Employee Assistance Counselor

Marketing Statement:

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Occupational Health and Wellness (OHAW) department is seeking an experienced Employee Assistance Program Counselor who will be responsible for clinical services including assessment for mental health & substance abuse, surveillance, drug and alcohol testing, referrals, case management, and counseling to all Metro employees referred to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The incumbent is also responsible for developing and implementing treatment plans for clients, developing and facilitating outreach and educational content, confidentially maintaining all client-related paperwork, conducting risk assessments, and performing crisis intervention when necessary. The ideal candidate will be proactive, flexible, have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, be a responsive team player, and exercise discretion in a complex occupational health setting. This role is critical to OHAW operations and requires a strategic thinker who is and highly organized, empathetic, an adept problem-solver, and skilled multitasker.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor¿s Degree in Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, or related field.

Experience

• Three (3) years of experience in employee assistance, mental health counseling, drug or alcohol treatment programs.

Certification/Licensure

• DOT Substance Abuse Professional Certification eligible; must obtain DOT SAP certification within 90 days of hire
• Must be licensed in the state of Maryland and possess one of the following:
• LMSW-Licensed Masters Social Worker
• LCSW-Licensed Certified Social Worker
• LCSW-C-Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical
• LGPC-Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor
• LCPC-Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Preferred

Experience

• Five (5) years of combined experience in employee assistance, mental health counseling, drug and alcohol treatment programs or occupational health

Certification/Licensure

• Licensed in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia as a Social Worker or Counselor
• Certified DOT Substance Abuse Professional Certified Breath Alcohol Technician and Urine Drug Collector

Medical Group:

Ability to satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this job. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of this job either with or without reasonable accommodations.

SUMMARY

The Employee Assistance Counselor is responsible for providing clinical services including assessment for mental health & substance abuse, surveillance drug and alcohol testing, referrals, case management, and counseling to all Metro employees referred to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Other responsibilities include developing and implementing treatment plans for clients, handling complaints and conflicts, developing and presenting new in-service training events to the EAP staff, maintaining all client-related paperwork, assessing patients for suicidal risk, and performing crisis intervention when needed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assesses patients for risk of suicide attempts.
• Assists in the development and implementation of effective EAP training by drafting educational materials and facilitating training and outreach for all levels of the organization.
• Partners daily with Health & Wellness management and clinical personnel to recommend courses of action on referrals and case management.
• Maintains confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
• Performs crisis interventions with clients in-person, virtually and telephonically, in accordance with applicable Health & Wellness polices and based on the need of impacted employees. Responds to critical incidents after-hours when on-call.
• Prepares and maintains timely clinical EAP records that accurately document intake interviews, assessments, referrals, case management interviews, treatment progress reports, drug/alcohol test results.
• Provides EAP related consultation services to all Metro management employees.
• Counsels clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
• Provides clinical services including assessment, referral, case management, short-term counseling, and EAP surveillance alcohol & drug testing, as indicated, for all Metro employees referred to the EAP.
• Refers employees for Independent Medical Evaluations when indicated.
• Consults with supervisors when determining Fitness for Duty.
• Conducts Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) assessments in compliance with relevant US Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations and Metro policies.
• Collects information about clients through interviews, observation, or tests.
• Develops and implements treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

• Conducts comprehensive substance abuse education and training for employees that have violated Metro¿s policies pertaining to the use and abuse of prohibited substances.
• Participates in Suicide Prevention Taskforce.
• Presents EAP portion of New Hire Orientation.
• Assists in development of a competent, reliable, and accessible network of treatment providers and community resources that are covered by Metro¿s various health insurers.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of a comprehensive continuous improvement program evaluation procedure to ensure compliance with Metro policies and procedures.
• Provides testimony in concert with Health & Wellness management, Labor & Employee Relations and Legal & Compliance in response to unemployment claims and arbitrations
• Assists in preparation of Step 3 grievance responses for assigned cases.
• Assists in the development and implementation of a comprehensive, effective and continuous EAP marketing program to improve utilization of services among employees.
• Encourages clients to express their feelings and discusses what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
• Provides personal assistance and emotional support to Metro employees and dependents, as needed.
• Guides clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems.
• Fills out and maintains client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes.
• Handles complaints, settles disputes, and conflicts, or otherwise negotiates with others.
• Learns the various Metro Employee Benefits Programs, treatment provider network, and community resources.
• Performs chain-of-custody urine collection for drug testing and breath alcohol tests on employees as assigned and enters negative alcohol tests from these tests into the tracking database.
• Performs the duties of a certified Breath Alcohol Technician (BAT), where applicable.
• Prepares and presents in-service training events to EAP staff on the latest developments in the employee assistance program field.
• Determines if employee violates Drug and Alcohol mandates and if a referral to Joint Labor Management Committee (JLMC) is appropriate.
• Prepares chronology of events as needed for the Joint Labor Management Committee for employees who request a review of their case before the committee. Informs employee of JLMC decision and next steps.
• Works with the treatment provider, when indicated, in the development of a continuing recovery plan tailored to the effected employee's needs.
• Maintains and manages surveillance drug and alcohol testing.
• Receives and reviews drug tests results to assess for substance abuse.
• Enrolls and manages employees in program for chronic medication management.
• Consults directly with Medical Review Officer regarding verified drug results

The functions listed are not intended to limit specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Nor is it intended to limit in any way the right of managers and supervisors to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.

Evaluation Criteria

Consideration will be given to applicants whose resumes demonstrate the required education and experience. Applicants should include all relevant education and work experience.

Evaluation criteria may include one or more of the following:

• Skills and/or behavioral assessment
• Personal interview
• Verification of education and experience (including certifications and licenses)
• Criminal Background Check (a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to employment)
• Medical examination including a drug and alcohol screening (for safety sensitive positions)
• Review of a current motor vehicle report

Closing

WMATA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal law.

This posting is an announcement of a vacant position under recruitment. It is not intended to replace the official job description. Job descriptions are available upon confirmation of an interview.