Telecare's mission is to deliver excellent and effective behavioral health services that engage individuals in recovering their health, hopes, and dreams. Telecare continues to advance cultural diversity, humility, equity, and inclusion at all levels of our organization by hiring mental health peers, BIPOC, LGBTQIA , veterans, and all belief systems.

Adult residents of Kern County who are intoxicated from either alcohol or drugs, and are referred to the Recovery Station. These individuals previously may have been arrested for public intoxication and/or taken to unnecessary psychiatric crisis programs. Clinicians and peer staff will engage clients to connect with ongoing substance and/or mental health services, ensure linkage and “warm hand-offs” to other community-based services, and post-discharge follow-up.

Shifts Available:

Short Hour .4; NOC 11:00 pm - 7:30 am; Friday and Saturday

Expected starting wage range for SUTS Counselor is $18.22 - 21.95 OR Case Manager - Substance Use Counselor is $25.79 - $31.87. Telecare applies geographic differentials to its pay ranges. The pay range assigned to this role will be based on the geographic location from which the role is performed. Starting pay is commensurate with relevant experience above the minimum requirements.

POSITION SUMMARY

The SUTS Counselor provides substance use treatment services to clients including individual and group counseling, family counseling, completing ASAM's, assessment, treatment and discharge planning, case management, linkages, referrals, and other supportive services to adults.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Demonstrates the Telecare mission, purpose, values, and beliefs in everyday language and contact with the internal and external stakeholders

• Adheres to Drug Medi-Cal, DHCS, and Telecare Corporation’s standards of care and timelines

• Conducts admissions, intakes, ASAM, assessments, treatment plans, and discharge planning in support of client flow within the contractually specified timelines

• Documents according to DHCS drug medi-Cal regulations

• Conducts individual, group, and family sessions as needed

• Writes thorough and goal-oriented client treatments plans, completes ASAM, assessments, and progress notes in accordance with current state and county regulations and statutes, and with Telecare Corporation’s policies and procedures

• Provides specialized services and interventions related to substance use/addictive disorders, including thematic groups, evidence-based practices, and collaboration with external agencies and resources

• Participates in all case conferences and in collaboration with other professionals overseeing the client’s case; and links clients to resources in the community

• Attends and participates in community meetings and groups

• Helps create a recovery environment through interactions with staff and members served

• Demonstrates knowledge of management of assaultive behavior techniques

• Responds to emergency/crisis situations

• Collects urine samples from members served, as assigned

• Maintains awareness of community resources and assists members served in appropriate use of community resources

• Assists and advocates for members served in obtaining appropriate benefits

• Coordinates transitions to lower levels of care

• Assists with outings for members served by driving Program van and/or own vehicle

• Adheres to 42 CFR policies and all other Telecare policies and procedures

• Must evade members served in the event of assaultive behavior and pass assault crisis/crisis prevention training

Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted and/or changed at the discretion of management.

Position requires transporting Members in program vehicle (acceptable driving record)

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• High school diploma or G.E.D.

• Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT) as approved by DHCS the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and one (1) year experience as RADT in an AOD program

• Must maintain active status of certification and continuing education as required by licensing board

• Within two (2) months of employment, ability to apply financial requirements for billing and learn billing codes

• Demonstrated sensitivity to behavioral health issues and multi-cultural populations (e.g., exposure through family relationships, volunteering, or other previous experience(s) or coursework)

• Strong focus and passion to provide excellent customer service

• Must be at least 18 years of age

• Must be CPR, Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), and First Aid certified on date of employment or within 60 days of employment and maintain current certification throughout employment

• All opportunities at Telecare are contingent upon successful completion and receipt of acceptable results of the applicable post-offer physical examination, 2-step PPD test for tuberculosis, acceptable criminal background clearances, excluded party sanctions, and degree or license verification. Position requires driving, valid driver’s license, a motor vehicle clearance and proof of auto insurance is required at time of employment and must be maintained throughout employment. Additional regulatory, contractual or local requirements may apply

Preferred:

• Associate or Bachelors’ degree

• One (1) year experience working within a Medi-Cal certified program

• Knowledge of the needs of individuals diagnosed with co-occurring disorders and substance abuse

SKILLS

• Knowledge of basic psychiatric rehabilitation terminology and interventions

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively within a team as well as alone

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

The employee is occasionally required to sit, bend, squat, kneel, crawl, twist, push, pull and lift and carry items weighing 50 pounds or less as well as to frequently walk, stand, twist, reach and to do simple and power grasping. The position requires manual deviation, repetitive and dexterity, as well as driving, exposure to uneven walking ground, and hazardous exposure (blood borne pathogens, hospital waste, chemicals, and infections).

EOE AA M/F/V/Disability

If job posting references any sign-on bonus internal applicants and applicants employed with Telecare in the previous 12 months would not be eligible.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)