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Job Title: Behavioral Health Intern

Program: Adult Residential - Cape May

Reports to: Program Director

Part-Time 15-20 hours per week. Flexible hours, 3-5 days/week

Non-Exempt

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Program Overview:

Our supervised residential programs support adults living with mental illness in achieving recovery, independence, and successful community living. The Residential Counselor Intern will gain hands-on experience in a recovery-oriented environment focused on skill development, personal growth, and community integration.

The program provides structured, supportive services that help residents build daily living skills, strengthen social supports, and work toward meaningful life goals in the least restrictive setting possible. Interns will work alongside residential staff to support residents through individualized rehabilitation plans that may include residential counseling, daily living skills training, service coordination, crisis support, and medication education.

This internship offers students pursuing careers in social work, mental health, or human services the opportunity to develop practical skills in community-based residential care while contributing to resident wellness, recovery, and quality of life.

Position Summary:

This Bachelor's-level Internship provides hands-on experience in a supervised residential setting, supporting residents through trauma-informed, recovery-oriented care. Interns assist with daily living activities, co-facilitate groups, participate in treatment planning, and gain exposure to clinical documentation, crisis intervention, and multidisciplinary collaboration. This role is ideal for students or recent graduates seeking practical experience in behavioral health, social services, or human services while developing foundational clinical and professional skills.

As an integrated health organization Acenda values the use of evidence-based practice or EBP's.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build supportive, professional relationships with residents while learning trauma-informed and recovery-oriented engagement techniques.
• Assist residents with daily living activities to support independence, skill development, and community integration.
• Participate in the implementation of individualized rehabilitation treatment plans, gaining exposure to person-centered planning.
• Observe and actively participate in treatment team meetings, case reviews, and clinical discussions as appropriate.
• Co-facilitate psychoeducational and skills-based groups under supervision.
• Assist with completing supervised clinical documentation, including progress notes and incident reports, in accordance with agency and regulatory standards.
• Learn crisis intervention techniques and appropriate responses within a supervised residential setting.
• Assist with collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, including residential supervisors, nursing staff, directors, and medical providers.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Interpersonal Communication
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Cultural Competence & Adaptation
• Screening & Assessment
• Care Planning & Care Coordination
• Intervention
• Systems Oriented Practice
• Practice-Based Learning & Quality Improvement
• Informatics

Learning Objectives:

Throughout the duration of the internship, the intern will learn how to:

• Develop an understanding of the supervised residential model, including how structure, staffing, and supports promote recovery, independence, and community integration.
• Build foundational clinical judgment skills by observing, discussing, and reflecting on resident interactions, treatment planning, and behavioral interventions during supervision.
• Strengthen professional identity as a social work or human services practitioner, including ethical decision-making, boundaries, and use of self in a residential setting.
• Increase competence in clinical documentation standards, including understanding the purpose, language, and regulatory importance of progress notes and incident reporting.
• Gain insight into interdisciplinary collaboration, including the roles of residential staff, nursing, medical providers, and supervisors in coordinated care.
• Enhance group facilitation skills by learning how psychoeducational and skills-based groups are designed, structured, and evaluated for effectiveness.
• Develop crisis awareness and response skills, including recognizing early warning signs, understanding de-escalation strategies, and knowing when to escalate concerns appropriately.
• Increase self-awareness and reflective practice, using supervision to examine biases, emotional responses, and professional growth areas.

Education, Work Experience and/or Skills Requirements:

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's level program at a NJ Institute of Higher Learning
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record
• Must be able to exercise independent thinking and good judgment under all circumstances.
• Must be able to analyze work, set goals, develop plans and utilize time effectively and efficiently.

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to remain in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.
• Repeated motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers
• The employee must occasionally move about to accomplish tasks, adjust or move objects up to 20 pounds.
• Must be able to communicate with others to exchange information
• Ability to drive a vehicle

Acenda Integrated Health is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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