Substance Abuse Counselor I

Individual counseling:

• Carries out counseling of SUD and COD patients within the structure of a comprehensive treatment plan. Demonstrates utilization of evidence-based practices and listening skills, empathy, confrontation and supportive skills, ability to monitor patient participation, engagement, and motivation. Demonstrates ability to communicate treatment with other members of interdisciplinary team. Establishes long-term counseling relationships with patients.

Group therapy:

• Demonstrates ability to independently facilitate group therapy for persons with substance use disorders. The counselor has a working knowledge of the concepts underlying group therapy. Furthermore, is capable of developing creative group programming, organizing and managing group rosters and content specific documentation.
• *Percentage of time spent on this responsibility will vary based on role assignment

Collaboration of care:

• Coordination of care and support for persons with substance use disorders with entities such as family, other health-related agencies, employers, criminal justice programs, and social service. Adheres to rules of confidentiality when communicate with outside providers. Coordinates appropriate referrals to community providers.

Case records/documentation:

• Maintains active case records including written strength-based treatment plans, problem-oriented progress notes, periodic updates of treatment plans, and appropriate documentation of incidents, discharge summaries, interagency communications, and correspondence.

Participates in program staff development and informational activities including:

• Maintains continuing education in knowledge and skills affecting the discipline of substance use disorder counseling, and COD treatment, including attendance at in-service meetings.
• Provides on-site teaching to multi-disciplinary students observing program components and therapy.
• Reports to clinical supervisor regularly for supervision of all clinical activity.
• Regular program multidisciplinary staff/team meetings to review policy, and procedures as well as conduct case reviews.

Other duties as assigned, including but not limited to:

• Milieu management in clinic area
• Toxicology screen monitoring
• Assess patients for physical, behavioral signs of drug/alcohol use and perform BAC tests as needed.
• Preparing and administering toxicology screens
• Assist staff in assessing patient’s acting-out behavior, and develop a plan of action to help maintain the safety of other patients and staff in clinic.

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in a discipline related to human services required
• 1+ years of related experience required
• Completion of a clinical internship in substance use and/or experience in substance use disorder treatment preferred; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Addiction treatment.  Counseling theories and techniques.  Clinical writing.  Health and human services resources; preferred.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

• NYS Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) or CASAC-Trainee, or CASAC-Provisional is preferred at hire preferred

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