TLC Substance Use Counselor - TLC

COVID-19 vaccine and booster required.

This is a union position.

Program participants are 18 and over adults who are under the influence of substances and need short term assistance and support. HR360 will be operating the Privacy Area at the Tenderloin Linkage Center in a manner that treats all participants with compassion, dignity and respect. Shifts are staffed with a supervisor, EMT, health workers, and safety navigators. The team works to ensure the safety of all participants, especially focused on those who may be using substances in the Privacy Area.

The program is a welcoming, compassionate, trauma-informed, culturally attuned, and user-responsive space that focuses on the principles of harm reduction. Alongside providing a safe, comfortable space for clients, our emphasis is on supporting people at increased risk of substance use-related high-risk behaviors and trauma, homelessness, and death due to overdose. Priority will be given to clients’ safety, and all staff will be trained in OD Prevention, Recognition, Response and Narcan Administration. By recognizing the dignity and humanity of all participants, HR360 aspires:

To monitor participant safety and prevent fatal overdoses.

To reduce barriers for people who use drugs to access a non-judgmental and participant-centered space, addressing the inter-related harms of homelessness, substance use, and trauma;

To help address and reduce the harmful impacts of substance-related harms in the immediate and surrounding neighborhood, by providing radical hospitality to individuals who are experiencing substance use related crisis/disfunction;

To create a stigma-free zone for services that will elicit and incorporate the needs and preferences of persons who use drugs in San Francisco into the program’s mission, policies, practices, and development;

To continuously improve and develop the service delivery of this community-based model, through data collection, participant feedback, and evaluations;

And to collaborate with our community partners, and support linkages to partner agencies providing community-based harm reduction, treatment, and wellness resources (housing, primary care, substance use treatment, and other services available at the TLC). 

This position requires full vaccination against COVID-19 before hire. This position is union eligible.

HealthRIGHT 360 is an equal opportunity employer, and reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with either disabilities or religious exemptions to meet this requirement, and other essential job functions.

The work schedule for this position is: 7:30am-4pm, but may be adjusted along with any changes of program hours.

Job duties may be performed indoors or outdoors. May be required to work nights and weekends. May be redeployed to work at other relevant sites as needed.

HealthRIGHT 360 has provided treatment for behavioral health disorders since 1985. The Tenderloin Linkage Center works with high-risk populations from a variety of backgrounds providing trauma-informed care aimed at reducing the harmful impacts of substance use.

Our programs are open and welcoming to adult participants of any gender identity. We accept the majority of participants who seek Outpatient treatment; including walk-in’s, referrals from other agencies, and step-down transitional clients from residential treatment programs. Participants and their counselors work collaboratively to design an integrated, individualized, strengths-based treatment experience geared towards addressing each client’s specific needs and goals.

In this position an SUD Counselors would provide counseling to TLC participants seeking SUD treatment, facilitating weekly individual and group counseling sessions in person. This is a full-time position that would allow for some partial or full-time telecommuting work. All SUD Counselors are required to maintain current and thorough records to support clients in their outpatient participation. Job duties may be performed indoors or outdoors. May be required to work nights and weekends. May be redeployed to work at other relevant sites as needed.  

• Works as part of an integrated, multi-disciplinary treatment team.
• Assesses for clients seeking substance use treatment and mental health treatment.
• Conducts face-to-face assessments and individual counseling sessions with each client.
• Utilizes principles of a trauma-informed care and harm reduction to attend to client milieu.
• Facilitates linkages for clients seeking substance use recovery, trauma recovery, addressing mental health symptoms, and other personal change.
• Proactively links clients with available internal and external resources to develop/maintain treatment plans, transition plans, progress notes and appropriate updates in support of the health and recovery needs of each client.
• Attends regular trainings, meetings, and events related to furthering professional development.
• Responsible for documenting all individual counseling sessions and assessments conducted.
• Maintains accurate records by data entering documentation into various electronic systems for all clients in accordance with guidelines established by HealthRIGHT 360 to satisfy internal and external evaluating requirements.
• And, other duties as assigned. 

Education and Experience Required:

• Registration or Certification with drug and alcohol counseling organization recognized by DHCS.

Desired:

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field.

Background Clearance Required:

• Must not be on active parole or probation.

Knowledge Required:

• Culturally competent and able to work with a diverse population.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, specifically Word Outlook and internet applications.
• Experience working successfully with issues of substance abuse, mental health, criminal background, and other potential barriers to economic self sufficiency.

Skills and Abilities Required:

• Ability to enter data into various electronic systems while maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the data.
• Professionalism, punctuality, flexibility and reliability are imperative.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Integrity to handle sensitive information in a confidential manner.
• Action oriented.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organization skills and ability to multitask and juggle multiple priorities.
• Outstanding ability to follow-through with tasks.
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively as part of interdisciplinary team and independently assume responsibility.
• Strong initiative and enthusiasm and willingness to pitch in whenever needed.
• Able to communicate well at all levels of the organization including working with organization leadership and high-level representatives of partner organizations.
• Able to work within a frequently changing project scope while maintaining overall direction and structured priorities.

Desired:

• Knowledge of co-occurring disorders and trauma informed treatment.
• Knowledge of Clinical documentation (treatment plans, progress notes etc.).
• Experience working with criminal justice population.
• Bilingual.

Tag: IND100.