SUBSTANCE USE COUNSELOR

Substance Use Counselor

Hill Country Community Clinic

Job Description

Job Title:           SUD Counselor

Department:     Medical/Behavioral Health

FLSA Status:    Non-exempt

Reports To:       SUD Counselor - Lead

POSITION SUMMARY:

The SUD Counselor will provide direct counseling, navigational, and case management services to patients with substance use disorders, including those affected by chronic medical conditions and/or psychiatric issues. The SU Counselor is responsible for managing an assigned patient caseload, including patients participating in the Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) Program. 

The SUD Counselor works as part of the integrative team to support patients learn skills to make behavioral changes to improve their health and wellness. Under minimal supervision, work independently and together with HCCC medical, behavioral health and other community agencies to provide SU individual and group counseling, including case management services to help achieve wellness and recovery goals. Learns and uses a harm reduction approach to promote change.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Other duties may be assigned which may become essential to the position

Under the supervision of the Integrated SU Director, the SU Counselor is responsible for performing the following essential job functions.

• Performs screening and assessments for substance use disorders, including SBIRT and ASAM dimensions.
• Identifies problem areas that affect daily functioning and are barriers to engage in recommended services.
• Work closely with patients to develop individualized SUD treatment plans to meet patient needs. 
• Provides education and training of substance/alcohol related disorders, including but not limited to substance refusal skills, relapse prevention and recovery planning.
• Provides brief intervention to address alcohol/substance use, and/or behaviors to assist patients to gain strategies to overcome obstacles that interfere with the recovery process.
• Provides individual and group counseling to patients with substance use disorders, including MAT patients.
• Continually monitor and evaluate patient’s progress on goals, treatment and/or care plans.
• Collaboration with community resources for referrals and coordination of services.
• Maintain close communication with medical, behavioral health and other support staff as needed to meet patient needs.
• Makes referrals for needed services and facilitates access to community resources.

• Assists participants in utilization of services, maintains follow up contacts and coordination of care.
• Assist to arrange appointments as needed to support access to care.
• Coordination with Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) members to ensure proper continuum of care for MAT patients.
• Adheres to strict boundaries and professional ethics in the care of others.
• Participates in weekly MAT consultation meetings with MAT team.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation of all interactions, including telephone calls.
• Maintains knowledge of new developments in the field of addiction and recovery.
• Participates in ongoing education and training for professional development.
• Attend program-related community, coalition and committee meetings as assigned by supervisor.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Alcohol and Drug Counselor certification recognizes by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) or equivalent. May consider registered counselor depending on skills and experience.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with assessment, treatment planning, conducting interviews and counseling.
• Motivational interviewing skills and knowledge of the stages of change.
• Ability to work with a team of professionals and have the ability to implement team strategy approaches to work assignments.
• Demonstrates excellent attendance, reliability and dependability.
• Be familiar with the Harm Reduction Model.
• Ability to work with computers and the necessary software programs to perform all duties.
• Valid California driver’s license and excelling driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Comfortable working with culturally diverse populations.
• Experience working with people with SU, mental health and/or chronic health conditions and co-occurring disorders
• Experience working in collaboration with SU treatment programs, health care systems and community-based organizations.

• Familiar with integration and team-based care.
• Experience using electronic health records.
• Knowledge and experience working with the criminal justice system.

BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS:

• Adhere to Policies and Procedures
• Participate in team systems
• Perform duties ethically
• Maintain patient confidentiality
• Demonstrate ability to re-prioritize duties as needs arise
• Use time efficiently
• Be responsible for co-workers and patient satisfaction
• Display flexibility in accepting, changing, and carrying out assignments
• Maintain a neat, clean, and safe work environment throughout the facility
• Perform duties with kindness in a quality manner

Language Ability:

Must have intermediate level language skills.  Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before individuals, groups or employees of organization.

Math Ability:

Must have basic math skills.  Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentages.

Reasoning Ability:

Must have intermediate level reasoning skills.  Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge basic working knowledge of Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office Suite - Word, Excel, Outlook, and Internet browsers. Must have working experience with medical management software such as Health Pro and Medi-Tracks, CAIR.

Equipment Skills:

Must have good working knowledge of standard medical equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The position requires work to be performed in various work environments. This may include indoor/outdoor and medical office environment. Employee will occasionally be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, outdoor weather conditions, and may occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate with normal business office, computer, printer and medical equipment noises. In addition performance of duties will include outreach in the community and working in various environments.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, employees will regularly use hands to finger, handle or feel, and talk or hear.  Employees will frequently sit and reach with hands or arms.  Employees will occasionally stand, walk, balance, stoop, kneel or crouch, and smell.  Employee will frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Employee must use close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to focus. 

Qualifications