Substance Abuse Counselor (ACCS)

Position : Substance Use Counselor

40hrs : Schedule - Hybrid Work, Mon-Fri (Flexible hours)

FLSA Status : Exempt

Department / Division : Adult Community Clinical Services (ACCS)

Supervised by : Assistant Program Director

General Statement of Duties : Provide direct intervention with Persons Served to conduct comprehensive assessments, treatment plans and clinical interventions. Provide modeling and supervision for direct care staff. Provide on-call coverage through established rotation. Provide coordination of crisis intervention, as needed.

Responsibilities :

1. Utilize recovery principals in partnership with Persons and members of the Integrated Teams to improve Persons' health and wellness; achieve symptom stabilization and self-management; develop and / or restore skills impacted by their mental illness; live a self-directed life; and strive to reach their full potential.

2. Ensure that a culture of quality is maintained by using evidence-based and other best practices within the services being provided.

3. Provide the staff and persons served with a vision about the importance and inevitability of achieving goals through the recovery process.

4. Increase the level of involvement and decision-making by persons served in their treatment planning and in service delivery. Document interventions provided to persons served on required service note.

5. Enhance efforts to encourage and provide services regarding physical and emotional wellness.

6. Provide direct interventions and support to Persons; address the consequences of alcohol and drug use regardless of Stage of Change and support readiness, relapse prevention and long-term recovery.

7. Anticipate issues of risk and attend to crisis or emergency situations by intervening immediately with appropriate clinical / medical treatment and / or supervision. Develop and train staff in the implementation of person served Risk and Safety Plans.

8. Facilitate the comprehensive assessment process.

9. Implement BAMSI's Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral for Treatment (SBIRT), Stages of Change model, Motivational Interviewing and Harm Reduction for screening, assessing, and reassessing substance use, addiction risk and addiction treatment needs.

10. Oversee the development, implementation, review and revision of the treatment planning and service delivery process.

11. Coordinate treatment and services with all Persons' Served Care Coordination Entities and behavioral and physical health providers.

12. In collaboration with Site Managers, provide clinical supervision to direct care staff.

13. Ensure compliance with organizational policies, contracts, and funding source requirements as they relate to health and safety.

14. Assume rotating on-call responsibilities as assigned.

15. Ensure compliance with licensing and accreditation standards as well as local, state, and federal regulations relative to the medical areas and medication in assigned programs.

16. Perform other related work duties as needed or as assigned by supervisor.

17. Perform duties to reflect agency policies and procedures.

18. Follow funder and agency protocol for reporting significant incidents and alleged abuse and / or neglect.

19. Transport persons served as needed.

20. Attend all required trainings and demonstrate continued growth and competency. Obtain and maintain required training within allotted time frames.

21. Execute duties to reflect reasonable safety standards. Universal / standard precautions must be utilized, and training obtained in areas that constitute risk.

Qualifications :

• Must be a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC I).
• Through the Pathways to Licensure process, DMH may approve the substitution of the CADC series and the LADCII for the LADC I credential for the substance abuse counselor position. If this substitution is approved, employees with CADC series and LADC II credentials are not eligible to function as a Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts (LPHA). DMH will approve an application for substitution of the CADC or LADC II credentials for the duration of the employee's tenure in the substance abuse counselor position.
• Competency with medical and psychiatric monitoring; and consultation and coordination for Persons.
• Experience working with people who have been diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental illness.
• Ability to speak and write English clearly and accurately to keep documentation up to date and understandable.
• Basic computer literacy, including the ability to record data, use electronic medical records, use electronic time and attendance software, and receive and send electronic mail, is required.
• Effective listening, critical thinking, writing, and communication skills.
• Must possess a valid driver's license in state of residence and own means of transportation required.
• Preference given to candidates with lived experience and fluency in languages prevalent in Southeastern MA.

40hrs : Hybrid work, M-F flexible hours