SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR / EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT HOMELESSNESS

FILING DATE:
Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 8:30 a.m., Pacific Time (PT)

 This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Substance Abuse Counselor vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Substance Abuse Counselor.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this journey-level class typically receive general supervision from a higher-level supervisor such as a senior-level substance use disorder or mental health counselor, clinician, psychiatrist, or psychologist and participate in interdisciplinary programs. Incumbents provide a variety of substance use disorder and/or mental health prevention, brief intervention, treatment and recovery services, such as patient/client screenings/assessments,  development of recovery and treatment plans, case management, and individual and group counseling/education. Positions allocated to this level are distinguished from the Substance Abuse Counselor Aid by their responsibility for more complex cases. Incumbents must have demonstrated knowledge of basic counseling and substance use service principles, practices and techniques. Incumbents are typically assigned to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, prevention and treatment programs, assessment and referral centers, and/or detention/correctional facilities.

• Conducts interviews of clients/patients and/or their family members to obtain family, social, medical, work, and substance use, physical health, and mental health histories.
• Conducts services such as screening, assessment, intake, counseling, education, recovery support, case management, and maintains documentation for delivered services. 
• Participates with the treatment team in developing, implementing, and evaluating treatment or therapy approaches for patients/clients, family members, and significant others in all phases of comprehensive substance use disorder and/or mental health treatment programs.
• Counsels patients/clients to reduce or cope with their substance use by assisting them in recognizing causal factors of substance use and/or mental health disorder and in developing appropriate coping behaviors.
• Counsels patients/clients regarding community resources or treatment services available to help reduce or cope with substance use.
• Assists patients/clients with linkage to appropriate community resources such as health benefits, housing, employment and legal services, as well as other substance use, mental health, and/or physical health services to help reduce or cope with substance use and address other needs critical to recovery.
• Assists senior-level counselors in complex areas of social and psychological adjustment counseling.
• Maintains a close system of follow-up for previously discharged persons by means of personal visits, telephone calls, and other means of communication; completes records on follow-up activities.
• Participates in educational activities in formal academic settings and in treatment or rehabilitation centers to improve knowledge of substance use disorder and mental health related areas.
• Develops and promotes interest in the substance use disorder and/or mental health fields by speaking before community groups or coordinating speakers or resource persons.
• Monitors and documents client/patient progress in substance use disorder /mental health recovery.  
• Assists in the supervision of aids or trainees and in the recruitment, selection, and training of such program staff members as needed.
• Assists with on-call duties as needed.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Option I: One (1) year of experience in a substance abuse program with experience providing physical assessment of patients, counseling of individuals, families and groups, and documentation.

Option II: One (1) year of training at the level of Substance Abuse Counselor Aid* in a substance abuse counselor training program.

Option III: Completion of 60 semester units or equivalent quarter units in an accredited college or university** with specialization in substance abuse counseling, social work, psychology, sociology, or human services.

LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS:
Physical Class II – Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.  

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
*Experience at the level of the Los Angeles County class of Substance Abuse Counselor Aid is defined as one who participates as a trainee in a substance abuse or mental health services program designed for the prevention of substance abuse and the treatment of rehabilitation patients and mental health clients with substance abuse problems.

**In order to qualify, you must include a legible copy of the Official Transcript(s) from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization and the date the degree was awarded if applicable, with Registrar's signature and/or school seal with your application online at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from application submission to HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov.

• Official Transcript is defined as a transcript that bears the college seal and states "official and/or copy" issued by the school's Registrar Office.  A printout of the transcript from the school's website is NOT considered official and, therefore, will NOT be accepted and may result in your application being incomplete and be rejected.
• Foreign degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to United States accredited institutions standards by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). (see Employment Information under Accreditation Information)

NOTE: If you are unable to attach the required documents with your application online, you must e-mail them to HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days from application submission.  In the "Subject" of the e-mail please type the Exam Number and Exam Title.   

We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS: 
Active and unrestricted certification as a substance abuse counselor by one of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accreditation organizations recognized by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) which includes:

• California Association for Alcohol and Drug Educators (CAADE) 
• California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP)
• California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP)

EXAMINATION CONTENT:
Before the end of your initial work assignment, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment. 

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FAIR CHANCE EMPLOYER:

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the in equalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices. 

Salary : $48,675 - $65,591