Substance Abuse Counselor

Community Medical Services•Mesa, AZ

12d

About The Position

Community Medical Services is hiring a Substance Abuse Counselor to support patients recovering from opioid and other substance use disorders. The role provides individual and group counseling, educational presentations, treatment planning, and coping-strategy support in an outpatient setting. The counselor manages a caseload, assesses client needs and treatment effectiveness, coordinates care with community and recovery providers, and maintains compliant clinical records. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Community Medical Services is a CARF-accredited addiction treatment program providing outpatient medication-assisted treatment and individual and group counseling. Headquartered in Arizona, CMS operates more than 70 treatment clinics in 14 states. The organization describes its work environment as supportive, engaging, and fulfilling, and is an equal opportunity employer that may provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Requirements

Must be at least 21 years old.
Knowledge of behavioral management, de-escalation, crisis intervention, and techniques for preventing or defusing violent behavior that could harm the client or others; ability to apply these techniques to clients experiencing varying levels of crisis.
Academic and working knowledge of DSM-5, community resources, clinical methods, and procedures, and their application.
One of the following education and experience combinations: high school diploma, GED, or associate degree plus 2 years of behavioral health experience; bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health-related field plus 1 year of behavioral health experience; or master’s degree in a behavioral health-related field with no prior behavioral health experience required.

Responsibilities

Maintain and manage a caseload in compliance with regulatory standards and ratios.
Conduct individual sessions, facilitate group counseling, and deliver didactic educational presentations.
Complete comprehensive behavioral health assessments and individualized treatment plans that meet regulatory requirements and client needs.
Assess treatment effectiveness on an ongoing basis, including consideration of clients’ natural supports, and modify service plans as appropriate.
Coordinate care with recovery and community-based service providers, including sending referrals and completing documentation needed to secure services.
Maintain chart compliance and thorough, comprehensive client records.
Include family and natural supports in treatment according to the client’s preference.
Maintain and apply knowledge of developments in substance use treatment as required by state licensure.
Maintain collegial relationships with other substance use professionals, programs, and associations.
Serve as a point of contact for coordination and communication with other systems when clinical knowledge of the case is important.
Assist with screening and coordinating primary care services for clients.