Drug & Alcohol Counselor- License Preferred

SUMMARY

This is a professional counseling position that consists of various duties related to counseling individuals with a substance use disorder, documenting services provided, and documenting clients' progress in treatment. Work involves providing individual, group, and family counseling based on the client's needs, and monitoring and managing a caseload. The drug and alcohol counselor also assists in developing treatment plans and recovery plans with the client. The counselor also coordinates services with other entities in the community and monitors treatment progress. Work involves the preparation of treatment plans, monthly reports, reports to probation and parole officers, and referral letters. Supervision is received from a drug and alcohol treatment supervisor or manager through review and guidance on difficult cases, review of client case files before discharge, and through weekly discussions. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

1. Conduct assessments/biopsychosocial evaluations on each potential client to determine if treatment is recommended and if so, utilize the ASAM criteria to determine the appropriate level of care. 
2. Develop individual treatment and recovery plans with each client on caseload.
3. Counsel, monitor, and manage an assigned caseload of drug and alcohol clients.
4. Facilitate group counseling sessions for up to 10 clients.
5. Present a summary of cases at staff meetings to elicit input from other counselors and to update staff on treatment progress.
6. Plan or conduct family counseling sessions. 
7. Execute interventions, prevention, and referrals appropriate for the client's needs and facilitate referrals to other services such as aftercare, higher level of care, and other outside agency referrals.
8. Attend weekly staff meetings.
9. Participates in ongoing in-service training programs.
10. Stay current on training requirements each year.
11. Employee will be proficient in their job position within six (6) months. If an employee feels they need more training/education, they are to submit a request  through their supervisor, manager, and/or director.
12. Utilize NTC’s Electronic Health Records (E.H.R.) during tenure of employment. Initial training and ongoing training will be provided to the employee  by the respective supervisor or manager.
13. Additional duties may be added as necessary to meet the needs of the facility.
14. Other Functions and Duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. 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 essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• A Master’s Degree or above from an accredited college with a major in chemical dependency, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing (with a clinical specialty in the human services) or other related field which includes a practicum in a health or human service agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting required or;
• A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college with a major in chemical dependency, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing (with a clinical specialty in the human services) or other related field and 1 year of clinical experience (a minimum of 1,820 hours) in a health or human service agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting or;
• An Associate Degree from an accredited college with a major in chemical dependency, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing (with a clinical specialty in the human services) or other related field and 2 years of clinical experience (a minimum of 3,640 hours) in a health or human service agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting.
• Knowledge of drug abuse subcultures.
• Staff requirements for certification; HIV, STD, ethics, etc.
• Knowledge of treatment facilities and human service agencies providing services to drug and alcohol dependent clients.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention methods; individuals, family and group counseling techniques; and dependent clients.
• Knowledge of the practice and procedures of the criminal justice system in dealing with drug and alcohol related offenders.
• Ability to develop a therapeutic relationship with clients to gain cooperation and securing client information, acceptance of treatment plan and participation in counseling sessions.
• Ability to read, interpret and explain policies and procedures to volunteers and trainees.
• Ability to conduct individual, group and family counseling sessions.
• Ability to read and interpret plans, court orders, reports from other treatment facilities, correspondence from clients and other human service agencies.
• Ability to write and update treatment plans, discharge summaries, daily logs, monthly reports, form letters and correspondences relating to specific clients.
• Ability to orally evaluate or summarize individual cases, present information at court hearings, counsel clients and provide drug and alcohol information to local groups. Ability to secure appropriate transportation to facilities of site.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

1. Must be able to travel if required. Position may/will require use of own vehicle.
2. Must have valid/current driver’s license.
3. Position requires occasional crisis intervention for protection of self and others.
4. Sedentary work: duties require exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or an eligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, and pull articles such as files and computer binders.

WORK ENVIRONMENT    

1. Works in a well-lit office environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

1. Must be able to travel if required. Position may/will require the use of own vehicle.
2. Must have a valid/current driver’s license.
3. The position requires occasional crisis intervention for the protection of self and others.
4. Sedentary work: duties require exerting up to 10 pounds of force  occasionally and/or an eligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, and pull articles such as files and computer binders.

E.O.E.