Addiction Recovery Counselor (Mental Health Services)

Vinfen•Haverhill, MA

2d•$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 team members on substance addiction assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation techniques and resources. The role provides substance-use screening, assessment, reassessment, treatment interventions, psychoeducation, referrals, and coordination with care coordination entities. It uses trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, person-centered, culturally competent, and strengths-based practices, including evidence-based approaches such as Motivational Interviewing, Stages of Change, Harm Reduction, Relapse Prevention, SBIRT, Seeking Safety, WRAP, and Cognitive Behavioral interventions. The counselor also develops or supports safety and crisis-prevention plans, promotes access to treatment and community resources, and documents PS needs and services. The counselor participates on intervention teams and the Addiction Recovery Counselor Community of Practice Workgroup, and provides training, mentoring, modeling, and supervision-related support to GLE SIE staff on addiction-treatment practices. The role receives regularly scheduled, role-based clinical supervision from an Assistant Team Leader and performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor or Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor credential in Massachusetts: LADC I, LADC II, CADC I, or CADC II.
Access to an operational, insured vehicle and willingness to use it to transport Persons Served.
Valid driver's license presented at employment; at least 21 years of age; a valid U.S. driver's license held for at least six months; ability to pass a driver's screening background check.
If using a personal vehicle, maintain adequate insurance and a safe driving record, subject to annual checks.
CPR certification within the first two weeks of hire.
First Aid certification within two weeks of hire.
MAP certification within 90 days of hire.
Ability to perform physically active work, including standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing.
Ability to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or a two-person lift.
Ability to operate a computer and office equipment, including a calculator, copier, and printer.
Ability to sit, reach, climb stairs, maneuver through narrow spaces or hallways, assist PS with activities of daily living, and remain stationary for 50% of the time as needed.
Ability to communicate with PS, staff, and external representatives, and the vision abilities specified in the posting.
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, strengths-based, empowerment, and self-advocacy principles and 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.
Knowledge of the human, legal, and civil rights of PS.
Knowledge of emergency services, acute-care addiction systems, and community-based mental health, healthcare, care coordination, and other resources.
Knowledge of health risks associated with psychiatric disability and/or addictions.
Skill 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 and use of different communication and learning styles and supervisory techniques.
Participatory and collaborative skills; ability to provide leadership to staff on substance-misuse and addiction issues.
Ability to make independent judgments and decisions and work in a professional, confidential capacity.
Knowledge of personal computer applications, equipment, and documentation standards.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree.
Clinical experience working with people with co-occurring disorders or addictions.
Bilingual/bicultural background.
Lived experience of psychiatric conditions.

Responsibilities

Screen, assess, and reassess substance use, addiction risk, and treatment needs using the SSI-SA and other assessments in GLEs and outreach settings.
Develop formulations, and direct other licensed staff to develop formulations, addressing substance-use level and risk, current impacts, and readiness for change.
Provide direct interventions and supports 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, and psychoeducational services addressing substance misuse and related issues such as Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS treatment.
Provide addiction-treatment psychoeducational services 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, 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, self-sufficiency, and successful completion of services.
Promote PS access to healthcare, employment, and education services.
Coordinate access to community-based acute addiction treatment, medication-assisted treatment, self-help and peer support, psychoeducation, and relapse-prevention services.
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.