Senior Residential Counselor - Domestic Violence Program

Senior Residential Counselor - Domestic Violence Program

Salary

$52,897.26 - $70,856.76 Annually

Location

Alexandria, VA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

2027-00530

Department

Department of Community and Human Services

Division

CENTER FOR CHILD AND FAMILY

Opening Date

08/26/2026

Closing Date

9/9/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Bargaining Unit

N/A

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Senior Residential Counselor

Domestic Violence Program

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Senior Residential Counselor position.

An Overview

The Senior Residential Counselor (SRC) is responsible for answering the program's 24 hour hotline, providing crisis intervention and counseling to callers and clients residing in the Domestic Violence Program Safehouse. Monitors safety and maintenance of the safe house to ensure the site is clean, safe and in good repair.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate will have thorough knowledge and understanding of domestic violence and trauma-informed advocacy; thorough knowledge of household coordination and maintenance and the role of residential support services; some knowledge of social, psychiatric, economic and health problems; some knowledge of community resources or the ability to readily acquire such knowledge; some knowledge of counseling techniques provided to clients with mental disorders, alcoholism, and/or drug abuse; ability to quickly assess and defuse hostile situations; ability to identify social problems and needs, and to assess the strengths and weaknesses of individuals and families; ability to identify behavior which indicates movement toward a crisis situation; ability to obtain the cooperation of others in difficult situations; ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; ability to maintain accurate records.

The Opportunity

• Provides a time-sensitive assessment of and response to immediate needs of hotline callers who have experienced or been impacted by sexual/domestic violence in order to help them return to pre-crisis levels of functioning. Services provided on the hotline include crisis intervention, support, safety planning, information, and referrals. Employee is expected to be available for on-call rotating shifts overnights and weekends;
• Provides 24-hour emergency crisis response providing individual and systems advocacy to victims of sexual/domestic violence for forensic examinations, related medical treatment and testing, police interviews and court proceedings;
• Interview victims of domestic and sexual violence to obtain sufficient information to assess their history, current status, resources, strengths, coping abilities and living needs, safety planning and screen them for admittance to the shelter;
• Conducts intakes on new residents, including history, administrative forms, tour, house rules, and settling into their rooms;
• Serve as advocate for clients to assist them in their dealings with the court system, social services, and employers and in obtaining child-care services and housing;
• Monitor resident activity to assure compliance with individual goal plans;
• Prompts and encourages residents to facilitate self-expression and growth, communication, problem solving, and handling of personal problems;
• Provide individual counseling and case management services to residents in the shelter;
• Monitor residents activities, their changing physical and social needs and their compliance with house rules;
• Ensures that facility operations, maintenance, health and safety of all residents in the facility comply with State and local accreditations;
• Performs other duties as assigned

About the Department

The Center for Children and Families (CCF) provides programs and services for Behavioral Health, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, Child Welfare & Child Protective Services, Early Childhood and Youth Development. CCF provides compassionate, collaborative and effective person and family-centered services based on best practices. Our teams support self-determination, safety, recovery and resiliency for Alexandria children and all residents affected by abuse, neglect, mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance abuse disorders.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Two-Year College Degree; two years experience working with clients with intellectual disabilities, mental illness, Substance Abuse Disorder or domestic violence in a residential setting and supervisory experience; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Employees must possess a valid drivers license issued by the state of their residence.

Preferred Qualifications

Four -year college degree in Human Service or a related field; two years of experience working in a residential setting with clients diagnosed with substance use disorder(s), serious mental illness and/or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder. At least one year of supervisory experience. At least one year of experience working with Trauma Survivors (specifically Domestic Violence survivors). At least one (1) year of experience providing Trauma Informed Care.

Notes

This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to: FBI/Federal Records Check; VA State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry; Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database; education/certifications; drug testing; and driver's license.

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:00pm

• Staff must be available for on-call (standby) on weekends and holidays, Friday evenings from 6:00 PM through Sunday evening, 10:00 PM on a rotating basis.

On-call availability entails the following for all staff when they are on the calendar for primary coverage: physically being in the Safehouse (possibly alone for extended periods of time), answering the DVP and SAC 24-hour hotline, and providing assistance to the caller (i.e police incident reports, crisis intervention, safety planning, screening for shelter, information, and referrals, etc.) responding to clients' support needs now at the Safehouse, including conducting intakes for new admissions. Emergency Companion Response is responding to the courthouse, Magistrate Office, Police Department, or hospital for assistance for clients who are applying for protection orders, and to provide supportive counseling and other services to survivors. Being On-call during the weeknights, weekends or holidays requires the staff person to be able to answer the phone to staff or volunteers for questions, admissions approvals, hospital response, provide in-person coverage at the Safehouse when a shift has not been covered by a volunteer or at-will staff member, approve admissions to the Safehouse and, handling any maintenance concerns that arise during the weekend or holiday, weather crisis related concerns.

The City of Alexandria is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, military status, or disability.

We are proud to welcome you to explore the City of Alexandrias excellent benefits and programs!

Click here to learn more about Employee Benefits

Click here to learn more about the Citys Employee Development Program

The benefits referenced on this site, may be changed from time to time without notice. Temporary and some part-time positions are not eligible for these benefits. For further information, please contact the Talent Acquisition Team of Human Resources at DHR.TA@alexandriava.gov.

01

In Virginia or any other location, have you ever been or are you the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect? If yes, list all cases and explain. If no, indicate "N/A."

02

All positions in DCHS require successful completion of pre-employment background checks in the Virginia State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry and national Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database. Some positions require criminal records check, and scrutiny of any found criminal records against the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services list of Barrier Crimes. Some positions require drug testing, and verification of driver's license and education/certifications.

• I Understand.

03

To answer "Yes" to this question, you must answer "Yes" to all the following questions: •Do you have a two year College degree? •Do you have at least two (2) years of experience working with clients with intellectual disabilities, mental illness, or substance abuse disorder in a residential setting and supervisory experience; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills abilities? •Do you have a valid driver's license? If you answer "No" to any part of this question you must answer "No".

• Yes
• No

04

If you answered "No" to question 3, do you have any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position? (If you answered, "Yes to question 3, please answer "Yes" to this question).

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have a Four-year college degree in Human Service or a related field?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have at least two (2) years of experience working in a residential setting with clients diagnosed with substance use disorder(s), serious mental illness and/or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have at least one (1) year of supervisory experience?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you have at least one (1) year of experience working with Trauma Survivors (specifically Domestic Violence survivors)?

• Yes
• No

09

Do you have at least one (1) year of experience providing Trauma Informed Care?

• Yes
• No

10

As an Essential Employee, staff will be expected to be at work during weekends, holidays, or inclement weather if they have been scheduled. Can you fulfill this requirement?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Alexandria

Address City Hall

421 King Street,

Alexandria, Virginia, 22314

Phone 7037463784

Website http://alexandriava.gov/jobs