Counselor I/ II/ III

Behavioral Health Services•Hawthorne, CA

About The Position

The Counselor I, II, or III conducts substance use screening, care planning, and treatment for assigned individual and/or group caseloads. Counselors develop individualized care plans with clients and the treatment team; provide evidence-based services such as CBT, MI, DBT, and Seeking Safety; and support relapse prevention, life and coping skills, discharge and aftercare planning, and recovery support. The expected level of knowledge varies by rank, from general knowledge for Counselor I to advanced working knowledge for Counselor III. The role includes coordinating with medical providers, social services, and community resources; monitoring client progress; and maintaining accurate, timely treatment records. Duties may include toxicology testing and recording vital signs. In residential programs, counselors conduct 30-minute rounds for 72 hours for withdrawal management clients, document withdrawal symptoms, and observe and document clients’ self-administration of medications. Counselors help clients with benefits, housing, vocational needs, and community reintegration. They respond safely and within their scope of practice to behavioral crises and medical emergencies, including suicidal ideation, overdose, and acute intoxication. They maintain regulatory and accreditation compliance, client confidentiality, professional boundaries, and facility health and safety standards, and participate in supervision, meetings, training, treatment planning, and quality improvement. Counselor III also provides coaching, consultation, training, or development for new or entry-level staff and may lead treatment team meetings, case conferences, and program planning. Benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance; long-term disability insurance; basic life and AD&D insurance; an Employee Assistance Program; a 401(k) plan; paid holidays plus one floating holiday; paid sick time; two weeks of paid vacation; and a Counselor sign-on and retention bonus.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalency.
Counselor I: Be registered and/or enrolled in a state-recognized substance use counselor certification program; have six months of substance abuse experience; complete the required 80 hours of continuing education in accordance with AB 2473 when applicable; and maintain registration in good standing.
Counselor II: Be certified by a state-recognized substance use counselor certification body; have at least two years of substance abuse experience; and maintain certification in good standing.
Counselor III: Be certified by a state-recognized substance use counselor certification body; have at least five years of substance abuse experience; and maintain certification in good standing.

Nice To Haves

Counselor III: Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred; an associate degree plus related experience may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive substance use screening, care planning, and treatment activities.
Develop individualized care plans in collaboration with clients and the treatment team.
Provide evidence-based services, including CBT, MI, DBT, and Seeking Safety, to assigned group and/or individual caseloads.
Support clients with relapse prevention, life and coping skills, discharge and aftercare planning, and recovery support.
Coordinate with medical providers, social services, and other community resources.
Monitor client progress and maintain accurate, timely treatment records and progress notes, including daily activities, service entries, and intake and discharge documentation.
Perform toxicology testing, take and record vital signs as needed, and chart relevant information.
For residential assignments, make rounds every 30 minutes for 72 hours on withdrawal management clients and document withdrawal symptoms.
For residential assignments, observe and document client self-administration of medications.
Ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, including DMH, DHCS, SAPC, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and CARF requirements.
Assist clients with benefits, housing, vocational, and community reintegration needs.
Respond safely and within scope of practice to behavioral crises and medical emergencies, including suicidal ideation, overdose, and acute intoxication; administer anti-overdose medication as needed.
Report and record changes in client condition or behavior, including unusual incidents; identify, report, and assist in managing emergencies.
Participate in safety programming and maintain facility health and safety standards.
Occasionally provide transportation for clients, including for DPSS and other linkages.
Attend supervision, clinical meetings, and continuing education to maintain credentials; participate in treatment team meetings, case conferences, and program planning.
Contribute to agency quality assurance and improvement initiatives.
Maintain professional boundaries and standards, treat clients respectfully, and comply with confidentiality requirements.
Follow BHS policies, procedures, and applicable regulations, and represent BHS professionally.
Answer phones courteously, direct calls appropriately, and take messages; facilitate client external communication as approved by a supervisor.
Attend meetings and trainings and participate in committees as assigned; perform other duties as assigned.
For Counselor III, provide coaching, consultation, training, or development for new or entry-level staff within their scope of practice.
For Counselor III, attend and/or facilitate supervision, clinical meetings, and continuing education, and participate in a lead capacity in treatment team meetings, case conferences, and program planning.