Lead Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC or ADC-T)

Partners Behavioral Healthcare • Baxter, MN

15d • $70,000 - $82,000

About The Position

The Lead Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) provides individual and group counseling to support clients in achieving recovery and personal well-being. This role will serve as the lead staff member at our newly opening Baxter, Minnesota location and ensures delivery of services in compliance with Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) regulations and 245G standards. In addition to direct client care, the Lead LADC supports the Program Manager/ Treatment Director by mentoring and providing guidance to other counselors, assisting with program administration, supporting day-to-day operations at the Baxter site, and contributing to quality assurance initiatives. The counselor addresses substance use, mental health, and personal or family challenges while maintaining thorough and accurate documentation of all treatment services. Prior supervisory or lead experience is preferred.

Requirements

• Minimum age: 18 years.
• Must hold a current LADC license.
• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience working with alcohol and/or drug addicted individuals and/or substance abuse counseling.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience providing Outpatient Treatment and/or Intensive Outpatient services.
• Completion of 12 hours of training in co-occurring mental health disorders (within 6 months of hire if not already completed).
• Adherence to MN Statutes 604.20 and 604.205 regarding sexual exploitation.
• Successful completion of the MN Department of Human Services background study.
• Independent and self-motivated with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication and strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and work ethically with clients.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems effectively and in a timely manner.
• Experience working with clients with co-occurring mental health and criminal justice involvement.
• Knowledge of DHS 245G regulations, 12 Core Functions, and industry best practices.
• Understanding of HIPAA regulations and client confidentiality requirements.
• Competence in facilitating individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and educational lectures.
• Ability to manage multiple client cases, prioritize responsibilities, and maintain attention to detail.
• Ability to mentor, coach, and support the professional development of counseling staff.
• Skill in providing constructive feedback, guiding corrective actions, and supporting performance improvement.
• Ability to conduct chart audits and ensure clinical documentation meets regulatory and organizational standards.
• Strong understanding of clinical workflows, treatment planning, and evidence-based practices to support team adherence.

Nice To Haves

• Additional licenses (preferred but not required): LPC, LPCC, LICSW, LP.
• Prior experience in a lead, supervisory, or senior counselor role.
• Experience training staff or facilitating onboarding for new counselors.
• Experience with program audits, corrective action plans, or quality improvement initiatives

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive assessment and assessment summary using the ASAM Six Dimensions and develop individualized treatment plans with goals, objectives, and interventions.
• Ensure each client has an Initial Service Plan addressing immediate health, safety, and preliminary service needs.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation, including Initial Service Plans, Comprehensive Assessments, Individual Treatment Plans, Progress Notes, Treatment Plan Reviews, Summaries at Termination, and Continuing Care Plans.
• Provide individual and group counseling, education, and behavioral modification strategies to address substance use, mental health issues, and criminogenic behaviors.
• Facilitate psycho-educational and therapeutic groups as part of the recovery process.
• Deliver an average of 28 hours per week of direct client services, combining individual and group sessions.
• Participate in weekly treatment team meetings and clinical supervision sessions to review and update client progress.
• Collaborate with referral sources, probation officers, social service agencies, and other members of the treatment team.
• Follow all safety and security protocols to ensure the safety of clients, staff, and self.
• Assist Program Manager in developing, implementing, and evaluating program policies and procedures to enhance treatment outcomes.
• Participate in quality assurance initiatives to monitor and improve program effectiveness.
• Support the team in implementing the RNR model to align treatment intensity with client risk levels and address individual needs effectively.
• Monitor and evaluate the integration of RNR principles into client care plans, ensuring fidelity to the model.
• Collaborate with leadership to continuously refine processes for assessing risk, targeting criminogenic needs, and matching interventions to client responsivity factors.
• Collaborate with the Program Manager on scheduling to ensure adequate staff coverage and support.
• Track and report on clinical key performance indicators (KPIs), including session attendance, client engagement, and treatment outcomes.
• Manage counselor caseload assignments and workload distribution.
• Perform weekly auditing of client charts to ensure documentation accuracy, completeness, and compliance with organizational, state, and federal standards.
• Review group sheets weekly to verify session attendance, appropriate documentation of interventions, and alignment with treatment goals.
• Document treatment team meetings to review cases, address challenges, and promote a culture of collaboration and accountability.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Partners Behavioral Healthcare provides free clinical supervision for qualifying trainees and staff, and Clinician AI for charting support. All of our locations have complimentary off-street parking and ongoing professional development, including structured training for SUD groups.
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being, career growth, and work-life balance. You’ll receive robust health coverage choices—with medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Our retirement plan includes a 401k with Roth and pre-tax deferral options with up to a 3.5% employer match. We value your time with generous paid time off, six company holidays and your birthday off.
• Loan Forgiveness Available! Partners Behavioral Healthcare offers services in health professional shortage areas, making them eligible sites for Minnesota's Health Professional Loan Forgiveness Programs, which offers loan forgiveness to some licensed professionals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees