V

Vinfen

Health and human services for disabilities

Residential Counselor - Mental Health Services

Full-TimeDeadline 7/12/27
$22.55/hr
Entry
Associate's
Brighton, Boston, MA, USA
In Person
Social & Community ServicesResidential & Direct Support

About the job

Requirements
  • A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
  • A valid driver's license must be presented at employment; incumbents must be at least 21 years old, have held a valid U.S. driver's license for at least six months, maintain adequate insurance if using a personal vehicle, and pass a driver's screening background check.
  • Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb, lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or a two-person lift, operate a computer and office equipment, maneuver through narrow spaces, and assist Persons Served with activities of daily living.
  • Ability to remain stationary for 50% of the time as needed; bend, reach, file, sit, stand, and move around the facility.
  • Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with Persons Served, staff, and external representatives; required vision abilities include close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth perception, and adjusting focus.
  • CPR certification is required within two weeks of hire.
  • First Aid certification is required within two weeks of hire.
  • Medication Administration Program certification is required within 150 days of hire.
  • Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment.
  • Ability to balance competing priorities, make independent judgments and decisions, and work in a professional and confidential capacity.
  • Sensitivity to cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender issues.
  • Skills and competence to establish supportive, trusting relationships with Persons Served, families, and neighbors.
Responsibilities
  • Provide direct service in a residential setting to help Persons Served overcome barriers and prepare for independent living.
  • Implement treatment-plan support interventions as assigned by the team clinician, and perform day-to-day assignments as directed by the Program Director.
  • Administer, store, document, and dispose of medications in accordance with Medication Administration Program requirements, funding-source regulations, company policy, and applicable protocols; teach medication management.
  • Provide crisis interventions when needed, help Persons Served use crisis intervention techniques, and access on-call backup as needed.
  • Help orient Persons Served who are new to the residence and assist with orientation of new staff.
  • Collaborate with integrated team members to address the needs of Persons Served.
  • Use recovery-oriented, person-centered, harm-reduction, trauma-informed, culturally competent, and strengths-based approaches.
  • Follow safety, maintenance, human rights, operational, licensing, and regulatory policies and procedures.
  • Create opportunities for Persons Served to participate in residence operations, including meal preparation and physical site maintenance; help Persons Served prepare meals.
  • Encourage social interaction among residents and foster a collaborative environment welcoming and respecting Persons Served, family, friends, and others important in their lives; serve as a resource for neighbors.
  • Act as an advocate for Persons Served.
  • Participate in trainings, attend supervision and staff meetings as requested, and complete required documentation and incident documentation as needed.
  • Contribute to the program's quality-improvement goals and objectives.
  • Support evidence-based and best practices, including Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Housing First, Stages of Change, Wellness Recovery Action Plans, Seeking Safety, and Cognitive Behavioral interventions.
  • Perform physical site maintenance according to the maintenance schedule and perform other related duties as assigned.
Desired Qualifications
  • One to two years of job-specific experience in the human services field is preferred.
  • An associate’s degree in a human service discipline is preferred.
  • Bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatric conditions are encouraged to apply.

About the company

Vinfen provides health and human services to adolescents and adults with disabilities or life challenges. It operates more than 200 locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut and offers a range of evidence-based programs, including recovery support, supported living, habilitation, education, employment services, clinical care, and peer support. How the product works: Vinfen delivers these services through coordinated programs and teams at community sites and partners, helping people gain skills, live more independently, and participate in daily life. How it differs from competitors: Its large, regional network covers a broad continuum of care—from clinical treatment to housing and employment—across both youths and adults, using evidence-based approaches and integrated supports. What the company aims to achieve: to improve quality of life, independence, and meaningful community participation for people with disabilities or life challenges.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Founded

1977

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Vinfen added Melissa Shannon as vice president of policy and strategy on August 11, 2026.
  • Gateway Arts raised more than $120,000 in July 2026, strengthening donor-backed programs.
  • The Lowell Restoration Center gives Vinfen a visible, state-backed crisis-care platform through 2028.

What critics are saying

  • Massachusetts staffing shortages hit direct care roles; Vinfen faced layoffs or unpaid leave in 2026.
  • DMH contract dependence creates budget risk; the Lowell extension added only about $250,000.
  • The Commonwealth’s 2026 Skyline Drive case shows Vinfen’s landlord and placement ecosystem faces legal scrutiny.

What makes Vinfen unique

  • Vinfen operates Massachusetts and Connecticut community behavioral health, disability, and brain-injury services.
  • Restoration Center of Greater Lowell opened March 31, 2026 as 24/7 crisis diversion.
  • Vinfen’s 2025 annual report shows $295.7 million revenue and $89.2 million net assets.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
  • Pet Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Employee Referral Bonus