Job Title:          Substance Use Counselor I/II/III, RS 

Department:  Recovery Services

Reports To:    Outpatient Supervisor

Supervises:    None 

FLSA Status:   Non-Exempt 

Pay Grade:     N5 (I), N6 (II), N7 (III) 

Job Type:        Full-Time, Regular 

AKBCU:           Yes                  ICPA: No

 

General Functions:

This Substance Use Counselor is responsible for providing substance use treatment services to individuals who receive a substance use assessment and using the ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) and DSM-5 diagnosis criteria. This position acts as an advocate for the participant providing resources, case management, conduct individual sessions, facilitates substance-use related groups, developing individualized treatment plans, and maintaining electronic charts of all participants on his or her caseload.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct admission, intake, and orientation for participants who are entering Outpatient services.
• Assist participants identify treatment plan goals, objectives, and interventions and ensure a written individualized treatment plan is created and maintained following RS policy and procedures. 
• Provide case management services, as needed, following best practices to provide linkage and advocacy that participant’s needs. 
• Responsible for coordinating participant referrals for employment, mental health, housing, medical with local community clinics, social service agencies, and continuing care.
• Provide follow-up services on all referrals made.
• Provide individual substance use education sessions to help individuals identify substance use patterns following the mission, goals, objectives, and recovery services policies and procedures.
• Create and manage clinical documentation for participants such as intakes, referral, diagnoses, treatment plans, case-staffing, discharge summaries, and progress notes.
• Maintain Recovery Services Case Management System (RSCMS) participant records and written reports accurately and timely.
• Utilize ASAM and DSM-5 literature when making substance use diagnoses and recommendations.
• Administer Alaska Screening Tool and Bio-Psycho-Social substance use assessment instruments to determine treatment recommendations relative to the appropriate level of treatment services based on criteria developed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)  
• Understand the uses of Trauma-Informed and Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques.
• Coordinate with referral sources, family members, community agencies, and other treatment providers to provide the best treatment and case management options for the participant.
• Maintain relationships with all partnering agencies and referral sources.
• Provide individual substance use counseling and education to individuals through approved counseling methods and lecture materials. 
• Use approved handouts and other homework materials to enhance and support the counseling experience.
• Provide Dashboard points to supervisor.
• Participate in training in areas related to the improvement of service delivery.
• Attend staff meetings and works collaboratively with other staff in case staffing/review.
• Transport participants on assigned activities, case management services, and outings as needed.
• Participate in training in areas related to the improvement of service delivery.
• Maintain a respectful relationship with participants, former participants, family members, and peers.
• Perform all related duties as needed and assigned.

 

Job Responsibilities Related to Participant Privacy 

• Employee is expected to actively participate in CITC privacy training and to protect the privacy of participant information in accordance with CITC's privacy policies, procedures and practices, as required by federal and state law.  Failure to comply with CITC's policies and procedures on participant privacy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. 
• Employee may access protected health information and other participant information only to the extent necessary to complete job duties.  Employee may only share such information on a need to know basis with others who have job responsibilities related to treatment, payment, or other CITC operations. 
• Employee is encouraged and expected to report, without the threat of retaliation, any concerns regarding CITC's policies and procedures on participant privacy and any observed practices in violation of the policy to the designated Privacy Officer.  

 

Job Specifications: 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient with PCs and standard office equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to make decisions and exercise good judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and prioritize workload.
• Strong public speaking and organizational skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple activities.
• Demonstrated ability and experience conducting individual and group sessions.
• Demonstrated experience using an electronic health record or a case management system.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to be cross-trained in any aspect of the program.
• Must have strong writing skills with attention to detail and accuracy of fact reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

 

Minimum Core Competencies: CITC Values, Respectful Leadership, Professionalism, Emotional Intelligence, Problem Solving/Critical Thinking, Communication Skills 

 

Minimum Qualifications:

Substance Use Counselor, I

• Associates degree in Human Services or related field. Relevant experience may substitute for educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Two (2) years of relevant work experience working in a substance-use related field.
• Working knowledge of available resources within the surrounding communities.
• Alaska Chemical Dependency Counselor Certification I (CDC I) or ability to obtain certification within six months from hire date. 
• Demonstrated ability to train group facilitation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Motivational Interviewing and Trauma-Informed Care.
• Strong understanding of the ASAM system.

Substance Use Counselor, II

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social work, Psychology, Human Services, Counseling, or Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling. Relevant experience may qualify for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Three (3) years of relevant work experience working in a substance-use related field.
• Three (3) years’ experience implementing and facilitating clinical best practices in the substance use field, conducting case reviews, and making placements using the current ASAM and DSM-5.
• Alaska Chemical Dependency Counselor Certification I (CDC I) or ability to obtain certification within three months from hire date. 
• Working knowledge with the State and Government clinical regulations.
• Working knowledge of Motivational Interviewing and Trauma-Informed Care.

Substance Use Counselor, III

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social work, Psychology, Human Services, Counseling, or Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling. Relevant experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Five (5) years of relevant work experience working in a substance-use related field.
• Three (3) years’ experience implementing and facilitating clinical best practices in the substance use field, conducting case reviews, and making placements using the current ASAM and DSM-5.
• Alaska Chemical Dependency Counselor Certification II (CDC I) or ability to obtain certification within three months from hire date. 
• Working knowledge with the State and Government clinical regulations.
• Working knowledge of Motivational Interviewing and Trauma-Informed Care.

 

Minimum Qualifications for All Levels

• Valid Alaska driver’s license and insurable under CITC’s automotive insurance, which requires a driver to be at least 21 years of age and have had a driver’s license for at least three years.
• Continued employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory state and federal fingerprint criminal background check, approved National Provider Identifier Standard (NPI) status, and state approval as a Qualified Addictions Professional (QAP).
• Current access to all Department of Correction (DOC) facilities and continue to remain in compliance or the ability to obtain access within one year from hire.

 

Physical Requirements:  

• Primarily works in an office setting, with extended periods of time at a desk and on a computer. 

 

NATIVE PREFERENCE STATEMENT: Pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (PL 93-638) and as further guided by CITC’s Native Preference Policy 6.120, CITC maintains preference in all phases of employment for Alaska Native, American Indian (AN/AI) and Native Hawaiian people, including direct lineal descendants and foster or traditionally adopted children. Also included are non-Native head of household members for Native families, which includes foster or traditionally adopted Native children.

 

Disclaimer

The information provided in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by incumbents within this job.  It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and working conditions required of employees assigned to this job.  Management has sole discretion to add or modify duties of the job and to designate other functions as essential at any time.  This job description is not an employment agreement or contract.