Credentialed Counselor (LSW/LAC/LCSW/LPC)

Are you passionate about making a difference in others' lives? Then come join the Straight and Narrow team!

Headquartered in Paterson, NJ, Straight and Narrow is the largest program of its kind. We provide innovative and compassionate services to individuals struggling with substance use and co-occurring disorders. We are looking for dedicated, caring and compassionate people to work in our Residential/Outpatient Treatment Facilities and Community Programs.

Credentialed Counselor Intern (PAID POSITION)

Location: Paterson, NJ

Job Summary: The Counselor functions as an integral part of the treatment team and provides mental health assessments, individual, group, family and didactic sessions as well as case management services to the clients on his/her caseload ensuring that the treatment requirements of all regulating bodies are fulfilled. This position is specifically designed to provide substance abuse clients more complete treatment when a co-occurring mental health issue is present.

Position Specific Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Each substance abuse counselor shall be responsible for the following:

• Assessing the counseling needs of the clients;
• Assessing clients using the ASI or using other standardized assessment tool and diagnosing clients for substance disorders using the DSM;
• Determining the appropriate level of care based on ASAM PPC;
• Obtaining previous records that are relevant to the current treatment episode;
• Collaborating with the client in order to develop a written treatment plan that is client-centered and recovery oriented and includes goals and measurable objectives.
• The director of substance abuse counseling shall develop, monitor and provide clients and the treatment team with written schedules that will be used to update each client treatment plan(s) in order to ensure that each client's treatment needs are addressed;
• Providing the substance abuse counseling services specified in the client treatment plan;
• Reviewing clients throughout the treatment episode according to ASAM PPC, to determine the need for continued services or discharge/transfer;
• Reviewing and, where necessary, revising the substance abuse counseling portion of the client treatment plan to address emerging problems;
• Developing the client discharge/transfer plans to ensure movement to the appropriate levels of care;
• Contacting referral sources, providing case consultation, and coordination with referral sources (for example: mental health treatment providers, criminal justice agencies, schools, employers, the Department of Children and Families);
• Participating as a member of a multidisciplinary team for assigned clients;
• Providing active case consultation; and
• Documenting all counseling and education services, assessments, reassessments, referrals and follow-up in the client's clinical record, providing appropriate signatures and dating of such entries, including those made in electronic records.
• Provide individual, group and family counseling; didactics; treatment planning and case management as required per licensing standards (residential or ambulatory according to program) for a small caseload of clients
• Assist in the formulation of measurable individualized Treatment Plans and Treatment Plan Reviews for each client on caseload
• Maintain clinical portion of clients’ charts as per the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and CARF guidelines, ensuring that all documentation is up to-date as per Straight & Narrow’s Policy on Timeframe for Documentation in Clients’ Charts
• Attend regularly scheduled multidisciplinary team meetings (MDT) and present information for Treatment Plan or Treatment Plan Review for clients’ on caseload
• Attend individual and group supervision with Clinical Supervisor as scheduled
• Provide clients on caseload with referrals to other agencies (i.e., health, psychiatric, vocational rehabilitation and public assistance) for concurrent and/or continued care as part of case management as necessary
• Provide crisis intervention to clients as necessary
• Submit documentation to Supervisor daily for any/all sessions held with clients on that day. Attend clinical consultation team meetings
• Attend and actively participate in all CQI subcommittee meetings and/or Grievance Committee meetings on which membership is held
• If CADC or LCADC has not been obtained, present supervisor will document progress toward this certification twice annually
• If an LCSW or LPC has not been obtained, supervision will be provided to assist employee in reaching this goal.
• Encourage and support clients’ participation in AA/NA/GA activities
• Ensure all Electronic Health Records (EHR) are followed

Qualifications:

• Must be an LSW or LAC. Alternately, may hold an MSW or an MA/MS in counseling or a social science discipline, and be on track for an LSW or LAC. At the discretion of The Agency, a supervised graduate studies intern student may perform all or some of the duties below, as required by the graduate program for completion of an MSW or MA/MS in counseling or a social sciences discipline.
• Each substance abuse counselor shall be either an LCADC or CADC or another licensed health professional doing work of an alcohol and drug counseling nature within their scope of practice.
• Substance abuse counseling staff without an LCADC or CADC status or who do not possess another New Jersey clinical professional license that includes work of an alcohol or drug counseling nature within their scope of practice shall function as alcohol and drug counselor-interns or credential-interns and shall:
• Be enrolled in a course of study leading to a CADC or LCADC, or another New Jersey clinical professional license that includes work of an alcohol and drug counseling nature within its scope of practice, without regard to changes in employment, with progress towards certification or licensing on file, reviewed by the facility at least semi-annually and documented; and
• Be trained, evaluated and receive continuing formal clinical supervision by the director of substance abuse counseling or designee, pursuant to the clinical supervision rules of the State health professional licensing board for the course of study in which they are enrolled:
• The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners' for licensed marriage and family therapists;
• The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners' Professional Counselor Examiners Committee for licensed professional counselors and licensed associate counselors;
• The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee for LCADCs and CADCs;
• The State Board of Psychological Examiners for licensed psychologists; and
• The State Board of Social Work Examiners for licensed clinical social workers and licensed social workers.
• Familiar with NJSAMS, ASAM and LOCI. Experience facilitating group and individuals and familiar with Drug Court Policies.
• Good interpersonal, verbal and written skills.
• Excellent working knowledge of computers.
• Experience in the fee per service environment a plus.

Benefits:

For full time positions, we offer medical, vision, dental, life and supplemental life insurance. Accidental and Critical Illness Insurance, 403B with employer match, Paid Time off (PTO), in house training seminars, two training days for certified professionals. SN also offers supervision for those individuals trying to become licensed in NJ as a LCADC/CADC, LSW, LCSW, LAC, LPC and LMFT. We participate in employee discount programs such as the Working Advantage program.