Alcohol & Drug Counselor III

County of Napa • Napa, CA

22h

About The Position

Napa County is seeking an experienced Alcohol & Drug Counselor III to join Behavioral Health within the Health and Human Services Agency. The incumbent will be part of Substance Use and Recovery Services (SURS), which provides outpatient substance use disorder (SUD) services and manages Napa County’s Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) continuum of care, including outpatient and residential treatment, medication for addiction treatment (MAT), prevention, recovery services, and other SUD programs.

The Alcohol & Drug Counselor III provides advanced clinical counseling and community-based services, including individual, family, and group counseling, assessments and care planning, care coordination, outreach and engagement, and recovery support services. The incumbent maintains timely and accurate documentation in the electronic health record and exercises independent professional judgment in responding to complex client needs and coordinating services across the SUD continuum. Incumbents may also assist with administrative functions and provide support and oversight related to data, quality improvement, and regulatory requirements.

The incumbent provides consultation, education, and presentations to clients, staff, community partners, and other professionals regarding substance use disorders, treatment and recovery services, harm reduction, prevention, and available resources. This is the advanced journey-level classification in the Alcohol & Drug Counselor series, distinguished from Alcohol & Drug Counselor II by regular performance of more complex clinical assignments, community presentations, consultation, and coordination activities, and a greater degree of independent judgment and responsibility.

Incumbents may be assigned to specialized programs or populations based on departmental needs, including individuals experiencing homelessness, justice-involved individuals, pregnant and perinatal individuals, individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and individuals who are not pursuing abstinence. The incumbent may collaborate with healthcare providers, criminal justice agencies, hospitals, social services, and community-based organizations to coordinate care and support access to treatment and recovery resources. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong clinical skills, sound professional judgment, and commitment to person-centered, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, harm reduction, and evidence-based approaches to SUD treatment and recovery. Bilingual Spanish is required.

Requirements

• Two years of alcoholism and drug counseling experience in a state-certified program.
• Education equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with major coursework in psychology, social work, counseling, or a closely related field; additional qualifying experience in a certified alcohol or drug program may substitute for college education on a year-for-year basis, up to two years.
• Bilingual Spanish is required.
• Must be able to provide proof of certification or registration to obtain certification by a State-approved Alcohol & Drug Counselor Certification Organization within six months of hire.
• Valid California Driver's License required.
• Current First Aid and CPR certificate required; applicants otherwise acceptable may be appointed provided required certificates are obtained within six months after initial appointment.
• Required licenses, certifications, or registrations must be maintained as active and in good standing during employment.
• Candidates may be subject to a pre-employment drug and alcohol test.

Nice To Haves

• Experience and education combinations that provide the required knowledge and abilities; the listed education and experience combination is described as desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual, family, and group counseling.
• Conduct assessments and develop care plans.
• Coordinate care and services across the substance use disorder continuum.
• Provide outreach, engagement, and recovery support services.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation in the electronic health record.
• Use independent professional judgment to respond to complex client needs.
• Assist with administrative functions and support or oversee data, quality improvement, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide consultation, education, and presentations to clients, staff, community partners, and other professionals on substance use disorders, treatment and recovery services, harm reduction, prevention, and available resources.
• Collaborate with healthcare providers, criminal justice agencies, hospitals, social services, and community-based organizations to coordinate care and support access to treatment and recovery resources.
• May work with specialized programs or populations according to departmental needs.
• May work after hours, evenings, and/or weekends as required.
• May be asked to provide critical services during emergencies as a Napa County Disaster Service Worker.

Benefits

• 32.0 hours of Wintertime Off (WTO).
• Bilingual Pay for Level I: $100.00 biweekly, upon successfully passing the examination.
• Benefits package is available; details are provided through the employer's benefits information.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior