AOD Certified Substance Use Disorder Counselor

SOUTH COAST COMMUNITY SERVICES•Rancho Cucamonga, CA

4d•$25 - $30

About The Position

The Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Certified Substance Use Disorder Counselor provides comprehensive substance use disorder counseling, education, case coordination, recovery support, and related services to individuals experiencing substance use and co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Working as part of an interdisciplinary behavioral health team, the counselor assesses client needs, contributes to individualized treatment and recovery plans, provides individual and group counseling, supports treatment engagement and retention, coordinates services, and documents care in accordance with agency, payer, contractual, and regulatory requirements. The counselor performs work within their education, certification, competency, and authorized scope of practice. They collaborate with licensed clinical and medical professionals when client needs require services beyond that scope, and follow applicable safety, confidentiality, ethical, and documentation standards. Work may take place in office, clinic, community, school, residential, client-home, or other behavioral health settings.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Completion of applicable AOD/SUD counselor education and training requirements.
Current AOD/SUD counselor certification recognized by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), through a DHCS-recognized certifying organization, maintained in good standing throughout employment.
A registered counselor who has not obtained full certification may be considered only when specifically permitted for the position and program and when all current DHCS registration, education, supervision, and certification-timeline requirements are met.
Successfully complete all background checks, clearances, and health requirements applicable to the position and program.
Complete required continuing education and agency training.
Maintain current CPR/First Aid certification when required by the program.
Use an electronic health record and other agency technology required to perform essential job functions.
Travel within the community and between agency locations when required.
A valid California driver's license, acceptable driving record, and automobile insurance may be required for community-based positions.

Nice To Haves

Associate's or bachelor's degree in behavioral health, psychology, social work, human services, addiction studies, or a related field.
Previous experience providing substance use disorder, behavioral health, recovery, case management, or related human services.
Experience serving individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions.
Experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and/or families with complex behavioral health needs, depending upon program assignment.
Experience in Medi-Cal, Drug Medi-Cal, county-contracted, community behavioral health, or other publicly funded treatment environments.

Responsibilities

Conduct screenings, intake activities, substance use assessments, and other evaluations within the counselor's authorized scope of practice.
Identify substance use patterns, recovery needs, barriers to treatment, strengths, risk factors, and appropriate service needs.
Participate in developing, implementing, reviewing, and modifying individualized treatment and recovery plans.
Apply knowledge of substance use disorders, stages of change, relapse and recurrence, recovery principles, and evidence-informed treatment approaches.
Recognize signs and symptoms of co-occurring mental health conditions and coordinate with licensed clinical professionals when needs exceed the counselor's scope of practice.
Identify changes in client condition that may require additional clinical, medical, psychiatric, or crisis assessment.
Provide individual and group substance use disorder counseling within the counselor's education, certification, competency, and authorized scope.
Facilitate psychoeducational and recovery-focused groups addressing substance use, relapse prevention, coping skills, triggers, recovery planning, decision-making, healthy relationships, and natural supports.
Use motivational interviewing and other evidence-informed engagement strategies as appropriate to the program and population served.
Support clients in establishing realistic and measurable treatment and recovery goals, identifying high-risk situations, and developing strategies for sustained recovery.
Engage family members, caregivers, and other natural supports when clinically appropriate and authorized by the client.
Coordinate services with interdisciplinary treatment team members and external providers.
Assist clients in accessing behavioral health, medical, housing, educational, vocational, social service, recovery, and community resources.
Participate in case conferences, treatment team meetings, care coordination meetings, and other multidisciplinary activities.
Facilitate referrals to appropriate levels of care and community resources, and support continuity of care during transitions.
Maintain effective working relationships with community partners and referral sources.
Complete timely, accurate, objective, and clinically appropriate documentation of services, including assessments, plans, counseling, progress notes, care coordination, referrals, and discharge planning.
Maintain client records in the agency's electronic health record system and ensure documentation complies with agency, contractual, payer, and regulatory requirements.
Maintain confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, California confidentiality requirements, and agency policy; maintain professional boundaries and applicable ethical standards.
Participate in documentation reviews, utilization review, quality improvement, compliance activities, and corrective action processes as required.
Recognize behavioral, substance-related, environmental, and other indicators requiring immediate intervention or escalation.
Follow agency procedures for suicidal ideation, self-harm, homicidal ideation, overdose risk, withdrawal concerns, abuse or neglect, and other safety concerns.
Consult promptly with licensed clinical, medical, supervisory, or emergency personnel when client needs exceed the counselor's scope of practice.
Complete mandated reports and incident reports when applicable, in accordance with agency policy and California law.
Participate in safety planning and crisis response within the counselor's training and scope.
Function as an active member of an integrated behavioral health treatment team and collaborate with clinicians, physicians, nurses, case managers, peer professionals, family support staff, care coordinators, and other team members.
Participate in supervision, team meetings, case consultation, training, and professional development activities.
Communicate significant changes in client status to appropriate treatment team members and maintain professional, respectful, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and client-centered interactions.