hold a valid US driver’s license for a minimum period, with the ability to pass a CORI, driving record, employment reference check, and a multi-state background check.
• Driving is a job requirement, and you may use a Vinfen van or a personal vehicle to fulfill duties; if using a personal vehicle, you must maintain adequate insurance and a safe driving record, and your license must be valid at the time of hire.
• You can lift at least 25 pounds and perform the physical tasks typical of a very active group-home role, including standing, walking, bending and assisting with daily living activities.
• You’ll obtain CPR and First Aid certification within two weeks of starting, and MAP (Medication Administration Program) certification within 150 days of hire.
• A background in human services or related field is valued; 1–2 years of job-specific experience in human services is preferred.
• You’re prepared to work within a recovery-oriented, person-centered framework and maintain professional, confidential standards in daily interactions.

Nice-to-have qualifications

• An associate degree in a human services discipline.
• Bilingual or bicultural capabilities, or lived experience with psychiatric conditions, which Vinfen views as a plus.
• Previous experience working in a human services setting.

Pay, benefits and practical details

The pay for this role is listed as USD $22.55 per hour, with a corresponding pay range of USD $22.55 - USD $22.55 per hour. The position is full-time and onsite in Lawrence, MA, and Vinfen emphasizes strong training, good benefits and ongoing career growth for staff.

Other practical details the posting highlights include a focus on safety, compliance with licensing standards, and the use of evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Housing First, and Wellness Recovery Action Plans, all within a structured environment that supports residents’ rights and community integration.

Certifications and physical requirements are explicit: CPR and First Aid must be obtained within two weeks of hire, MAP certification within 150 days, and there is a physically active component to the job, including the ability to lift 25 pounds and to operate computer and office equipment as part of daily tasks. Driving is required, with checks on driving records and background status as part of ongoing employment eligibility.

Tips to stand out for this role

Highlight your education and certifications at the top of your resume, and explicitly call out your CPR, First Aid and MAP timelines to show you can meet the required schedule after you’re hired.

When you describe your experience, give concrete examples of how you’ve used person-centered and trauma-informed approaches in daily care, especially around medication support, crisis intervention, and recovery-focused activities like housing or wellness planning.

Prepare for interview questions about collaborating with a clinical team and supporting residents through transitions, meals, chores, and social activities. Think through a brief story that demonstrates your ability to balance safety with residents’ independence and dignity.

Ask a sharp, role-specific question such as how the program supervises staff and supports ongoing MAP training, or how they measure quality improvements within the residential setting. This shows you’re thinking about both daily duties and long-term growth within Vinfen.