Substance Use Counselor

About St. Anthony’s

Founded in 1950, St. Anthony's is the most comprehensive safety net service center in San Francisco, directly providing food, clothing, medical care, addiction recovery services, access to technology, job training, and other critical resources to the community. Every day we support and are supported by thousands of San Franciscans. Everyone who comes through our doors joins the St. Anthony's family and helps us create a future where all people flourish.

Principal Responsibility

Fr. Alfred Center (FAC) provides a residential recovery program to homeless men who are ready to create sober and stable lives for themselves. The Fr. Alfred Center’s year-long, abstinence-based program empowers men with no income or resources with the tools to overcome addiction and the support to establish productive and healthy lives. The holistic treatment offered through St. Anthony’s multiple services is rare in the field of recovery, and allows for immediate assessment and thoughtful resolution of clients’ medical, legal, vocational and educational needs, most or all of which have been affected profoundly by the cycles of poverty and addiction. Counselors conduct assessments, one-on-one counseling, educational and group counseling sessions to a caseload of up to 12 residents and provide general oversight and support services to all residents.   In the spirit of our Franciscan values and heritage, our team provides compassion and care daily. As a steward of healing and social justice, you are expected to meet the following duties:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities   

Resident Engagement

• Conducts in-depth, intake interviews and assessments of incoming residents assigned to caseload to determine their appropriateness for the program.
• Provides individual counseling and case management for a regular caseload of approximately 10 to 12 residents.
• Develops and updates clients’ casework plans.
• Assists residents in the development of their personal recovery plans.
• Assesses dynamics that are harmful for residents’ recovery, intervenes and counsels.
• Monitors residents’ compliance with program requirements, implements consequences as
• Documents client benchmarks and other required information into Efforts to Outcomes (ETO), daily as required by the program.
• Participates in the weekly case conference.
• Conducts group sessions for residents (process groups, anger management group, etc.).
• Assist with the caseloads of counselors who are absent (vacation, sick or other leave).
• Collaborates with other St. Anthony programs providing services to the residents (the Dining Room, the Tenderloin Tech Lab, the Medical Clinic, Workforce Development and the Social Work Center) and with outside community agencies.
• Oversees all resident activities and transportation at Fr. Alfred Center, monitors compliance with program and residence rules.
• Provides support for residents.
• Treat all guests with empathy, dignity, and respect. Seek to understand the other person's perspective and experience.
• Demonstrate the ability to work effectively across cultures and an openness to learning about cultures not familiar to oneself.

Program Administration and Operations

• Complete reports and all other paperwork neatly, legibly, and thoroughly.
• Enter data and information electronically as required. Looks up data and reports electronically through a database as requested.
• Understand and follow the organization's programs, policies, and procedures
• Participate in regular training and development opportunities to increase personal capacity to apply innovative approaches to daily workflows, service delivery, and functions of the position.
• Documents client benchmarks and other required information into Efforts to Outcomes (ETO), daily as required by the program.
• Enters case notes, maintains and updates client paper files in a timely manner.
• Notes significant events in the staff log. Fills out medication sheets and all other required paperwork completely and accurately.
• Assist in the evaluation, planning, development, and implementation of program procedures, guidelines and policies.

Teamwork

• Participate in relevant meetings supporting team communication and the program's capacity to fulfill organizational goals and mission.
• Collaboratively works with others to achieve team success.
• Manage stress and pressure situations calmly and responsively. Maintain the capacity to control reactions and awareness of how their behavior or response can impact others.
• Consistently demonstrate integrity while working and representing St. Anthony’s.
• Practice direct, respectful, open, and honest communication with their colleagues. Proactively seeks support from team members or management.
• Demonstrate cooperation with coworkers, management, and the community at large.

Minimum Qualifications

• Valid Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) counselor certification issued by California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Two years current experience in chemical dependency field.
• High School diploma/GED and three years’ experience in social services, particularly in drug and alcohol residential programs.
• Two years current experience in client caseload management and group counseling
• Demonstrated knowledge of the disease and treatment of chemical dependency including 12-step work and social model programs.
• Excellent interpersonal, listening, oral, and written communication skills are required.
• Ability to be polite, diplomatic, and firm. Can set limits and practice professional boundaries with guests, volunteers, donors, and coworkers.
• Ability to respond to emergencies and high-pressure situations in a self-composed and self-assured manner.
• Ability to work non-traditional hours and days (weekends and holidays required).
• Ability to complete paperwork neatly and legibly.
• Computer literate in Windows, MS Office. Experience with client databases preferred. Ability or willingness to learn to use information and communication technologies (computers, smartphones, and iPads) to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information.
• Valid CA Driver’s license with excellent driving record.
• Ability to be punctual, reliable, cooperative, and stay team-oriented.
• Experience working in a non-profit or community-based social service agency with people experiencing homelessness or poverty desired.
• Commitment to St. Anthony Foundation Statement of Values and a desire to work for a social services agency serving the poor.

Salary : $50,000 - $75,000