Substance Use Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

1. General Description

Maintains a full participant case load in residential treatment setting; assumes responsibility as the primary counselor, making independent decisions regarding all non-medical aspects of the participants' care to affect optimum treatment and follow-up program;

ensures basic needs are met before discharge.

2. Reporting Relationship

The Substance Use Counselor reports to the Vice President of Program and Services.

3. Supervises

The Substance Use Counselor may supervise interns or volunteers.

4. Responsibilities and Essential Functions

• Assists in evaluating and assessing clients for admission to the program or in making necessary referrals; orients new clients to the program.
• Conducts individual case management sessions with clients as needed to develop service plan, address treatment issues and develop discharge planning.
• Provides individual counseling sessions as needed.
• Facilitates group therapy sessions to assist clients toward acceptance of their illness and to identify what needs to change to maintain a life free from substances that negatively impact their life.
• Prepares and maintains client case records including appropriate documentation of evaluations, assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, discharge plans, discharge summaries and effective follow-up care in accordance with program policies and procedures and all appropriate regulations
• Prepares and facilitates educational lectures on the physical, emotional, spiritual and social aspects of substance use.
• Encourages client and family involvement in the total program; conducts family counseling sessions as needed; when authorized to do so, includes client's family in service planning, discharge planning and follow-up.
• Participates in multi-disciplinary team staffings, team meetings, case consulting, community activities and organizations;

prepares and delivers appropriate lectures to the public as requested by the program director.

• Participates in planning and evaluation session for continued growth of the program; works as part of a team in assuring quality delivery of services.
• Ensures appropriate and accurate documentation regarding client interactions, in compliance with agency and grant standards.
• Ensures appropriate and accurate documentation regarding distribution of time and payroll, in compliance with agency and grant standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

5. Education and Experience

Master's degree in counseling, social work or related field; ICAADA certified or certified. LCSW preferred. Requires certification or completion of CPR training course, updated yearly.

6. Knowledge and Ability

• Requires an in-depth knowledge of the disease concept of substance use, individual, group and family system counseling skills and an understanding of the treatment and recovery process of the AA / NA program;
• requires demonstrated ability to make independent decisions regarding client admission, course of treatment and discharge planning and recommendations;
• required demonstrated interpersonal skills to communicate in a responsible, empathetic and effective manner with participants and to work effectively with a multidisciplinary framework;
• personal experience with the disease of substance use is helpful, either as a member of family recovering from the illness or as a chemically dependent person;

individuals with a history of substance use must have a two-year period of substance use-free living and are required to maintain continued sobriety during the term of employment.

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