Counselor (MAT)

Description

Position Summary:

The Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Counselor serves as a member of the Treatment team of WestCare Tennessee and works to ensure the delivery of individual, group, and family counseling services in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program grant. This role is responsible for the completion of documentation required for clinical records including, but not limited to, development of the Individual Service Plan (ISP), psychosocial assessment, daily notes, monthly reviews and all related activities in a timely manner. This position will serve individuals from Roane, Morgan, Loudon, Cocke and Jefferson County Tennessee.

Essential Job Functions:

• Embraces and embodies the mission, vision, guiding principles, and goals of WestCare Tennessee.
• Conduct interviews to determine individual needs and appropriateness for program counseling and treatment participation and/or referrals.
• Schedule and facilitate individual, group and family evidenced-based counseling sessions and related program activities using but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI).
• Coordinate community resource linkages with everyone on assigned case load.
• Ensure follow up on individual treatment goals.
• Complete program orientation with clients regarding process and responsibilities and provide written program information and client documentation for their personal records.
• Use counseling skills to develop and prepare Person-Centered Individual treatment and service plans with scheduled progress checkpoints and ongoing reviews.
• Assesses the needs, conditions, and desires of assigned program participants.
• Educates and refers program participants to community agencies and businesses that appropriately address their needs for food, shelter, clothing, employment, transportation, etc.
• Assists participants with establishing or re-establishing community support systems.
• Acts as advocate on behalf of program participants to improve access to vital services.
• Participates in clinical staffing decisions regarding the participant’s current strengths and resources, and their need for additional resources.
• Complete psychosocial assessment summaries for substance use disorder (SUD), Opioid use disorder (OUD) and/or co-occurring disorder (COD) diagnosis for clients.
• As directed conduct random drug screenings and send required documentation for reporting to the Department of Corrections (DOC) as required.
• Analyze client interactions, behaviors and situations and take necessary actions to provide crisis intervention, reporting incidence to Clinical Supervisor, Project Director, TN Regional Administrator and any other members of WestCare Tennessee management team as deemed necessary.
• Complete and review in a timely manner both paper and electronic client records and reports to ensure clinical accuracy as defined by the Clinical Supervisor, WestCare Tennessee and regulatory entities in tracking treatment and behavioral progress.
• Initiate transition/discharge planning with individuals at the earliest possible point.
• Maintain and input notes in WestCare Tennessee tracking systems.
• Facilitate and participate in Peer Reviews of individual files.
• Attend necessary monthly integrated staff team meetings.
• Provides input into the patient’s treatment needs and disposition.
• Perform individual follow up interviews to document individual progress, to make additional referrals if needed and to maintain active communication throughout the duration of their enrollment in the program.
• Participates in case conferences involving assigned program participants.
• Prepares Discharge Summaries, as needed.
• Coordinates activities and monitors progress for sober living participants.
• Communicate with referral sources and conduct eligibility screens for sober living participants.
• Maintain strong professional relationship boundaries with individuals served.
• Maintain strong professional relationship boundaries with organizations/ community agencies who refer individuals to WestCare Tennessee.
• Attend in-person and virtual program conferences and meetings, community meetings, and events as deemed necessary.
• Submit weekly report to Project Director
• Will engage and complete the required WestCare Tennessee eLearning, and any other program related trainings.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licenses:

• Valid driver’s license is required.

Education:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year College/University with a degree in Sociology, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology or related human services or behavioral health field for this position is preferred.
• Previous experience of at least 1-3 years of counseling or group therapy.

• Experience of 5 years will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.

Experience and Competencies:

• Basic knowledge of behavioral health, therapeutic techniques, social services, or related industry.
• Some experience with Clinical Database Systems.
• Excellent communication skills including group facilitation.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.
• Ability to adhere to the highest standard of ethical conduct and confidentiality.
• Professional appearance and demeanor.
• Must be culturally/linguistically sensitive to populations served including justice involved.
• Gather, evaluate, and record data.
• Experience with using data tracking systems.
• Ability to stay highly organized and maintain time management.
• Ability to utilize a computer and software that includes Microsoft 365.

Working Conditions:

• Work is primarily performed in an office or indoor setting.
• Some activities with travel will be required to local justice centers.

• Some travel will be required to trainings and conferences.
• Regular and prompt attendance is required throughout employment.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or

without accommodation:

Physical Demands:

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to fifty pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and proper utilization by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files).
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or promptly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision including proper eyewear at 20 inches or less and at distance.
• The normal work routine involves the possible exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands:

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with co-workers, managers, and the public at all levels to exchange ideas, information, instructions, and opinions.