Substance Abuse Counselor (Inpatient)

Job Function: The Counselor III will provide mental health treatment services, including substance abuse treatment, to adults and their families, consistent with the training, experience, and scope of practice established by their respective discipline and Alabama law.

Job Responsibilities

Clinical 100% of the time

• Provide basic living skills, psychoeducational services, medication monitoring, and crisis intervention, utilizing techniques and theories especially suited for individuals in the treatment population consistent with the services as delineated in the most recent version of the Alabama Department of Mental Health Substance Abuse Services Billing Manual as published and maintained by ADMH, as well as the services as delineated in the most recent version of the Alabama Medicaid Provider Billing Manual as published and maintained by Alabama Medicaid.
• Consult with other staff regarding appropriate mode of treatment and interventions with clients
• Maintain cooperative relationships with the treatment community, probation department, and other necessary and authorized agencies
• Assist in the provision of treatment services that meet center operational and service level requirements
• Provide case management services during program participation and for the coordination of continuing care
• Ensure the content of the client file is in full compliance with Family Life Center, Inc. Policies and Procedures, Alabama Department of Mental Health- Substance Abuse Division, Alabama Medicaid, and contracting agency standards and regulations regarding client file data entry, quality of file content, timeliness of entries, timeliness of file updates and archiving, and timely, accurate, and pertinent documentation and corresponding billing records
• Participate in training and staff meeting opportunities as required to expand and enhance therapeutic and administrative skills
• Assist with general clerical duties
• Assist with special projects and assignments per the Executive Director

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must meet the qualification of a Qualified Substance Abuse Professional III (QSAP III) by the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Alabama Medicaid, including:
  • Has a Bachelor’s degree from a nationally or regionally accredited university or college in Psychology; Social Work; Community, Rehabilitation, or Pastoral Counseling; Family Therapy; or another behavioral health area that requires equivalent clinical course work, and;
  • Participates in ongoing supervision by a certified or licensed QSAP I for a minimum of one (1) hour individual per week until attainment of a substance abuse counselor certification credential from the Alabama Association of Addiction Counselors, National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Alabama Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, or International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium/ Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Inc., which shall be obtained within thirty (30) months of hire.
• If a recovering person must have a minimum of two (2) years of continuous sobriety.
• Must achieve and maintain certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid by an approved certifying agency
• Must have an unrestricted, unexpired State of Alabama driver’s license and be insurable to drive program vehicles if the position could or does require transportation of clients
• High level of integrity, dependability, and honesty.
• Ability to express ideas and directives clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office software.

ADA Specifics

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands or arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop; kneel; crouch or crawl; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will occasionally be exposed to the weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Quality of Work

Incumbent work quality will be in accordance with the standards of the applicable contracting, certifying, and/or regulatory entities including, but not limited to, the following: Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation- Substance Abuse Services Division, State of Alabama Medicaid Department, Family Life Center, Inc. Policies and Procedures, and all state and federal applicable laws. In addition, all work is to be performed in compliance with Family Life Center, Inc. Safety policies, procedures, and practices, and all state and federal health and safety regulations.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, or working conditions.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at-will" relationship.