Counselor - Medication-Assisted Treatment (Santa Cruz)

Janus of Santa Cruz•Santa Cruz, CA

About The Position

Join Our Mission of Compassionate Care and Cultural Enrichment! Are you passionate about transforming lives with hope-inspiring treatment services? We are a vibrant community dedicated to compassionate care and cultural enrichment, and we are looking for a dynamic and experienced Methadone-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Counselor to join our team! Why Join Us? At Janus, founded in 1976, we are committed to providing exceptional treatment services in a professional and compassionate environment. As a MAT Counselor, you will play a crucial role in our Medication Assisted Treatment program within an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) setting. Lead with compassion, collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team, facilitate engaging psycho-educational groups, and maintain meticulous clinical documentation. What We Are: A Dynamic Work Environment: Thrive in a vibrant setting where your expertise will shine, and you will provide extraordinary support to our team and community. A Culture of Excellence: We are dedicated to hiring top talent and fostering a culture based on merit, welcoming, accepting, and valuing everyone. A Mission-Driven Role: Join us in our exciting mission to assist individuals and families on their journey toward wellness and recovery. Our clients’ well-being inspires everything we do. Key Responsibilities: Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment Recommendations: Review diagnostic assessments and treatment recommendations for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Personalized Treatment Plans: Develop, implement, and regularly review individualized treatment plans tailored to each client’s journey, including thoughtful discharge plans. Service Coordination: Coordinate services with the medical department to ensure comprehensive care. Case Consultation: Regularly staff cases with the multi-disciplinary MAT treatment team to ensure cohesive and effective treatment strategies. Clinical Documentation: Complete appropriate clinical documentation within compliant policy guidelines, including maintaining meticulous records of client treatment files and mastering the use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) for timely and accurate documentation. Transfer and Discharge Summaries: Prepare transfer and discharge summaries to ensure smooth transitions for patients. Communication and Reporting: Keep your immediate supervisor updated on activities, results, and any potential issues, providing proactive recommendations for corrective actions. Policy Compliance: Uphold high standards by maintaining department policies and procedures in line with accreditation, licensing, and certification requirements. Collaboration: Foster strong relationships with area providers, state agencies, and our dedicated administrative staff to ensure seamless continuity of care and responsiveness to client needs. Client Orientation: Conduct engaging orientations for clients and their families, providing a comprehensive overview of our program guidelines and structure. Crisis Management: Be the first to alert the Program Manager to potential crises or urgent situations, ensuring swift and effective responses. Client Supervision: Provide compassionate supervision. Other Duties as Assigned: Step into a dynamic role where you’ll tackle diverse tasks, contribute to innovative projects, and continuously grow and adapt to make a meaningful impact.

Requirements

Associate degree in chemical dependency counseling, or a bachelor’s degree with coursework in chemical dependency
Master’s degree in counseling preferred
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), or similar preferred
Treatment of substance abuse disorders
Co-occurring health and mental health problems
Familiarity with electronic health record systems like AVATAR
Application of SAMHSA’s best practice indicators
Drug and alcohol testing to monitor treatment plans and medical instructions
Excellent written and oral communication
Exceptional interpersonal skills and a compassionate nature
Bilingual - Spanish strongly preferred
Proficiency in any of the following platforms is preferred: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Apple iWork, or LibreOffice
Strong understanding of cloud-based and standalone office suite applications
Strong understanding of electronic health record (eHR) systems
Ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to office suites

Responsibilities

Review diagnostic assessments and treatment recommendations for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD).
Develop, implement, and regularly review individualized treatment plans tailored to each client’s journey, including thoughtful discharge plans.
Coordinate services with the medical department to ensure comprehensive care.
Regularly staff cases with the multi-disciplinary MAT treatment team to ensure cohesive and effective treatment strategies.
Complete appropriate clinical documentation within compliant policy guidelines, including maintaining meticulous records of client treatment files and mastering the use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) for timely and accurate documentation.
Prepare transfer and discharge summaries to ensure smooth transitions for patients.
Keep your immediate supervisor updated on activities, results, and any potential issues, providing proactive recommendations for corrective actions.
Uphold high standards by maintaining department policies and procedures in line with accreditation, licensing, and certification requirements.
Foster strong relationships with area providers, state agencies, and our dedicated administrative staff to ensure seamless continuity of care and responsiveness to client needs.
Conduct engaging orientations for clients and their families, providing a comprehensive overview of our program guidelines and structure.
Be the first to alert the Program Manager to potential crises or urgent situations, ensuring swift and effective responses.
Provide compassionate supervision.
Tackle diverse tasks, contribute to innovative projects, and continuously grow and adapt to make a meaningful impact.