RESIDENTIAL LIVING SPECIALIST (MENTAL HEALTH)

Code: 04138C State Competitive Range: H14 (FY 2027)

Salary: $48,271.77 - $69,861.07/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction of a supervisory official in a small intermediate care facility, provides services for clients in the areas of: direct care, social and vocational education, feeding, recreation, direct and indirect services, in the areas of sanitation, cleaning, laundry, and life skills, and supportive programming, both ongrounds and in community activities; does other related work as required.

Examples of work

• Assumes responsibility for the physical, mental, and emotional well being of residents assigned to his/her care.
• Maintains a continuous resident training program in the cottage setting with particular emphasis on self help and, whenever possible, social development to the limit of the individual resident's ability.
• Trains and assists residents to function more independently, giving whatever assistance is required by residents to assure adequate standards of personal hygiene.
• Prepares and serves meals to residents and feeds those unable to help themselves. Trains residents to prepare, serve, and feed themselves where applicable.
• Instructs residents in proper use of eating utensils.
• Prepares food for use in the cooking process; as assigned, may assume responsibility for certain phases of the preparation and cooking process; instructs residents in these activities where appropriate.
• Serves food from steam tables where necessary; arranges, prepares, and serves food trays when required; supervises, assists, and instructs residents in the performance of these functions.
• Prepares and instructs residents in the preparation of foods, salads, beverages, and desserts as required.
• Sets tables, changes linens, counts dishes, linen, and silverware; trains residents in the performance of these tasks.
• Inventories all supplies and monitors equipment within a cottage.
• Washes dishes, pots and pans, silverware, and other food preparation equipment; instructs residents in the proper and safe techniques of performing these duties.
• Polishes and washes various cooking and food preparation items; instructs residents regarding the proper and safe methods of performing these tasks.
• Positions and places orthopedic and support devices on residents.
• Assists in the development of and maintains an active recreation program, and participates in outdoor and indoor recreation activities with residents both on hospital grounds and in the community.
• Sees that proper measures are taken at all times to eliminate actual or potential hazards to the safety and well being of residents.
• Sees that order is maintained among residents in the unit and refers unusual or serious behavior/disciplinary problems to the appropriate supervisor.
• Escorts residents when appropriate to treatment facilities, church services, recreation or work areas, or any other locations that might be required.
• Assists the nursing staff with simplified treatments, and changes dressings as directed.
• Lifts residents onto and off beds and stretchers, or into and out of wheelchairs as needed.
• As a member of a treatment team, provides input into the development of Individual Treatment Plans for the residents assigned.
• Participates in therapeutic treatment activities such as community meetings, small groups, and one-to-one activities.
• Performs housekeeping activities and where needed trains, assists, and/or supervises clients in the performance of all types of housekeeping activities including: bed making, mopping, sweeping, and scrubbing of walls and floors; waxing floors, cleaning of living quarters, lavatories and fixtures, eating areas; dusting, waxing and polishing furniture; collecting and properly disposing of waste papers, trash, and other refuse; cleaning windows, screens, shades and blinds; vacuuming carpets, replacing light bulbs and fuses; maintaining running inventories and sufficient stock of housekeeping supplies, i.e. soap, toilet paper, towels, cleaning solutions, and so forth.
• Operates and trains residents in the operation of dishwasher, irons, vacuum cleaners, scrubber, and similar equipment necessary for the upkeep of the physical plant, furniture, and fixtures.
• Sees that residents are properly dressed and that their clothing is cleaned and repaired as needed; sorts, and counts laundry, properly storing that which has been cleaned; washes clothes, towels, and flatware as required and in accordance with manufacturer's care label instructions. Trains and assists residents to perform these tasks where needed.
• Serves special diets in accordance with prescribed instruction re: portion control and types of food.
• Maintains a sanitary and healthful environment within the cottage. Keeps cottage neat and clean and free of garbage and clutter. Stores perishable food in covered containers (labeled and dated) under refrigeration, and discards it at the appropriate time.
• Checks daily to ensure that the refrigerator is clean and functioning at the proper temperature.
• Participates inservice training and continuing education.
• Prepares factual reports.
• Organizes assigned work and develops effective work methods.
• Keeps required records with accuracy and with attention to detail.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information system used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

Two (2) years of experience in the direct care of psychiatric or physically disabled clients in either a residential or community setting.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the physical, mental and emotional needs of the homeless or mentally disabled persons, and of the procedures and methods required to provide for such needs.
• Knowledge of the techniques used in training individuals with varying degrees of mental disability and/or physical handicaps in areas of self care and socially accepted behavior to the limits of the individual's potential.
• Knowledge of clients rights.
• Knowledge of the preparation of food for cooking.
• Knowledge of the proper methods and materials used in cleaning, polishing, and in maintaining kitchen, storage, and food service areas in a clean, sanitary, orderly, and safe condition.
• Knowledge of the problems and methods of inspecting and determining when cleaning and maintenance work should be done and the materials needed.
• Knowledge of the problems encountered and the materials, tools, and procedures used in washing, waxing, vacuuming, and polishing wood, tile, cement, linoleum, and other floors and woodwork, furniture, and fixtures.
• Knowledge of the proper use and minor adjustment of sweepers, vacuum cleaners, floor waxers and polishers, and other equipment.
• Knowledge of the general safety precautions to be observed.
• Knowledge of the proper operation and maintenance of washers, dryers, presses, and other laundry equipment.
• Ability to organize assigned cottage training work, analyze problems, and develop appropriate work methods.
• Ability to relate to cottage residents in a manner which will encourage their cooperation and potential development.
• Ability to communicate in sign language and AMSLAN.
• Ability to perform uncomplicated subprofessional nursing care or other special care prescribed for individual residents.
• Ability to provide positive therapeutic support through the use of communication skills.
• Ability to assist with and participate in outdoor and indoor recreation activities.
• Ability to bathe, dress, and provide other assistance required by residents to maintain established standards of personal hygiene.
• Ability to feed residents who present serious feeding problems.
• Ability to properly lift and handle residents with severe physical handicaps.
• Ability to understand, remember, and carry out oral and written instructions and assignments, and to organize work in an efficient manner.
• Ability to work effectively with associates, superiors, families, and residents.
• Ability to serve food from steam tables or other utensils efficiently.
• Ability to appropriately prepare and serve food.
• Ability to wait on tables and to deliver trays.
• Ability to perform and take the lead in the manual work involved in washing dishes, pots and pans, in polishing silverware and metal equipment, in keeping ranges, and broiler, roaster, and other equipment clean and polished, and to scrub and wax floors, halls, and other areas.
• Ability to clean and wash windows, Venetian blinds, floors, tables, and other furniture, to wax and polish floors, to clean and wash toilets, sinks and other lavatory fixtures, and to do other work involved in the cleaning of living quarters.
• Ability to keep an assigned cottage, unit, or area in a clean, sanitary, and orderly condition.
• Ability to obtain, store, safeguard, and properly use equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Ability to observe safety precautions and to recognize and report potentially hazardous conditions.
• Ability to operate and supervise the operation of laundry equipment including washers and tumblers.
• Ability to select and use the appropriate washing soaps and detergents, bleaches, rinses, and water temperatures for specific types of laundry.
• Ability to instruct clients in the inspecting, working, sorting, checking, folding, and distribution of laundry.
• Ability to prepare accurate factual reports.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODES: H14- ECK 7/10/93