Addiction Recovery Counselor (Mental Health Services)

Vinfen•Lowell, MA

1d•$58,917 - $67,441

About The Position

The ACCS Addiction Recovery Counselor promotes the integration and functioning of Persons Served (PS) so they can live successfully in the community. The counselor works collaboratively with PS to understand how substance use affects their lives and serves as a resource to PS and other team members on substance addiction assessment, treatment, rehabilitation techniques, and available resources. The role provides direct, individualized and group addiction treatment and psychoeducation, assesses substance use and treatment needs, develops or supports treatment formulations, coordinates access to community-based services, and participates as a member of intervention teams. The counselor also trains, mentors, and models evidence-based and recovery-oriented practices for staff, documents PS needs and services, and promotes engagement, safe housing, community tenure, self-sufficiency, and access to healthcare, employment, and education. The position receives role-based clinical supervision from an Assistant Team Leader and participates in a community-of-practice workgroup. Services use trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, person-centered, culturally competent, and strengths-based approaches. Relevant practices include Motivational Interviewing, Stages of Change, Harm Reduction, Relapse Prevention, SSI-SA, SBIRT, Seeking Safety, WRAP, Cognitive Behavioral interventions, Safety Plans, Crisis Prevention and Response Plans, and the 8 Dimensions of Wellness. The counselor coordinates referrals and access to Medication Assisted Treatment, dual recovery groups, peer support, self-help, acute addiction treatment, and related health and psychoeducational services. The role requires driving to transport PS, using either a Vinfen van or a personal vehicle. Personal vehicle use requires adequate insurance and a safe driving record. A valid driver’s license must be presented at employment; incumbents must be at least 21 years old, have held a valid U.S. driver’s license for at least six months, and pass a driving background check. CPR and First Aid are required within the first two weeks of hire, and MAP is required within 150 days of hire. The position is with Vinfen, a nonprofit health and human services organization established in 1977. Vinfen reports 3,200 employees and 318 programs throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. The stated pay range is USD $58,917.00–$67,441.44 per year. A $2,000 sign-on bonus is offered.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Massachusetts LADC 1, LADC II, CADC I, or CADC II credential required.
Must have access to an operational and insured vehicle and be willing to use it to transport PS.
Must present a valid driver’s license at employment, be at least 21 years old, have held a valid U.S. driver’s license for at least six months, and pass a driving screening background check.
If using a personal vehicle, must maintain adequate insurance and a safe driving record, subject to annual checks.
CPR certification required within the first two weeks of hire.
First Aid certification required within the first two weeks of hire.
MAP certification required within 150 days of hire.
Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb, sit, reach, climb stairs, maneuver through narrow spaces or hallways, and assist PS with activities of daily living.
Ability to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or a two-person lift.
Ability to remain stationary 50% of the time as needed and to move around the facility.
Ability to operate a computer and office equipment such as a calculator, copier, and printer.
Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with PS, staff, and external representatives.
Required vision abilities include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Strong commitment to supporting PS’s ability to live, work, build meaningful relationships, and receive needed treatment, resources, and supports in their community of choice.
Knowledge of addiction-treatment principles, modalities, best practices, and evidence-based practices, including Motivational Interviewing, Stages of Change, Harm Reduction, SSI-SA, SBIRT, Housing First, addiction peer support, Seeking Safety, WRAP, Cognitive Behavioral interventions, acute addiction treatment, and Medication Assisted Treatment.
Knowledge of engagement strategies and ability to build supportive, trusting relationships with PS.
Knowledge of risk management and mitigation strategies.
Knowledge of recovery-oriented, person-centered, and strengths-based values and principles, empowerment, and self-advocacy techniques.
Knowledge of the effects of prejudice, discrimination, oppression, and poverty on people with psychiatric disorders.
Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally competent services, and sensitivity to cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender issues affecting PS.
Knowledge of the human, legal, and civil rights of PS.
Knowledge of emergency services, acute addiction-care systems, community-based mental health and healthcare, care coordination, and other services and resources available to PS.
Knowledge of health risks associated with psychiatric disability and/or addictions.
Skills in formulating appropriate treatment plans and training staff to provide substance-misuse and addiction services.
Knowledge of formal and informal substance-misuse and addiction assessment practices.
Knowledge of different communication and learning styles and supervisory techniques.
Participatory, collaborative, and staff leadership skills related to substance-misuse and addiction issues.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred.
Clinical experience working with people with co-occurring disorders or addictions preferred.
Preference given to bilingual/bicultural applicants.
Preference given to applicants with lived experience of psychiatric conditions.

Responsibilities

Screen, assess, and reassess substance use, addiction risk, and treatment needs using SSI-SA and other assessments in GLEs and outreach settings.
Develop formulations, and direct other licensed staff in developing formulations, that address substance-use level and risk, effects of substances or addictive behavior, and readiness for change.
Provide direct interventions and support to PS with substance misuse or addiction, regardless of where they reside.
Use trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, person-centered, culturally competent, and strengths-based approaches and skills-training techniques.
Provide evidence-based addiction treatment and best practices, including Motivational Interviewing, Stages of Change, Harm Reduction, Relapse Prevention, SSI-SA, SBIRT, Seeking Safety, WRAP, Cognitive Behavioral interventions, Safety Plans, Crisis Prevention and Response Plans, and the 8 Dimensions of Wellness.
Refer PS and coordinate with Care Coordination entities to promote access to Medication Assisted Treatment, dual recovery groups, psychoeducational services, and services addressing related issues such as Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS treatment, as appropriate.
Provide addiction-treatment psychoeducation to PS individually and in groups.
Participate as a member of intervention teams for assigned PS.
Train, mentor, and model evidence-based addiction-treatment practices for GLE SIE staff, including Motivational Interviewing, Stages of Change, Harm Reduction, and Housing First.
Perform, train, supervise, mentor, and model evidence-based clinical and recovery-oriented interventions, including Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction and addiction-treatment support, SBIRT, Seeking Safety, Stages of Change, WRAP, and Cognitive Behavioral interventions.
Document PS needs and services thoroughly and thoughtfully.
Promote engagement, safe housing, community tenure, greater self-sufficiency, and successful completion of services for PS.
Promote PS access to healthcare, employment, and education services.
Coordinate with Care Coordination Entities to ensure access to community-based acute addiction treatment, Medication Assisted Treatment, self-help and peer support, psychoeducational services, and relapse prevention.
Participate in the Addiction Recovery Counselor Community of Practice Workgroup for role-specific supervision, competency development, mentoring, and learning.
Receive regularly scheduled, role-based clinical supervision from the Assistant Team Leader.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Drive a Vinfen van or personal vehicle to transport PS, meeting the stated licensing, insurance, and driving-record requirements.